Duxford Messerschmitt BF108 Diecast Model Scale 1:72

Oxford Aviation 1/72 scale Messerschmitt Bf108 Taifun/ Nord Pingouin serial NJ+C11, currently preserved in full airworthy condition at Duxford Museum, Cambridgeshire. With fixed raised undercarriage and a display stand

Length 4.5 inches Wingspan 5.5 inches

 

Oxford Diecast "Oxford Aviation" diecast airplanes feature:

• Diecast metal and plastic construction.
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
• Permanently retracted landing gear.
• Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
• Fixed, non-spinning plastic propellers.
• No pilot figures.

The Nord Pingouin was a re-engined Messerschmitt Bf108 Taifun, built by S.N.C.A.N. in France after the end of WW2. This 1945 built example with a Renault 230HP 6Q.10B engine saw French Air Force service as ‘121’ before finding it’s way to the French civil register in 1962 as ‘F-BGVX’. It then joined the British register in 1965 as ‘G-ATBG’. Being the only ‘Messerschmitt’ available, it then flew regularly as the ‘bad guy’ at UK airshows, often departing the scene trailing smoke and pursued by a Spitfire. Well known owner-pilot Lyndsay Walton commented at the time that he had been ‘shot down’ more times than anybody else in history!

It is now registered to a company in Hong Kong, but remains firmly in the UK.

Originally designated the M 37, the Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun (English: “Typhoon”) was designed as an all metal four-seat sports/recreation aircraft for competition in the 4th Challenge de Tourisme Internationale (1934). The M 37 prototype flew first in spring 1934 powered by a 250 PS (247 hp, 184 kW) Hirth HM 8U inverted-V engine, which drove a three-blade propeller.

Although it was outperformed by several other aircraft in the competition, the M 37’s overall performance marked it as a popular choice for record flights. Particular among these traits was its extremely low fuel consumption rate, good handling, and superb takeoff and landing characteristics. One of the first major changes made to the production variants was to adapt the fuselage for a four-seat configuration.

The Bf 108A first flew in 1934, followed by the Bf 108B in 1935. The Bf 108B used the Argus As 10 air-cooled inverted V8 engine. The nickname Taifun (German for ‘typhoon’) was given to her own aircraft by Elly Beinhorn, a well known German pilot, and was generally adopted.

The BWF Company (latter Messerschmitt A.G.) designed the Messerschmitt Bf-108 Taifun in 1934. The original design was for a light tourist double seater, developed for the German team taking part in the 1934 international air race Challenge. Even though the Challenge wasn’t a great success for the Bf-108 as the best German pilot Theo Osterkamp only came in fifth, the RLM still ordered 32 Bf-108s.

The production of the improved version, the Bf-108B, was set-up in November 1935. The B version was redesigned to be a four-seater with a new Argus As 10C engine. The Bf-108B was a very modern light aircraft with an all-metal airframe, retractable undercarriage, adjustable propeller, and with excellent flight characteristics. The Bf-108 took part in many air races and record flights and the first foreign pilot who tested the Bf-108 was Charles Lindberg. He said that it was one of the world’s best aircraft in its class.

The military version of the Taifun was the Bf-108B-2 and was acquired by the Luftwaffe in 1939. It was widely employed during the war years by all operational Luftwaffe units as a light liaison aircraft. In 1941 the new version, the Bf-108D, replaced the B version on the production line. An Argus As 10R engine powered the D version and included the new Argus automatically adjustable propeller and improved fuel assembly. The production was transferred to France in 1942, where 170 Bf-108D were completed before the liberation of France in 1944. French production continued after the war where another 115 aircraft under the name of “Nord 1000” were manufactured.