Me 108 Taifun (oz10778)

About this Plan

Me 108 Taifun. Radio control scale model.

Quote: "Simon Delaney offers another simple to build scale design, for .20 -.32 sized engines. Bf 108 Taifun.

The Bf 108 'Taifun' was the result of a contract awarded to Willy Messerschmitt for a sporting aircraft for the 1934 Challenge de Tourisme Internationale. It was probably the most modern four seater aeroplane built anywhere in the world before World War II and featured a spacious, well appointed cockpit and retractable undercarriage. Powered by the reliable Argos 240hp inverted V8 engine, the Luftwaffe were soon using it for light communication and liaison duties. Having similarities to its more famous successor, the Bf109, the Taifun's elegant 1930's lines could be found in all theatres that the Luftwaffe operated in so the options for paint finishes vary from pre-war civilian livery to Eastern and Western front camouflage, as well as the desert scheme which the prototype model received.

I used foam wings for my model, although built up ones could be easily substituted. Undercarriage is optional as the 108 is a good size for hand-launching. I fitted an undercarriage which could be removed and formed some finger grips on the underside of the wing to help with the hand launch. This way both options are covered - although not on the same flight!

The outline of the model is as near to scale as I could make it and therefore should be thought of as a scale model, not semi-scale or fun scale. The amount of detail you wish to add is up to you but remember to watch the weight.

Assuming that you opt for the foam wing version, the first thing to do is send off for your ready veneered wing panels. These sharply tapering wings are quite thick at the root but thin out considerably at the tip. This is as per the full size aircraft and should not be viewed with any concern by those used to thicker tip sections. Two degrees of wash-out are shown on the plan which covers any tendency to drop a wing at low speeds.

Build your kit. Whilst you wait for your wings to arrive you can get on with the fuselage. The construction uses 1/8 balsa sides and bottom with a block 'spine' glued on the top of the rear deck. A 1/16 ply cockpit floor is utilised to strengthen an otherwise weak area and 1/16 ply is also employed as doublers to 'beef up' the forward fuselage sides. Make up all the parts for the fuselage and tailplane. The formers are all from 1/8th balsa with Fl and F2 from 1/4 and 1/8 ply respectively. Make up the fuselage doublers also, and note that they finish 1/4 in behind the balsa fuselage side. This is to self- align Fl. Otherwise the doubler follows the same lines as the fuselage side until it terminates behind F3. Mark all formers with a centre line and also mark where the fuselage side is glued to them to guide you during alignment.

Once all the parts have been cut out accurately to the plan, glue the ply doublers to the balsa sides with contact adhesive. To get these lined up properly (you only get one go with contact glue!) I tack glued a scrap piece of 1/4 in square on the front of the balsa side to simulate F1 and lined the top edges of the balsa and ply against the worktop. Once glued, the scrap balsa was then broken away to leave the correct width for F1 to fit..."

Messerschmitt Taifun, RCM&E, September 1996.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to RFJ.

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