1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B of the LSK/LV's JG3, 1957

Dizzyfugu · May 30, 2019, 03:21:18 AM

The next one from the pile has been finished!

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Some background:
The roots of the GDR's air forces laid in the time even before the founding of the National People's Army. The aim was to provide a structural basis and a basis for building the expertise needed to deploy and operate air forces. For this purpose, in 1951, initially under the lead of the Ministry of the Interior and under the influence of Soviet advisors, the so-called Kasernierte Volkspolizei (People's Police (Air) Quartered in Barracks (= on constant duty), KVP) with staff from the People's Police Air (VP-Luft) was set up in Berlin-Johannisthal. It was not a true air force, but rather a training unit that prepared the foundation of a true military power.

However, the KVP led to the GDR's 1st Air Division with three regiments. Training was carried out from 1953 onwards on various Soviet types, including the An-2, MiG-15, La-9 (only for training on the ground), Yak-18 and Yak-11 aircraft. All equipment was provided by the Soviet Union. However, from the beginning of 1952, the training of the future ground crew and the pilots in the so-called X course began secretly, and at the same time the GDR tried to build and test aeronautic engineering competences.

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

For this purpose, a military unit was established at the VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden (FWD), an institution which was also the workplace of Brunolf Baade, the designer of the Baade 152 airliner which was built and tested between 1956 and 1961. The GDR's newly formed Air Division was keen on an ingenious fighter aircraft, despite the modern MiG-15 having become available from the USSR. The primary subject was a re-build of the WWII Messerschmitt Me 262, but the lack of plans and especially of suitable engines soon led to an end of this project, even though contacts with Avia in Czechoslovakia were made where a small number of Me 262 had been produced as S-92 fighters and trainers.
Since many senior pilots in GDR service had experience with the WWII Bf 109, and there had been a considerable number of more or less finished airframes after the Soviet occupation of Eastern Germany, FWD proposed a modernization program for the still existing material, much like the Avia S-199 program in Czechoslovakia.

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The project received the code number "53" (for the year of its initiation) and structural basis for the not-so-new fighter for the GDR's nascent air force were primarily late Bf 109G and some Bf 109K airframes, reflected by an "A" and "B" suffix. Unlike the Czechoslovakian Avia S-199, which was re-engined with a rather sluggish Junkers Jumo 211 F, the FWD-53 fighter from Dresden was to be powered by a supercharged Mikulin AM-35 engine. This was a considerable reduction in output, since the late Bf 109 engines produced up to 2.000 hp, while the AM-35 just provided 1.400 hp. With some tuning and local modifications, however, the engine for the service aircraft was pushed to yield 1.100 kW (1,500 hp), and the fact that it was smaller and lighter than the original engine somewhat compensated for the lack of power.
Another feature that differed from the S-199 was the radiator system: the original Bf 109 underwing coolers were retained, even though the internal systems were replaced with new and more efficient heat exchangers and a new plumbing.

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

In order to save weight, the FWD-53's armament was relatively light. It consisted of a pair of heavy 12.7 mm Berezin UBS machine guns and a single 23 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-23 cannon. These three weapons were mounted above the engine, synchronized to fire through the propeller disc. This standard armament could be augmented with a further pair of NS-23 cannon, carried in pods under the outer wings (instead of a pair of bombs of up to 250 kg caliber). Alternatively, a ventral hardpoint allowed the carriage of a single 500 kg (1.100 lb) bomb or a 300l drop tank.

In the course of 1952 and 1953, a total of 39 Bf 109 airframes from GDR and also Czech and Polish origin were converted or re-built from existing components at Dresden. At the end of November 1953, the KVP's reorganization was carried out as a staff of the administration of the units initially called Aero clubs in Cottbus and the change of subordination by the MoI directly under the Deputy Minister and head of the Kasernierten People's Police. The air regiments were restructured into Aeroklubs 1 (Cottbus), 2 (Drewitz) and 3 (Bautzen), which in turn were divided into two sections. From 1954 onwards, the FWD-53 fleet joined these training units and were primarily tasked with advanced weapons training and dissimilar aerial combat.

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

On March 1, 1956, the GDR's air forces were officially formed as part of the Nationale Volksarmee (NVA, National People's Army). First of all the management of the aeroclubs, according to the Soviet model, gave rise to the Administrations Air Force (LSK) in Cottbus and Air Defense (LV) in Strausberg (Eggersdorf). The initial plans were to found three Jagdfliegerdivisionen (fighter squadrons), a Schlachtfliegerdivision (attack squadron) and a Flak (AA gunnery) division, but only the 1st and 3rd Air Division and the 1st Flak Division were eventually set up. On June 1, 1957, a merger of both administrations in Strausberg (Eggersdorf) resulted in another renaming, and the Air Force/Air Defense Command (detachment LSK/LV) was born.

From this point on, almost all operational front line units were equipped with the Soviet MiG-15. The FWD-53s were quickly, together with other piston engine types, relegated to second line units and used in training and liaison roles. The last FWD-53 was retired in 1959.

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

General characteristics:
Crew: One
Length: 9.07 m (29 ft 8 1/2 in)
Wingspan: 9.925 m (32 ft 6 in)
Height: 2.60 m (8 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 16.05 m² (173.3 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,247 kg (5,893 lb)
Loaded weight: 3,148 kg (6,940 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 3,400 kg (7,495 lb)

Powerplant:
1× Mikulin AM-35A(D) liquid-cooled V12 engine with 1,080 kW (1,500 hp),
driving a three-bladed light-alloy propeller with 3.2m (10 ft 4 ½ in) diameter

Performance:
Maximum speed: 640 km/h (398 mph) at 6,300 m (20,669 ft)
Cruise speed: 590 km/h (365 mph) at 6,000 m (19,680 ft)
Range: 850 km (528 mi) 1,000 km (621 mi) with drop tank
Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,370 ft)
Rate of climb: 17.0 m/s (3,345 ft/min)
Wing loading: 196 kg/m² (40 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 344 W/kg (0.21 hp/lb)

Armament:
1× 23 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-23 cannon with 75 rounds
2× 12.7 mm (0.5 in) Berezin UBS machine guns with 300 RPG
all mounted above the engine and synchronized to fire through the propeller arc
A total external ordnance of 500 kg (1.100 lb), including 1× 250 kg (551 lb) bomb or 1 × 300-litre (79
US gal) drop tank on a centerline hardpoint, or 2x 250 kg bombs or 2x 23 mm Nudelman-Suranov
NS-23 cannon with 60 rounds in pods under the outer wings

The kit and its assembly:
This build was actually a kind of kit recycling, since I had a Heller Bf 109K kit in my kit stash that had donated its engine section to a converted Fw 190D. Otherwise, the kit was still complete, and it took some time until I had an idea for it: I had never so far built an East German whif, and with the complicated political and economic situation after WWII I wondered how a nascent aircraft industry could build experience and an air force? A re-engined/revamped late Bf 109 could have been the answer, so I took this idea to the hardware stage.

The Heller Bf 109K is a simple and pleasant build, but it took some time to find a suitable new engine of Soviet origin. I eventually settled for a Mikulin AM-35, taken from a Revell MiG-3 kit. The transplant was rather straightforward, and the Bf 109K's "cheek" fairings at the cowling's rear section actually matched the round diameter of the AM-35 well – even though the Soviet engine was much smaller and very sleek.
The rhinoplasty went very well, though, there's just a little, ventral "step" at the wings' leading edge.

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The MiG-3 propeller could not be used, though, because the diameter and the blades themselves were just too small for the Bf 109. So I scratched a completely new propeller from a Spitfire Mk. IX spinner (reduced in length, though) and single blades from the scrap box – not certain which aircraft they actually belong to. The new prop was mounted onto a metal axis and a matching plastic tube adapter was implanted into the fuselage.

The only other modification of the kit are the main wheels – Heller's OOB parts are quite bleak, so I replaced them with visually better parts from the scrap box.

Painting and markings:
This was not easy, because LSK/LV aircraft either carried Soviet camouflage of that era (typically a uniform green/blue camouflage) or were, more often, simply left in bare metal, like the MiG-15s. However, I wanted a more interesting camouflage scheme, but nothing that would remind of the Bf 109's WWII origins, and it was still supposed to show some Eastern Bloc heritage. After a long search I found a suitable option, in the form of a LSK/LV MiG-15UTI trainer (actually a museum piece at the military history museum Gatow, near Berlin): the machine carried a relatively light green/brown camouflage and light blue undersides. Pretty simple, but the tones were quite unique – even though there's no guarantee that this livery is/was authentic!

However, I adapted the concept for the FWD-53. Search in the paint bank yielded Humbrol 86 (Light Olive Green) and 62 (Leather Brown) as suitable tones for the upper surfaces, while I went for a garish Humbrol 89 (Middle Blue) underneath. Quite a bright result! The spinner became red and the interior was painted in RLM02.

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The markings were puzzled together from various sources, including suitable early LSK/LV roundels. Most stencils were taken from the Heller kit's OOB sheet. After light panel shading and some soot stains with grinded graphite, the kit was sealed with a coat of matt acrylic varnish.

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

1:72 VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden FWD-53B; "54 Red" of the Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee (LSK/LV, Air Forces of the German National People's Army) Jagdgeschwader 3, Preschen/Brandenburg, 1957 (Whif/Heller Bf 109K conversion) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

A very quick project, realized just in three days (plus some time for the beauty shots, though, and probably a poor tactical choice since the One Week GB is coming up!) as a distraction from a very busy time at work. However, for a model created from leftover parts the FWD-53 looks surprisingly good and sleek. The pointed MiG-3 nose section subtly changes the profile – and somehow, from certain angles, the FWD-53 even reminds of the much bigger Il-2?

Tophe · May 30, 2019, 03:26:10 AM

Uh. Google finds no FWD-53 picture, no Fw-53 picture, could you show us to explain? (thanks, probably we will clap our hands after)

Dizzyfugu · May 30, 2019, 03:32:55 AM

Google is not fast enough for me...

Accidently hit the posting button prematurely.

Tophe · May 30, 2019, 03:48:29 AM

Yes, I see the pictures now, and they are great!

Somehow this looks like a Buchon (Merlin-powered Bf-109 if I remember well).

loupgarou · May 30, 2019, 03:57:43 AM

Another nice build, very plausible.

BTW: "including suitable early LSK/LV roundels.". Shouldn't they be called squarels?

PR19_Kit · May 30, 2019, 04:29:04 AM

As clever, and as devious, as usual Thomas.

The backstory is wonderful, and reads so well that it's difficult to figure out where RW and Whiffery join up!

NARSES2 · May 30, 2019, 06:18:57 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on May 30, 2019, 04:29:04 AM
As clever, and as devious, as usual Thomas.

The backstory is wonderful, and reads so well that it's difficult to figure out where RW and Whiffery join up!

Very much so, you can imagine someone finding this "lost treasure trove of historical documents" in a 100 years time or so

Well up to your normal standards Thomas

TomZ · May 30, 2019, 07:02:05 AM

Very good!

TomZ

Scotaidh · May 30, 2019, 07:03:26 AM

Very nice!

Especially as I expect to soon have a couple of engine-less Bf-109s myself.

I have to say - I am in awe of your building rate and how good they look. Your productivity blows me away, and your photoshopping is excellent - well up to your building skill-level.

Dizzyfugu · May 30, 2019, 08:47:42 AM

Thank you all!

Glad you like it, despite the overall simplicity. As mentioned before, I have been busy atmy job for some wekks, so I primarily put out "quickies" that are now waiting for photography. There's an early Spitfire to come soon, too, and "something different".

Hotte · May 30, 2019, 08:49:18 AM

Cool GDR 109

Sister from my Ta 152

https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?topic=44117.0

Hotte

PR19_Kit · May 30, 2019, 09:17:13 AM

Quote from: Dizzyfugu on May 30, 2019, 08:47:42 AM

Thank you all! Glad you like it, despite the overall simplicity. As mentioned before, I have been busy at my job for some wekks, so I primarily put out "quickies" that are now waiting for photography. There's an early Spitfire to come soon, too, and "something different".

You have a job as WELL as doing all these Whiffs?

Where do you find the 48 hr days then? I want some!

Old Wombat · May 30, 2019, 10:07:02 AM

Greg (strobez) has his giant glue bottles, Dizzy has his personal chronodilator.

As others have said, a brilliant job, Dizzy!