The Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-4 was the last operational variant of the iconic German fighter series developed during World War II. Introduced in late 1944, the K-4 was part of a concerted effort to standardize design features and streamline production amid the increasingly desperate circumstances facing the Luftwaffe. Powered by a Daimler-Benz DB 605D engine, the K-4 could reach impressive speeds of up to about 725 km/h (450 mph) at altitude, giving it formidable performance even as Allied air superiority grew. Externally, it closely resembled earlier G-models but benefited from improvements that enhanced its performance and manoeuvrability, including a refined cowling and a streamlined fuselage. This variant was also notable for being one of the fastest Bf 109s to see operational service, although its speed and climb rates were offset by a limited availability of skilled pilots and constantly diminishing fuel and resources.
Armament on the Bf 109 K-4 typically included a 30 mm MK 108 cannon firing through the propeller hub, supplemented by two 13 mm MG 131 machine guns above the engine. Despite its potent firepower and refined design, the K-4 still suffered from some classic Bf 109 challenges, such as a narrow landing gear that made ground handling treacherous. Nonetheless, it remained a lethal adversary when flown by well-trained pilots. While the K-4 arrived too late in the conflict to decisively affect the Luftwaffe’s fortunes, its development exemplified Messerschmitt’s continual efforts to refine and extend the service life of the Bf 109 series, even under some of the most demanding conditions any aircraft manufacturer had yet faced.
This model recreates an aircraft that was captured intact at Airing airfield and ended up at the nearby Salzburg-Maxglan airfield, where it was pictured in poor condition, with crudely applied US national insignia on the starboard fuselage and lower wing.
Build Process
Project Inventory
| Kit | Box | Scale | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eduard Bf 109K-4 Overtrees Sprues only; no decals, instructions, mask or PE parts |  | 1/48 | 82166X |
| Exito Decals In Enemy Hands |  | 1/48 | ED48012 |
| Eduard Bf 109F & G Pitot tubes |  | 1/48 | 648332 |
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