Messerschmitt Bf-110D Zerstorer (oz4890)

About this Plan

Messerschmitt Bf-110D. Control line scale twin model. Wingspan 54 in, for twin Fox .35 engines, or similar.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 11/2/2025: Added article, thanks to dfritzke.

Quote: "The Messerschmitt 110 ace of the German Luftwaffe, Hans Joachim Jabs, was a success in a plane generally labeled a failure. In his hands the 'zerstorer' (strategic fighter) became a great weapon. Here are scale drawings prepared by Walter A Musciano.

This spectacular 54 inch span control line copy of the world's first strategic fighter should excite every scale enthusiast. Built as detailed, our Messerschmitt will make an easy-to-handle Sunday flyer which will be the envy of everyone at the flying field. When an imaginative builder adds flaps, retractable landing gear, full cockpit, hinged canopy, opening gun hatch, and scale color scheme he is bound to walk away with the hardware at any contest. The abundant wing area can amply support plenty of points-garnering equipment; the long tail moment arm reduces the sensitivity of the controls.

Our model duplicates the Bf-110D Zerstorer (destroyer) of 11/ZG76 as flown by Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) Hans-Joachim Jabs who shot down fifty Allied aircraft during World War Two. Among these were a dozen Spitfires and four Hurricanes. At one time he fought eight Spitfires with his twin engine fighter and shot down two of the speedy British fighters. Jabs served in the battles of Poland, France and Britain as well as at the invasion of Crete and in Norway. He became the Kommodore of NJG-I in 1944.

Messerschmitt's Bf-110 series was developed in an attempt to satisfy Hermann Goering's dream of elite combat units with hand-picked pilots flying long range, fast, maneuverable fighter planes with tremendous fire power. The Zerstarers performed well in the Polish and French campaigns, but generally were outclassed by the agile and speedy Spitfire.

The Bf-110 served in a variety of roles during its six years of warfare including bomber escort, ground support, reconnaissance, bomber intercepting, glider towing and night fighting. The Bf-110 D-3 described here was equipped to carry drop tanks under its wings which more than doubled its radius of action. It was also fitted with a streamline bomb rack under the fuselage for two 550 or two 1100 pound bombs. Four machine guns and two cannon fired forward through the nose while a single machine gun protected the rear. Two 1100 horsepower Daimler-Benz 601A twelve cylinder engines gave a maximum 349 miles per hour at 22,965 feet. Normal range was 565 miles.

As a service to the builder we have arranged with Supercraft Models, 174 Main Street, Ridgefield Park, N.J., to make a special canopy. This heavy weight plastic canopy is #3 postpaid.

Construction begins with the wing. Cut spars and spar joiners and notch. Cement spars between joiners forming dihedral; set aside to dry under pressure. When wing ribs are cut, cement them into spars' notches. Use lots of cement when installing hardwood bellcrank mount. Attach wire lead-out lines to bellcrank and slip wire through holes in ribs. Bend control rod and slip into bellcrank. Bolt bellcrank in place. Solder washer to control rod end to prevent rod from slipping off bellcrank. Check operation of controls. Add leading edge, trim to shape.

Cover wing with 1/8 sheet balsa which has been butt-joined prior to installation. Cut this to shape of wing but with about 1/4 in extra to compensate for camber. Cover wing in six sections; bottom is covered first. Apply liberal quantities of slow drying cement to leading edge, spars, ribs and press one side of lower covering to structure. Hold with straight pins until dry. Repeat for bottom of other panel. Before top is covered firmly cement lead weight in outboard wingtip. Sheet lead, about 1/8 thick, ideal for this, is available at hardware stores or plumbing supply house.

Bevel lower covering leading and trailing edges to follow contour of rib upper camber. Sand smooth with sanding block. Prepare upper covering, cut slot for control rod. Cover top in four sections. Apply cement to ribs, leading edge, spars and bevelled portions of lower covering and install upper covering..."

Supplementary file notes

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