Battle of Britain Heinkel He 112

[TimJ]

After being chosen as the Luftwaffe's new fighter the He 112 served with distinction in the Spanish Civil War and the Blitzkrieg. When it came up against the RAF's fighters, although it was able to hold its own it was often mistaken for a Spitfire due to the similar wing shape. This lead to the application of large areas of yellow paint for quick identification. This example served with 9/JG26, France, August 1940.









The kit is the Heller 1/72 He 112B which I updated with a three bladed prop from an Airfix Spitfire Ia and a drop tank from a Heller Bf 109. The decals are from the Airfix 109. 

[PR19_Kit]

Oh yes, that does look wholly believable. Nice one. 

[RotorheadTX]

Wasn't that in a recent magazine?? Very tasty - next...hinomarus?!?

[Army of One]

Agree with Kit......very believable....like it lots....h

[sequoiaranger]

My study of the Heinkels came up with many pilots who PREFERRED the He-112 over the early Bf-109's, but Hitler was in charge of what would be produced, and Messerschmitt was given the exclusive "rights" to produce fighters. *IF* the Germans had done it the "American" way, they would have produced them both, and found out which one gave better war service, etc.  So the whif in question is QUITE believeable.

The He-112 was used, along with the early Bf-109's, in the Spanish Civil War. I would bet, however, that the He-112 at the time of the BoB would have been "developed" a little more if it had had official sanction, like the Bf-109 E used in the BoB was more advanced than the Bf-109 C/D's used alongside the He-112's in the Spanish Civil War. 'Course, Heinkel had the outstanding He-100 (He-113) in the works, too, but that is yet another story!

[RussC]

Quite a handsome machine really, and a great build of it too. Now put one in Regia Aeronautica markings or a license copy in Japanese Army AF colors!

[rickshaw]

IIRC the Japanese did purchase several for evaluation.  After a quick search, Wikipedia tells us:

The Imperial Japanese Navy purchased twelve Heinkel He 112B-0 fighters, which it designated both as the Heinkel A7He1 and as the Navy Type He Air Defense Fighter. The Japanese flew the A7He1 briefly during the Second Sino-Japanese War, but phased it out of service before the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Assuming it still to be in Japanese use, however, the Allies assigned the reporting name "Jerry" to the A7He1 during World War II.[16]

So, a Naval land based fighter perhaps?

[lancer]

Totally beleiveable and an amazing looking plane.

[perttime]

The He 112B is certainly a handsome aircraft. However, the earlier open-cockpit version has caught my fancy.

(Wikimedia photo)

[Old Wombat]

I like this one! Is good!

[Weaver]

Lovely model Tim - well done.

Three things counted against the He.112:

1. It was significantly more complicated and expensive to build that the Bf.109, with a much higher parts count.

2. Production aircraft were always underpowered, although that could have been solved if they'd been allowed Db.601s (there was a Db.601-engined prototype that was much better).

2. Willy Messerschmitt was adept at playing the Nazi Party social/political/influence game to his advantage, while Ernst Heinkel notoriously wasn't, being a stubborn, blunt, uncompromising man who clung to the quaint notion that an aircraft should sell on it's merits, not on on how good it's manufacturer was at schmoozing. Hitler once described Heinkel as "that pig-headed Swabian!"

[Caveman]

The He 112B is certainly a handsome aircraft. However, the earlier open-cockpit version has caught my fancy.

(Wikimedia photo)

Done in italian markings perhaps? They seemed to have a penchent for open cockpit fighters (at least at the outbreak of hostilities...)

[NARSES2]

Nice one