[MOC] Messerschmitt Bf109E

[Brickopath]

 

Hi all,

 

The model is Messerschmitt Bf109, the most numerous German fighter in WW2, if not the most famous. I designed it from scratch and did not take features from other creators' work. 

 

I spent about 7 years designing and financing this project, and I finally finished it last year. Thanks to the work-from-home policy I don't have to drive as much, and I have more free time to share my creations with the world.

 

You will see that some parts are in the new bluish grey while some parts are in the old grey. There are different patterns of 1x2 jumpers. A few parts even show cracks. This is the testament to the time spent to build this up, so I decided not to replace them with new parts in perfect condition. The 1x2x3 train door pieces and the 1x1 round plate with tow ball don't come in the new light bluish gray anyway.

 

The building technique I used to make the aerodynamic fuselage is similar to the 3D wooden puzzle made out of interlocking thin boards. You can see the vertical and horizontal layers coming together to form a pixelated curvature. The width of the fuselage starts in 4 studs and reduces to 3 studs, then 2 studs, squeezing all the way to 1 stud. The internal connection is achieved with technic pieces, locking hinges and clips. I use it a LOT in my models because it allows you to add complicated painting schemes to the surface while maintaining the correct form and structural integrity. Notice that I still try to use as much slope/wedge/curved pieces as possible.

 

Features:

 

- 2 x 20mm cannons mounted on wings

- 2 x 8mm MG on top of the engine (represented by a pair of black 1x4 hinge pieces)

- 20mm cannon mounted coaxial with the propeller axle

- Ammunition stowage (accepts any 1x2 tile as ammo belt)

- Skeleton canopy opens/closes like the real thing

- Cockpit has enough space to accept a pilot wearing an aviator helmet and a life jacket (new small type)

- Throttle lever tilts back and forth

- Instrument panel represented by 2 hollow studs in black

- Service doors on wings

- Landing gear retracts completely into the wings (VERY sturdy as well!)

- Tail gear may be steered

- Navigation lamps. (red, green, white) It's an homage to the tradition of Lego's airport sets that always had navigation lamps on the commercial airliners.

- Engine cowl opens for inspection; exhaust pipes and ignition system visible

- Behind the engine you can see the turbocharger intake and a hole for the hand crank

- Fuel tank cap can be opened

- Both wings may be detached for towing on road

- Fuselage separates into 4 major components (to swap/combine painting schemes easily)

- National insignia is made out of bricks; no stickers used. Designed to be visible from all sides.

- A jettisonable fuel tank may be attached to the bottom

 

I have posted a video on YouTube so that you can see the moving parts:

 

Pictures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(The wings may look very fragile because they are hanging on the 1x2 locking hinge pieces, but there's another pair of clips inside the fuselage that connect to the top side of the wings. The wings are actually so strong that you can lift the whole thing by the tip of a wing. Details explained in the video.)

 

 

Edited June 1, 2020 by Brickopath

[neonic]

Great plane
Nice coloring, complete with the yellow nose and german logo's.
Like the rear wheel too, nice one.