BF_109G-Tropical

[cjg476]

Hey guys I had a question. What was different about the tropical version? I know it had a tropical filter but was anything else different?

[flyboy_fx]

Not really. Main thing is the filter for the super charger.

[cjg476]

Thanks Flyboy....

[aferguson]

i think it also had an emergency survival kit placed somewhere in the fuselage, with a corresponding little hatch to access it and it may have had different tires for the main gear. Pretty subtle stuff.

[Jnewboy]

A small but cool add on for the desert planes were two small pole holders near the canopy, usually on the left side where a umbrella could be placed to shade the cockpit.

[cjg476]

Thats the stuff I like to know is all the little details...

[aferguson]

google me-109G-2/trop and you'll probably come across a detailed description of all the little modifications the plane had over the regular G-2

[cjg476]

Did the filter affect horsepower?

[gburch]

Looking up at the bottoms of my now five (!!) (and with he new 109 from BBi, soon to be SIX) 109s hanging above my desk, I see one difference: retractable tail wheel ...

[cjg476]

lol...i know right...here is the thing..I like learning about my 1:18 planes and there stories...and I have the franz sweiss bbi tropical...and it has the retractible wheel...which I heard shouldnt be on the model...which I dont know for sure...also I know it had the snad filter...but It says its a BF-109G-6...which is not an ME-109G-2...and all I know about that is that it was different plants that made them...anyways I have googled..and 10,000 different sites want to fight about 30 different variations...so I thought I would turn to the experts...you guys...and get the straight answers....because reading all your customizing info...you guys are down to the number of rivets each plane had...and so what better way to find answers then to go to the experts...

Also I'm not trying to bore anyone or ask dumb questions...I just like to learn and I figure most of you guys have a passion like me..and love to inform and discuss...so I figured I would learn from the best...

[gburch]

Well, I definitely don't mind the most microscopic discussion of military aviation history. I seem to have a near-infinite interest in it: the technology, the engineering, the industry, the people, the tactics, the strategy ... As the man said, "God help me, I love it so ..."

[cjg476]

Well, I definitely don't mind the most microscopic discussion of military aviation history. I seem to have a near-infinite interest in it: the technology, the engineering, the industry, the people, the tactics, the strategy ... As the man said, "God help me, I love it so ..."

I couldnt have said it any better

[greendevil41]

Not sure how much detail your going for here but some earlier tropical bf-109E-7's also had a rifle rack in the rear fuselage for a Kar98 rifle to go with that tropical survival kit...don't know if they were still used in the tropical G's but if you actually add that I'd like to see a pic!

[cjg476]

Not sure how much detail your going for here but some earlier tropical bf-109E-7's also had a rifle rack in the rear fuselage for a Kar98 rifle to go with that tropical survival kit...don't know if they were still used in the tropical G's but if you actually add that I'd like to see a pic!

Funny that you mention that...because if you buy the 1:8 bbi tropical 109 he comes with a kar 98 but sadly nowhere to put it...and thanks for the info..

[flyboy_fx]

Put it in your box of 1/18 K98s. LOL we have a BAGILLION of them.

Now, that makes me think, was there really a spot to put it? Maybe the tropical one had a gun holder in the fuselage?

[greendevil41]

It did. There was a two piece rack assembly with the rifle inserted into a hole in the rear rack and held in the second one with a leather strap and buckle arrangement. It was positioned in the upper portion of the fuselage near the spine with the muzzle towards the tail and the sights facing down. It was accessed through the door on the left side of the plane. For weight and balance purposes, the weight was computed as 4 kg for the rifle and 3 kg for the rack. The tropical survival kit and water were stowed there as well.

And just to be one hundred percent accurate, the Kar98k in the picture I found is a earlier one with a solid walnut stock (not laminated), Flat butt plate (not cupped) and almost certainly has the early milled H-band. No corner cutting here... we'll be checking!

[flyboy_fx]

Freking cool!!!!

[cjg476]

that is kool...but what was all in the tropical survival kit? Extra water?

[greendevil41]

Ok, I'll take a stab at this.

This info comes from all over the net but it should be close.

Notausrüstung contents:

Contained in a 24"x16" wide rectangular green canvas pack that was fitted with blue gray shoulder straps and waist belt. Pack was closed with a flap fitted with six press studs.

Contents might have included:

Large canteen shaped aluminum water bottle, 11"x 6"x 3.5", fitted with a wooden carrying handle. Cap was chained to the bottle and had a rubber gasket.

Issue wooden handled Luftwaffe survival machete in metal sheath with or without saw back on blade.

Esbit stove with compressed fuel tablets.

Survival mirror (blendspiegel) 6"x3" with attached chain and pouch.

Flare pistol w/ flares.

Survival compass.

Survival rations- canned pork (schmalzfliesh), 150 gram packages of knackbrot, Erbstwurst compressed split pea soup ration, cigarettes, salt, "KoKos Energie" ration (coconut flavored-each part of the three piece ration would feed a man for 6 hours), tea, 20 gram packets of milch or bohnen kaffee, Zitronendrops (citrus flavored candy), and a rum ration (to calm the nerves after a forced landing!).

And presumably some ammo for the Kar-98k.

Am I forgetting anything?

[flyboy_fx]

That just made my day!

[cjg476]

all I can say is AWESOME

[cjg476]

OK another question...The tail wheel in the bbi 1:18 desert franz sweiss retracts into the fuselage...did the bf-109 have a retractable tail wheel?

[flyboy_fx]

Not sure. It is a BF109 G2

[greendevil41]

I think the semi retractable tail wheel was introduced on the BF-109 F series and used until the intro of the BF-109 G-4. That one had the original (11 x 4) tail wheel replaced by a larger one (14 x 5) that no longer fit the recess so the retraction mechanism was deleted. A G-2 Trop with semi retractable tail wheel should be good to go.

[cjg476]

Thanks for the info...after awhile of googling...I found also that it was deleted because of mechanical failings...sometimes it would go up and it wouldnt come back out...so it was left in a fixed position on later models....