Peak Of Performance

Eduard’s Bf 109F-2 ProfiPACK

- Huw Morgan

There can be very few modellers who haven't built a Messerschmitt Bf109.Probably the most famous and well-known German fighter, it typified the Luftwaffe's early war verve and aggression, fighting on every front and being the mount of most of the Luftwaffe's one hundred aces with more than one hundred kills.

The Bf109F Friedrich was the first major evolution of the type, taking account of lessons learned from the earlier models' deployment in the Spanish Civil War and early European campaigns; the Friedrich had a better DB601 engine, stronger and aerodynamically cleaner airframe, and finally made the through spinner cannon armament work. Whilst the consequent deletion of the wing mounted guns made less able pilots complain, the concentration of offensive weapons close to the centreline made the Friedrich the most agile of all the Bf109 variants, and arguably represented the peak of the airframe's performance.