The list of Owner’ workshop
Manuals from Haynes have been bolstered with lots of more unusual things
than cars recently – we have already reviewed one manual on the Tiger I tank
and the P-51 Mustang fighter and find them to be great reads and even better
reference. This manual – on the Bf 109 – looks to emulate the quality of the
first two books we reviewed, let’s see if it does…
Haynes Publishing’s Messerschmitt Bf109 Owner’s Workshop Manual
1935
onwards (all Marks) Review
Series: Owner's
Workshop Manual
164
pages containing 150 colour & 100 B&W illustrations
Binding: 270 x
210mm, Hardcover
Book No: H4642
Language: English
ISBN: 9781844256426
Available directly from their site: £19.99
This is the fourth Haynes manual I have in my collection. The guys that were so famous for their manuals on how to look after your car have branched out into lots of different areas – from ships to spaceships, from the battle tank to the BBQ (I jest you not) the manuals I have are all on subjects apart from cars. This book on the Bf 109 – one of the most famous and THE best-selling model kit in history must appeal surely?
This is the fourth Haynes manual I have in my collection. The guys that were so famous for their manuals on how to look after your car have branched out into lots of different areas – from ships to spaceships, from the battle tank to the BBQ (I jest you not) the manuals I have are all on subjects apart from cars. This book on the Bf 109 – one of the most famous and THE best-selling model kit in history must appeal surely?
Well this book seems to be laid out in a similar way
to other books I have read in the enthusiast manuals series – there is a
general introduction, then through the story of the original aircraft and then
they get down and dirty and really examine the subject. For this task Haynes have
done the smart thing and enlisted the help of a man called Paul Blackah - who
restored the famous “Black 6” Bf 109G2 you will see and that is a major part of
the book.
As well as Russ the other author is Malcolm V. Lowe
who was responsible for many other great aviation titles like production line
to frontline series for Osprey. I have to say with these gentlemen’s pen ship
and the in depth knowledge you are in for some good insight in this title.
The book covers all marques of the ‘109 from early
Jumo engined variants to the more well-known Daimler Benz units E through K as
well as the Spanish built Buchons and the Czech Jumo powered Avia C-199 and CS-199 this book covers them
all. However like the other books in this series this title does centre around
one aircraft in particular – the Bf 109G-2 that sits in Hendon’s RAF Museum in
London.
An odd but a very good choice – this aircraft sits
pretty much right in the middle of the aircraft’s development and so has
features of both the early and later Marques. The other reason is the excellent
documentation that has been kept and the great story of the repair and constant
work done on this aircraft to bring it up to flying and then static standard. More
on this later – but this is an excellent choice for this book to centre around.
Indeed the team of men who worked on this book and their recollections make
this book not just a factually correct but a really interesting read.
The book examines the
Warbird market and the type’s gradual increase in popularity from the
post war almost apathy through the
increase after immortalization in the “Battle of Britain” film through till the
fixation this type seems to enjoy now with people’s hearts, especially the
Daimler Benz engined variants.
We examine at first the nomenclature of the aircraft
(no ME109’s here) and the history of this aircraft – this small chapter kind of
leads into the first large section explains the history of the aircraft.
The authors go from the first beginnings of the airframe
and the uses of the “D” model in the testing phase and through the first
actions in the Spanish Civil war. The authors talk about the first actions and
lessons learnt in that conflict and then explain the changes to the “E” model
and then go on to examine the F. G, K and two seater models along with the
variants made in Spain and Czechoslovakia.
The further detail here is in the armament, equipment
and the handling and combat comparisons to other aircraft of the time. A few pages are dedicated to the different power
plants used at the time and there are notes from the pilots as well as a small
box section (there are many to further illustrate interesting points throughout
this book) talks of the aces who flew this plane and their opinions of it.
In the second chapter we learn of the theories and
philosophies of your own restoration of an aircraft like this. All of the major
parts of the aircraft are examined in the chapter and what it takes to restore
them is discussed. Expert Steve Vizard gives his opinions and view on the
restoration process and how to get the best results – it is a skill of the
author to make this and other’s contributions seem just like another part of
the book – never does this manual feel like it was written by part. It is a
seamless production in that aspect.
“Restoring Black 6” takes you through the really
interesting tale of the no doubt star of this book the Messerschmitt which
passed through many sets of potential owners before it ended up at the RAF
Museum at Hendon in North London. The story of the trials and tribulations of
the people who loving restored this aircraft make for some riveting reading.
You can feel the frustration the restorers – lead by Russ Snadden, must have
felt at the sometimes downright unhelpful assistance given them by the MOD and
the people who controlled the destiny of this aircraft. The story should be put
into a book – ohh it was, and it is all here in this manual.
The aircraft’s story of being made from a hulk to
flying condition and then having an accident then re-repair is a great story by
itself and you have to give some credit to this part of the book and the people
who recalled what happened as the heart of the tome.
Then next large chapter talks of the owner’s view of
the aircraft, how to first of all purchase, what to avoid and some of the
things you must be forewarned about before you take the plunge. There is some
information from three different sources about owning or looking after this
bird, from Russ Snadden again (lots of great info here), of the three ‘109’s
owned by EADS in Germany and of Cliff
Spink who owns a Buchon.
Before reading this book I really want that bothered
with Buchons, but cliff’s text gave me a much better understanding and appreciation
of this aircraft.Now I actually look out for these aircraft with a much better understanding the they are not just an "Ersatz" Emil.
The next section of the manual describes the view of
the pilot towards the ‘109. German Luftwaffe, contemporary pilot Dave Southwood
and the greatest test pilot in British history Charlie Brown all give their
interesting views on the bird. Some myths are exposed and some explained.
Factors like the narrow track of the landing gear and the troubles with take-off
and landing are discussed in depth.
There is an excellent photo essay of the start-ups and
shut-down procedures of the aircraft which make for a great instruction if you ever
wanted to steal one from an airfield in wartime Germany!
The last large section in this book is the
description of the aircraft from the view of the engineer. If you ever wanted
to know anything about the internal structure, engine and armament of this
aircraft well this is the place to look.
Paul Blackah who has been working on Black 6 for the
last twenty five years explains every part and quirk of construction and maintenance
of this plane. You can read that he has a real appreciation of all of the ‘109’s
good and sometimes not so good points. This is all pointed out with some really
excellent pictures, diagrams and drawings which illustrate exactly what Paul is
talking about.
This chapter really does give you a great insight to
really knowing the aircraft inside and out and makes you feel you could have a
go yourself if you had a toolbox!
There are four appendices at the rear of the book
which list and show all surviving Bf 109’s and the other three being a glossary
and translation, some useful contacts and a metric conversion table.
I must give credit at this stage also to the people
who gather the illustrations, pictures and diagrams and plans to show you what
the text is trying to relay. The book is pretty seamlessly tied up in these two
areas and the manual never really feels like a dry book you have to read – it
is more like a book you really WANT to read. And a great read it is too.
Great for modellers, enthusiasts or armchair know-it-all’s
– this book also comes with my firm recommendation.
Adam Norenberg
