Mystery model

Wieesso,

Thanks very much – I didn’t know about the LEMB database, which is a marvellous resource.

The fact that NU+TS does not appear suggests it may be a fictional code, or that it is not yet included in the database, since it is not comprehensive (but certainly the best listing by far!)

Thanks nonetheless for your help.

The model is definitely not designed as a flyer, either indoors or not and I see no connection with the Peanut flyers or other similar types. Sorry, but in this case there is no link.

The model is hand-made from wood which may explain a slight lack of 100% accuracy compared with injection-moulded plastic kits. From what I’ve seen (and thanks to everyone who has posted – I’m really grateful for your input) I’m pretty well convinced that wieesso is correct and the model represents a Klemm. The only real discrepancy is the inclusion of undercarriage doors, but otherwise it is a near perfect match and I’m inclined to go with this identification. Thanks wieesso, I had completely failed to consider the Klemm possibility.

This then raises the question of if it is indeed a Klemm, does NU+TS represent a real unit, and if so which one? Is it possible to identify which units operated Klemms and which codes their aircraft wore?

Ian, in the LEMB database I only found one KL31 with a N reg-number (NJ+CM). And there are only 9 NU reg-numbers ever: NU+AA, NU+BA, NU+EA, NU+EB, NU+EC, NU+ED, NU+FO, NU+MC, NU+OL. And in a combination with N and TS only NA+TS, NW+TS
Martin
Picture: http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/stammkennzeichen.html

Unit Codes

Nothing definite here, but the following info may be of assistance somehow…

This is quoted from ‘The Eagles in the Nest – Part 1″ a special by Scale Aviation Modeller.

“… when the WL registrations were abolished in October 1939 in favour of the simjpler system which was to endure for the rest of the war. This consised of four letters running in alphabetical sequence form and gave an enormous number of potential combinations. Essentilly, the system ran in alphabetical progression i.e. AA+AA to AA+AZ, then AA+BA to AA+BZ, and so on. Both manufacturers and training units were allocated blocks of letters, amongst which were gaps for security purposes. …”

“In the early days, the first two letters sometimes served to identify units. For instance, PF+?? is believed to have identified aircraft based on the group of airfields to the west of Prague in Czechoslovakia. However, as new aircraft were delivered or transferred, codes became inevitably mixed. …”

JJ

The model is definitely not designed as a flyer, either indoors or not and I see no connection with the Peanut flyers or other similar types. Sorry, but in this case there is no link.

The model is hand-made from wood which may explain a slight lack of 100% accuracy compared with injection-moulded plastic kits. From what I’ve seen (and thanks to everyone who has posted – I’m really grateful for your input) I’m pretty well convinced that wieesso is correct and the model represents a Klemm. The only real discrepancy is the inclusion of undercarriage doors, but otherwise it is a near perfect match and I’m inclined to go with this identification. Thanks wieesso, I had completely failed to consider the Klemm possibility.

This then raises the question of if it is indeed a Klemm, does NU+TS represent a real unit, and if so which one? Is it possible to identify which units operated Klemms and which codes their aircraft wore?

I think the code NU+TS may refer to this mob…

Nige

Thanks Nige, What a beautiful site.

I think the code NU+TS may refer to this mob…

Nige

Yes

Definitely has something of the Bestmann about it, but only in a ‘character scale’ way. Tail, fuse, cockpit and fixed undercart suggest it – but for that radial engine…

(apologies for the awful quality of the photo, it’s cropped down from one with several other a/c in the frame…)

Was the Bestmann the aircraft that the James Garner and Donald Pleasance characters fly off in , in the film “The Great Escape?”

It’s definately a Whiffer or Bitsa – the undercarriage is actually off a Polikarpov I-16. But it’s been swapped over so that it retracts outwards rather than inwards – the geometry of the doors attached to the legs is quite distinctive.

Overall fuselage shape is redolent of the Klemm but the leading edge of the fin is very similar to the Bf-108.

Does the code NU+TS relate to any particular unit and hence an a/c type ?

I believe the best possible definition is… ‘kit-bashed’ while almost possibly maybe looking sorta like part of something that looks like a ‘Taifun’ or ‘some kinda Junkers’… my money’s on “how many bits from different kits can I use to make something that might look real” – hence the NU+TS codes

JJ

But it’s got retractable u/c – why else would the doors be attached to the legs?

Roger Smith.

Let’s try this one, a KLEMM 31 aXIV

Definitely has something of the Bestmann about it, but only in a ‘character scale’ way. Tail, fuse, cockpit and fixed undercart suggest it – but for that radial engine…

(apologies for the awful quality of the photo, it’s cropped down from one with several other a/c in the frame…)

Guess it’s a KLEMM KL 105.

Martin

Not ‘108 U/C with those struts… unless they’re ‘add-ons’? :confused:

On closer inspection it looks like it has a fixed under cart too. Can’t see it being a flyer as the wheels look permanently fixed.

martin

I think it’s a “Bitsa” – Bucker cockpit and tail, Me 108 wings/uc (although the legs are too far apart), Steiglitz’s engine (massive exhaust pipe underneath with no sign of a collector ring).

Roger Smith.

To me it looks like someone used up all his leftover bits to create something new. I’d be surprised if it turns out to be a proper representation of something (previously) airworthy.

Indeed the aircraft looks radial-engined, compare the size of the engine to the size of the pilot though…. (assuming a single seat aircraft) not much power there!

Have just enlarged the photo of Ian’s model and it seems to be radial engined! So was I wrong about the Bf 108 or was it a modelmakers mistake?
Ray