Inbuilt, printed bowden lines are included in the model for the rudder and elevator, with the joint wings and fuselage made so that they are partially flexible. This allows for better durability in landings—especially if they are rough. Scale is 1:12, and the plane features a wingspan of 1032mm (40.6in) / 890mm (35.0in). Dokoupil points out that for this latest model release, they made ‘many and further improvements’ since their last project.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is also often referred to as the ME 109, and was a German World War II fighter aircraft created in the early to mid 1930s. Considered to be a progressive and modern fighter at that time, the ME 109 included features such as:
- An all-metal monocoque construction
- Closed canopy and retractable landing gear
- Liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 aero engine
3DLabPrint offers quite a history on the plane, which was considered to be ‘the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s fighter force,’ and was flown by three of the top aces in World War II, who were able to claim an impressive number of victories.
All of the files are created for the desktop 3D printer, and final assembly requires only a few extra components. As you check out the plane in the video below, it’s easy to see how this type of hobby can become so addicting. The plane is striking in appearance and flies high and fast, doing rapid turns and rolls that will surely make you glad you aren’t actually riding in one scaled to size.
Due to extensive hi-tech 3D structural reinforcement, the model is able to retain the proper rigidity while also offering a lightweight airframe.
“This perfect and exact 3D structure is possible only due to 3D printing technology,” states Dokoupil.
Without the need for any extra hardware, Dokoupil says you’ll only need to focus on gluing your 3D printed parts together and then making pushrods for control. With an easy guide and video to refer to, after that all you need to do is add the brushless motor, ESC, servos, and radio system. The result is a high-performance model that will fly for over seven minutes at full throttle, going over 150 kph, with low stall speed for an easy landing.
The package offers the H variant (the high-altitude fighter) with bigger wings, and then the F variant with smaller wings, with both available at 3DLabPrint for $20.
Further specs are as follows:
- Length: 771mm(30.35in)
- Wingspan: 1032mm(40.6in)/890mm(35.0in)
- Height: 170mm(6.7in)
- Wing area: 16.1 dm2
- Wing loading: 51.0 g/dm2
- Airfoil: aircombat modificated
- Print weight: 410g(14.5oz)
- Takeoff weight (6s 1300 lipo): 821g(28.9oz)
- Max takeoff weight: 960g(33.8oz)
- Never exceed speed, VNE: 205km/h
- Design maneuvering speed, VA: 165km/h
- Stall speed, VS: 33km/h
- Powerplant
- Propeller: aeronaut ELP 9/6 or APC 9/6 – 9/7.5
- Motor: AX-4008Q/620KV, 22pole brushless HE electric motor
- ESC: Castle Creations TALON 25
- Battery: Turnigy nanotech 1300 mAh/6s/22.2V, 206g, 25C
For more information, see 3DLabPrint and the product PDF. Discuss further in the 3D Printable BF 109 Model Plane forum over at 3DPB.com.