Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series 49203
Messerschmitt Bf 109E Diecast Model
Luftwaffe 7./JG 51 Molders, Werner Molders
Limited Edition
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Messerschmitt Bf 109E | | 5" | | 5.5" |
Werner Molders was promoted to the command of III.Gruppe on 3rd October 1939. Five months later, to the day, he entered the annals of World War II history as an official Ace with the downing of a Morane MS.406 fighter of GC II/3 near Metz. This is marked by the 5th victory bar seen on the tail of the plane. Awarded the Diamonds on 16th July 1941 for being the first fighter pilot to top the 100, he died tragically four months later in a flying accident while en-route to the funeral of Ernst Udet.
Designed by Willy Messerschmitt during Germany's military build-up in the 1930s, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was first flown on May 28th, 1935. Messerschmitt engineers placed a big 12-cylinder engine in a small airframe, and made that airframe easy to produce and repair. Armed with two cannons and a pair of machine guns, the Bf 109 was the backbone of the Luftwaffe fighter force, shooting down more Allied planes than any other aircraft. The Germans maintained this advantage until the Battle of Britain, where more than 600 Bf-109s were downed by powerful adversaries, most notably RAF Spitfires and the P-51 Mustang.© Copyright 2003-2009 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi’s 1:72 scale Bf 109s series are constructed almost entirely of diecast metal, with only the smallest amount of plastic. On most releases the top engine cowing is removable, revealing a detailed inverted Daimler-Benz V-12 engine. A 20mm cannon port—used against enemy bombers—can be seen in the propeller’s spinner. The solid diecast metal wing features simulated fabric-stretched control surfaces with counter balance weights and machine gun barrels protruding through the leading edges. Additionally, the razor-thin braced horizontal stabilizers are diecast metal, a feature uncommon in 1:72 scale. The large “bird-cage” canopy allows for easy viewing of a detailed hand-painted pilot figure.
© Copyright 2003-2009 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Corgi "Aviation Archive" presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored. Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Optional extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
- Detailed pilot and crew member figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Selected interchangeable features such as airbrakes, opened canopies and access panels.
- Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
© Copyright 2003-2009 The Flying Mule, Inc.
