EADS Buchon/ bf-109s

Buchon colour scheme

Roobarb, Congratulations to you and all involved in your work.
I also remember the “Wildcat days”, Thank Goodness they seem to be over.
Its always a pleasure to see such accurate camouflage schemes on warbirds. I have been following the scene for many a year now.

There are some in Texas!

Me too 🙂

Forty years on, I would like to see a Buchon back in BoB film livery. 🙂

Mark

I will say that the Buchon at Legends had a very convincing camouflage. The owners must have done alot of “homework” before applying the scheme it now has. Its flying display was also very enjoyable to watch. More power to them!

I’m glad you enjoyed seeing this rare aircraft fly and appreciated the scheme even though it is of course incorrect for a Hispano airframe. As the person responsible for researching, overseeing and doing some of the application on G-AWHE (that’s the one on overhaul) on behalf of the owner, I can assure you that we go to great lengths to try to get the scheme as authentic as we can. The scheme will represent a BF109 on a Buchon airframe. We are using correct RLM colour’s matched to known correct chips. There will have to be some adjustment of certain details of the scheme to accomodate the different lines forward of the firewall but it should still look good. Even the pipework in the engine bay is being colour coded as per the RLM directive for the different systems and you’re not even likely to ever see them! Although not in Spanish A/F colours I am sure most people will still enjoy this aircraft when we roll it out in the future. Apart from the Confederate (sorry Commemorative:rolleyes:) Air Force and their Wildcat the “bad old days” of 1970’s glossy cammo are history. Unless someone knows different;)

Buchon colour scheme

Of course its up to the owner to decide what colour scheme he or she wants.
Its their “baby”, including all the cost.

I will say that the Buchon at Legends had a very convincing camouflage. The owners must have done alot of “homework” before applying the scheme it now has. Its flying display was also very enjoyable to watch. More power to them!

I was only saying the many of the people at airshows don’t know if an aircraft has the correct camouflage or not. Therefore, for them, if its WW2 German than it must have that black cross on the fin…

There are many examples of warbirds with beautiful civilian paint jobs, late mark Spitfires come to mind. Or some of the Reno racers.

I still though like the Spanish scheme on the Merlin powered 109’s.

Possibly the only “neutral” scheme for a Buchon (that would avoid the Luftwaffe/Spanish/Battle of Britain film debate) would be to paint it in a purpose designed civil scheme

As opposed to a ‘civil war’ scheme? 😉

I suppose though that the average “airshow tourist” wants to see a german scheme on a 109!

In the case of the Buchon under overhaul at Duxford, it is down to what the owner wants on his machine and nothing to do with the desires of “airshow tourists”, photographers, enthusiasts, engineers or colour scheme specialists. I am sure the warbird colour scheme debate will rage on for ever. Possibly the only “neutral” scheme for a Buchon (that would avoid the Luftwaffe/Spanish/Battle of Britain film debate) would be to paint it in a purpose designed civil scheme with the registration in the CAA required 30cm letters on the fuselage sides…;)
I thought MH434 looked pretty good in its civil scheme myself.

Merlin engined 109

The Musee de l’air, Le Bourget, Paris has a Spanish 109, ie HA-1112 M-1L Buchon. It has not been on display for quite a while now but its in its original silver with Spanish AF markings. I think that it looks much better than those with a WW2 Luftwaffe camouflage. Definately more accurate for the type.
I suppose though that the average “airshow tourist” wants to see a german scheme on a 109!
I remember the Black 6 at Legends, the engine sound was again completely different than the Merlin, Allison, etc. I have not yet heard the German ones on the European airshow circuit. Some day soon I hope.
For “early warning” of enemy aircraft approaching you just need trained ears, be it “them” or “us”.

Spanish I Hope!

Yes ARC are doing the Buchon overhaul not HFL. Its coming on nicely and the fuselage was trundled into the paintshop on Thursday last week. You’ll have to wait to find out the scheme though…

I would presume cost would be the factor for bringing the EADS ‘109s over here.

Isn’t ARCo doing the work on the ex-CAF Buchon?

Nice to see an update on their fleet, but I’m also thinking in a historic perspective. Apart from when the Hanna’s used the DB powered Buchon in 1995 no DB 109 has been present (Black 6 apart). What is the reason? Don’t the organizers want them, doesn’t EADS want to travel that far, or what is the reason. Lufthansa usually bring their JU-52 and 108 across from Germany.

T J

It would be good if HLF could pop in a DB!-i guess thats an awful lot more work, though

I think Black 2 is undergoing a major rebuild at the moment and FMBB is also being worked on.

red 7 is certified to but the other 2 are not i seem to recall.

Remember next year should see the appearance of the ex CAF buchon being restored by HFL.