OK, so how many of you out there like Bf-109s?  I can see by the hands that there are a lot of you. And well there should be. The Bf-109 probably carried more different types of camouflage on it than just about any other type of aircraft. There are people who make it their life's passion to know all there is to know about the plane and the people who built and flew it. The number of books on the subject probably surpasses that of just about any other single type.

Any why is this? A lot of it has to be because of the variety of camouflage that it carried. I know that is what really attracts me to it. The P-51 is sexier and you can say the same about the Spitfire. However, those are all painted pretty much the same. The 109, however, carried desert schemes, winter schemes, and night fighting schemes in addition to the 'standard' scheme. Units were given free rein to try experimental schemes. This was especially true of the units in Russia. These units have not gotten the kind of press that has been given to others so there is lots of information still out there to be compiled.

Then we come to the end of the war. During this time, no one kept to the standard scheme. Paints and colors were in short supply so much inventiveness was used when camouflaging these aircraft. Whatever was around that was close was used. This resulted in some rather unusual colors including the sort of sky color that has often been called RLM 84, despite no documentation ever having been found for such a color.

Aeromaster's sheet of the Bf-109Ks has a number of these schemes. Most of these aircraft are rather unremarkable other than by the camouflage scheme used. They have almost no unit or squadron markings; just some numbers or chevrons.

Getting to the sheet, there are enough common markings to do three of the four subjects on the sheet. All aircraft have black spinners with white spirals (provided). The sheet includes swastikas.

First is from III/JG 53. It is is RLM 75/77 uppers with RLM 76 lowers. RLM 77 (a light grey) is often seen on late war planes. Its use has been documented as a primer as well as a camouflage color

Next is an unknown aircraft with that sky colored undersurface on the fuselage. Upper surfaces are RLM 81/82. Underwings are RLM 76. This aircraft has the last three of its constructor number painted on the aft fuselage. It also has a wavy leading edge to the wings and tailplane. Aeromaster has provided a paper pattern for you to use in order to duplicate this.

The third aircraft, black 16, is from III/JG 53 and has the black Reich Defense band. It is in RLM 75/82 over 76

Finally  a III/JG 27 109K with a green Reich Defense band. This one is in the same colors as aircraft #2 but the fuselage underside colors are much higher up.

Any one of these schemes will look great on your Fujimi or Hasegawa 109K.

Review copy courtesy of me and my wallet.

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