The Flapallo treaty of 1929 eased the restrictions placed on military aviation on Germany by the Versailles treaty and allowed the formation of a small air police unit under the auspices of the Customs Service. Needing aircraft, the new Zollluftpolizei approached manufacturers, but all had been hit hard by the Great Depression. Politics may make strange bedfellows, but being broke can force an unholy marriage of convenience. So it was out of dire necessity that the Junkers and Messerschmitt aircraft companies were merged. The new Junkerschmitt firm soon presented their prototype, the 093.
The new aircraft appeared fast and sleek as a Greyhound. The 093 was powered by the Junkerscmitt Pruno engine and featured all metal wings and rudder as well as incredibly advanced spatted landing gear which were the envy of air arms world wide.
At the insistence of the Marketing Dept., the Junkerschmitt 093 was given a camouflage paint job, hoping this would show the officials from the Zollluftpolizei what it might look like in service. All was ready for the test-flight and the future of the Junkerschmitt company hung in the balance.
The new aircraft took to the sky like a lightning-fast predator and performed incredibly aerobatic maneuvers. It looked like a large order would be assured. Unfortunately, upon landing, it was obvious the test pilot had soiled himself. While the camo paint job may have hid any stains, the odor could not be disguised. The officials from the Zollluftpolizei left in disgust. It turns out that high G-forces combined with an inaudible vibration from the Pruno engine caused the accident.
Junkers and Messerschmitt went back to the drawing board, and while their 093 is forgotten today, it eventually led to the famous 109. After 094, 095, 096...well, you get the picture.
It all began so innocently. Just a guy and his Airfix Me-109 kit.
Well, my mom used to always say I just couldn't leave well enough alone.
First, a bit of rhinoplasty. It turns out an engine from the Airfix Handley-Page 0/400 was an excellent fit.
Then I came across these old Lysander spats in the spares box:
Some paint and decals later and this abomination was the result:
The wings are from a Roden Junkers D.1 and the rudder is from a 1/144 Junkers G-38.
The model was brush-painted by hand with acrylics and the decals are a mix from the kit, a Revell Fokker D. VII and an Airfix Albatross.
Here's one last shot, highlighting those lovely spats!
I hope this model and the silly back story were good for a laugh.
Brian da Basher
