109 PANEL/SEAM LINES

[Kutscha]

I don't know much about the US aircraft or other countries, but all panels on the Me109 "interlocked"...meaning they overlapped each other by around 2-3 cm.

Agh Mike, look at the bottom right of the pic you posted. There is certainly not any overlap.

[harrison987]

Originally Posted by Kutscha

Agh Mike, look at the bottom right of the pic you posted. There is certainly not any overlap.

Look at the front panel in the upper left-hand corner. You can see there are rivets on one side only...showing they were overlapping. This was on all panel of the Me109...

here is a close-up.

[George Hopp]

Yes, Harrison, that was one of the ways Mtt made his products so aerodynamic. He had one one flat panel; and then he would have 2 panels with bulkheads molded in, and with a skin depth recess at either end, which were riveted to the flat panel's ends. Therefore, overlap, but with only one line of rivets. Below is a drawing of the fuselage joining I mentioned above. It's from the Bf 109 C/D handbook.

Great photo, Harrison!

PS. As Artie noted, there was butt-joint riveting at the top and bottom of the fuselage because that's where the two fuselage halves were brought together

I apologize for the double posting.

All the best,
George

[Kutscha]

but all panels on the Me109 "interlocked"...meaning they overlapped each other by around 2-3 cm.

All panels certainly did not overlap. The lower right in the photo shows a butt joint.

[harrison987]

Kutscha...you are looking at the BOTTOM FUSELAGE of the Me109.

The fuselage was skinned in 2 halves...both halves joined at the top and at the bottom (what you are referring to in the photo). No overlapping was done on the top and bottom seam, however they overlapped on all sides. Section 3 overlapped 2 and 4...section 5 overlapped 4 and 6, etc.

Please reference Georges photo...

Mike

[Revi16]

Here's a couple pics,

[George Hopp]

Boy, those photos really show how tight fitting those joints could be -- probably a bit better than wartime quality, but wonderful work!

[mmoustaf]

There was overlap according to factory blueprints. 22 mm. Same was with a seam as fuselage consisted of two halves.

Depending on quality sometimes it's hardly seen, but sometimes (Lutzow's mount filled with putty) it could be noticed.

[markjsheppard]

Hi all

Two photos of Bf109 E-1/E-7 3523 CS+AJ in the UK in 2004. Lost in 1942 with JG5. Built 1939 it was overhauled in late 1941 (paint strip back and factory repairs before desert colours applied). These joints are pretty tight. I think even a primer and top coat would basically fill it. Saw no evidence of filler.

regards

Mark