New Year Special  Hobby Master 1:48 Air Power Series HA8750 Messerschmitt Bf 109G Luftwaffe 4./JG 52, Erich Hartmann, Hungary, 1944, 1/48 Scale Diecast Model, 8.25" Wingspan, 7.5" Long, Optional Up & Down Landing Gear, Armaments & Display Stand Are Included.

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that was, along with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force.

The first Bf-109G ôGustavö entered service in March 1942. New features were a pressurized cockpit with three larger guns mounted on the nose and none on the wings but could be field mounted. The Bf-109G could overheat causing oil leaks; starting a fire forcing the pilot to bail out. The Gustav was produced in many variants including long-range fighters, recon fighters and bomber destroyers. The Bf-109G-6 lacked a pressurized cockpit but was the most numerous Bf-109 produced and the first to carry 13mm machine guns; equivalent to the American 50 caliber Browning.

On January 30, 1944 Erich Hartmann claimed six enemy aircraft; his 178th û 183rd victories and on February 1, 1944 Erich Hartmann claimed another five victories; his 186th û 190th. On February 26, 1944 10 Airacobras fell victim to Hartmann. On October 1, 1944 he was appointed Staffelkapit?n of 4./JG 52 (or 7./JG 52) based in Hungary and by yearÆs end Hartmann had a total of 331 victories. At the end of WWII HartmannÆs total victory tally stood at 352 after having flown 825 missions.