Yat-Ming Bf 109

[donnieboy]

Folks, there is a diamond-in-the rough out there! I'm talking about the lowly Yat-Ming 1:48 Bf109. Most dealers say it is a Bf109F, but I think it's a Bf109K, the hot-rod of the Messerschmitt 109 series. I.D.
criteria include: small scoops on side of cowling(Bf109G or higher), Erlahaube canopy (late G or K only), deep chin radiator (K only), no breech bulges on rear of cowling (late G or K), and (drum-roll please!) straight-backed rudder with two small trim tabs (very late G or K).
Taken together, I say that bird is a Kurfurst (Bf109K). Several dealers still sell it-get yours while you can!

[tmanthegreat]

Well now that explains the looks of the plane! I always assumed it was a sloppy attempt at a E or G model of the 109 and never would have guessed the K. Seems like they were right all along!

Many of the Yat-Ming planes are pretty cool, save that I wish they smoothed out the undersides. I collected these before XD took over. My favorites in the series are the MIG-3 (as its a very interesting choice) and the ME-262. The Zero (A6M5 type) is also quite decent.

I don't see them very much here in the US, but I saw them all over Great Britain and France when I was in Europe a couple of years ago!

[vmf214]

They're pretty plentiful on ebay at reasonable prices. Also most of the online retailers peddle them. The Finnish Mig-3 is pretty cool. The Mosquito's and 190's are quite nice as well.

[donnieboy]

The Yat Mings got me started into the diecast hobby when I came across some here in Hot Springs, AR. They make a nice F6F Hellcat night-fighter with a radar pod, and a pretty nice Spit. All their planes lack the bells and whistles that Amour Collection models have, such as wing guns, pitot tubes, and antennae, but they are nicely-painted and usually true to scale. I suppose one could Super-Glue on the small parts made from odds and ends laying around. All the Bf109 (K?) needs is a vertical Moraine antenna under the port(?) wing! Haven't seen anything new from Yat-Ming in two years.

[Coreyeagle48]

Hi,

Yat Ming is busy right now in the diecast car market. I don't know if anyone took notice, but the special collection of cars at Walmart that they had awhile ago was made by Yat Ming. They included the Ford Woddy, Cadillac Presidential Limo among others.

If anyone is interested, I have the two versions of the Yat ming Hellcats, Corsairs and one of the P-51's (Flying Dutchman). If anyone would be interested in any or all of them for a very reasonable price (want them gone) please contact me.

Corey

[donnieboy]

Hey Guys: Forgive me for dusting off this ancient thread I started back in January, but I had two more cosmic insights concerning Yat-Ming's Bf-109.
I was looking at pictures of Bf 109 Ks in sundry aviation books, and noticed that only the K (and a few very late Gs) had bulges on the top of the wings to accommodate its wider tires, and also had a longer tail-wheel strut to improve pilot visibility while taxiing. Guess what? That lowly lil' Yat Ming has those details also. Along with trim tabs on the ailerons, again only found on the K. Add this to the I.D. criteria I mentioned above.