Modellers Datafile 9
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 – Part 1:
Prototype to “E” Variants: Lynn Ritger,

SAM Publications, UK, 2005,
ISBN 0-9551858-0-7

Reviewed by Jim Schubert

WOW! I’m impressed and I’m not even a 109 fan. This is a great book for aviation enthusiasts and modelers. On my initial flip-through upon receipt, I was immediately disappointed that it did not address the “V” (Versuchs – test/prototype) series in much depth. When, however, I sat down and seriously read the book, I found its many other virtues completely outweighed my initial misgivings.

The main feature of Lynn Ritger’s presentation that so impresses me is the thorough historical context into which he inserts his tale of the early Bf 109s. He starts with the political and economic fallout of WWI; explaining the naïve unpreparedness and unawareness of France, Britain, Belgium, Holland, Norway and Denmark to the real world in which they lived in proximity to an angered, humiliated, strong Germany eager for revenge and expansion. This gives the reader the historical setting for the emergence of the Bf 109 and its classical adversaries. This book is not just a techie’s coverage of the nuts and bolts of an airplane type; although it is that too. It is the whole story. I have four others of SAM’s Modellers Datafiles: the two Spitfire volumes, the Hurricane and the Mosquito. This volume is far and away the best of the lot. The only quibbles I have with Mr. Ritger’s work is the already mentioned slighting of the V series and that the photos, almost all in color, in the walkaround section are all too small.

Everything a serious modeler needs, not only to build but, to understand the early 109s is in this book. The section that will become most quickly dated, however, relates to build reviews of 12 current kits of the 109.

Apart from the outstanding quality of the contents, here – by the numbers – is what you get for your money:

· 176 pages well printed on good quality, glossy paper bound in stout paper covers,
· 303 black & white photos,
· 276 color photos,
· 63 drawings,
· 45 color profiles,
· 16 tables of deployments and losses,
· Two color CGI renderings on the covers and
· A quadruple foldout with 29 general arrangement and detail drawings.

My library is a little light on 109 stuff but I do have the Airfix book, the two Aero Details, Russ Snadden’s book on Black 6 and Warpaint Special No. 2 illustrated and written by our own Publisher Chris Banyai-Riepl. This volume from SAM is far better than any of those. I shall buy Part 2 immediately it is offered.

It is, indeed, a single source reference. Buy one.

I paid about US$31.00 plus shipping directly from the publisher.