I just located some info from the Smithsonian regarding the coolant flaps as they call them;


Wings: Low-wing cantilever monoplane. All-metal single-spar structure, covered with flush-riveted stressed-skin metal covering. Outer wings are attached to the fuselage at three points, two on the flanges of the single spar at right angles to each other and a third at the leading-edge to transmit torsional loads. Entire trailing-edge hinged, the outer portions acting as slotted ailerons and the inner portions as camber-changing flaps. Engine coolant radiators, one of each side of the fuselage, partly buried within undersurface of wings. Boundary layer beneath wing is picked up in front of each radiator, led over the top and discharged through a double-surfaced flap forming a continuation of the upper wing surface. The section of the main wing flap immediately behind radiator is independent of the rest of the landing flap and is interconnected with the upper flap, which normally moves up when the lower section is depressed, thereby controlling airflow through the radiator and preventing any change in lift. This flap movement is controlled thermostatically but has only two positions. When the main flaps are lowered for landing, the upper radiator flap drops with the lower one moving progressively ahead of it at a greater angle, thereby maintaining the cooler air flow. Ailerons have external mass balances. Handley page auto-slots on outer position of leading-edges. Attachment points for underslung guns or 21 cm rocket projectile tubes outboard of wheel wells. Click here to see a photo showing the ram air intake, flaps and radiator ducts of an Me 109.


this is taken from the following link;

http://home.monet.no/~oddbass/me109main.html

I am not trying to stir things up, I am just being a good warbird fanatic and trying to learn more about the subject so we look somewhat intelligent when someone outside the "circle" asks us " So what does this thing do? " [8D]

You would need to install a separate servo to function the top oil cooler flap in order for it to move down. But yes, it would be more scale if the top ones could be moved both down and slightly up

hi Asanders

I have ignored the discussions on the radiator cooler flap, only because no one had brought it up until now in such an effective way. Nice


Since you have explained it quite well, I shall hope the owners of this model have a better understanding ( and want a better understanding) of the original intent of the designers. This is one of the few airframes I have come to know in detail along with the historical and technical significance. It was one of the reasons that all the other advanced designs to battle this airframe were brought about. From LE slats to the water /methenol injection, NO2, to name a very few. It was ahead of its time.

It forced the allied designers to step it up.

Thank You.

I have my upper flap taped in fixed position at the moment till I link up a system to use the lower flap control servo to deploy both surfaces.

I have a back up 109 wing to try stuff on.

Steve

Thought that might of been the case but i thought i'd offer anyways

thanks

dave

tiketec

Very kind of you.

Thanks Again

Steve

Steve,

I think you are doing an incredible job on this machine. I drop in at least once a week in anticipation of the contining work you are doing. This bird looks real good as it is but you have done an awesome job on your model. By the way that video is incredible. I love listening to the sound of the engine. That would be the next thing to do for this hobby is to recreate that sound. I have seen some of those sound modules for the electric birds which is a pretty good attempt.
Alan

Thanks Alan.

Yes the 109 engine has a very unique and powerful sound. However, if i don't here my little 2 stroke engine whining, I may think I'm in trouble.

On an electric, well that would be cool..

Steve

Great video , did you notice that the inner flap/air brake were both deflected on take off as well and the flaps ? I wonder if that was always the norm

Don't laugh ,but I had a minute and decided to make an aerial for the radio. Have to make the little cones still and get an elastic black thread.

hope i don't break it off before the next flight.

Steve

Good to know the function of the radiator coolant flaps, but I will use them as air brakes to make up for the lack of a full split flap. For those that fix the top surface, I'm sure that would still be an effective way to slow the plane down.

I did try the acetone to remove the decals, and it worked well. Took off the wrong colored yellow decals and added a "double white chevron." Nice to have one that looks a bit different than the others. I'll have to get it outside again for some more photos, but until then here is how it looks on my pool table.

I may do the Herman Graff scheme. It is a bit over the top though.

And no spiral spinner. I like the spiral spinners.

Steve

I too like those spiral spinner schemes, seems they were more common on the G models than the F's. Since I am not entering a competition that requires documentation, I don't really need the scheme to match anything. I could have done the spiral scheme on the spinner and who's to say it didn't exist?

I am also a 109 lover and for those interested I will try to find a moment and scan some drawings from an old japanese book devoted to the 109 F and G version and considered "The 109 Bible" among Luftwaffe aficionados which show the flaps actuations as it may be of some help.

Just for the moment you all must know that when the flaps were full extended also de ailerons depoyed a bit going from maximun deflection at the centre wing to a medium deflection in the central flaps and then a minimal deflection on the aileron so producing a washout for avoiding tip stalling.

By the way, Black 6 crashed just due to radiator selector not correctly engaged in AUTO mode and the pilot flew his routine noticing too late taht the engine overheated. Many know the rest of the story: the pilot made a forced landing running out of landing strip, jumping over a higway and went to nose over at a field to the other side. The pilot got out quite unharmed and the aircraft was restores but only for static display.

Ah, I also one of those who couldn´t resist the temptation and also got one from a German shop to a quite decent price here in Europe. Now I am unsure if going ahead with this or going through all the Luftwaffe training system as have a Jungmann, a Bestmann, a KMP 109 E, this 109 F and also a KMP FW190. How many planes and I am so old ! (this is the airplane version of a Spanish saying: How many easy ladies and I am so old!).

OK, best regards and I promise look for the above mentioned book and scan the images hoping they will be of interest.

Jesus Cardin

It appears that a P-40 shot up the Black 6 plane originally.
They say it is airworthy again, but was given to a Museum where it will never fly.

You tube has the crash of the Black 6 109.

For anyone interested, if you search youtube for "BF 109 crash", you will find it.

Steve

To provide more flight info:

I may be able to fly during Thanksgiving. My kid is out of school and he may be able to put a vid on youtube of the flight.

Steve

Hot Rod Todd, your ship is looking great. Still can't decide whether or not to get one of these. The gear looks a little short, did you notice that as well?

Yep, the gear looks short, the wheels look small. No way you could fit scale size wheels in the wing, and to make the gear scale length it would have to come out from the fuse (like scale), and the wheels still would not fit. As with many ARF's, the gear is good enough. The good part is that by having the plane sit a bit lower it will ground handle better. The stock wheels are so small that everyone who saw the plane would say "wow, those wheels are tiny!" I can live with "the gear looks a little short." It is unlikely anyone could do enough mods to make the gear look correct on this plane, so I'll live with it and enjoy it.

If you want a plane that is truly scale, you must build it.

HR Todd

Thats a good looking Ki-61. Almost a sister to the 109 since they were using a Japan built DB601A as a power plant. Mounted inverted as well.

Nice job

Steve

I've seen your Tony before and it is awesome! One of my all time favorite Japanese army aircraft. Do you think it would be possible to enlarge the wheel wells on the 109 to fit a bigger wheel setup?

I used the Williams Bros. 3 3/4" wheels, and even they are a tight squeeze. It would be hard to go any bigger without major mods to the wing. Keep in mind the stock wheels are 3" and look tiny on a plane this size. (see photo of comparison, williams bros. and stock)
To be scale they would have to be around 4.5-5" No way they would fit.

My Ki-61 and the Bf-109 will actually be about the same scale, 1:5.5. They should look good together.

I am about to fix the control horns to the inner split flaps on my bf109.

The manual advise to use two small screws on each horn. Anyone know if there is balsa inside the flaps at the horn location, or something stronger?

Thanks,
Helge.

Hi

The inboard flaps are hollow with no support for the horn. Screw and glue with CA.

Works for me.

Steve

Sounds good. Will do that.

Thanks,

Helge.