Bf-109 Fuselage seam

[tempestwulf]

Help me out here guys. I have squadron/signal books but they always seem to show the drawings split top/bottom so can't get a good look at the bottom of the Bf-109.

Should there be a seam line running down the guts of a 109's belly where the fuselage panels meet?

[Bruce]

I cant find any photos to confirm it, but there should be a seam. 109 fuselages (and the 108 and 110) were made in an interesting way, with every second panel being pressed to form flanges, which took the place of internal frames. These were alternated with unflanged panels, flush rivetted to produce a very light but strong component. As the presses would not be able to press a complete "ring", each flanged section would have to have a seam somewhere As there doesnt appear to be a horizontal seam line of the fuselage side, I'm picking that it is underneath.
Airframe assemblies ltd at Sandown on the Isle of white have recently made the tooling for 109 fuselages. See thier web page www.airframes.co.uk/ and look under "projects" that may help.

[alanw]

Hi

Here's a site I use, click on images and it has some photos of a
109 fuselage, including a couple of belly (you can see the belly)
shots

www3.sympatico.ca/tomcat1/

Hope this helps ;D

Alan