Me 109 Tail Section

[Stormfighter]

I lucked out yesterday. I picked up this Me 109 tail section at a flea market. I've seen these at shows, but never such a nice example. I always wanted one, but never wanted to pay the prices that dealers were asking. The best part about getting this tail section was the price - $60!!

Barry

[PaulMann]

tail section swaz

simply wicked congrats!

cheers,
Pauli

[longislandercjv]

Very nice score Barry!

How about finding me some shoulder straps at that flea market?

Chris

[Arthur Kullmer]

Love it

[pablo10]

wow, an amazing find at a great price and if you ever get tired of looking at it please do inform me .

any thoughts on what the rest of the plane was?

[kyles bullets]

Always love these. Super find Barry!

[Pitomnik]

Sorry gent's ! But this tail section is 100% FAKE

[BenVK]

Hmm, it's a strange one for sure. The stringer and the latches/screws do not match with the ones I've seen on original ME109 panels. The paint looks very fresh as well.

Beats me why anyone would make a fake panel that ends up being sold for only $60 though?!

Could it be from a replica 109?

[kradman]

Yes sorry its a fake look at original ones and see the difference on the rear side

[Sergey65]

...

I am also sure that it is a fake.
At least everything speaks for it. Fasteners, paint, no traces of time.

I think that unfortunately gone are the days when you could buy such original items at a flea market.

Best regards,
Sergey

[Andy F-P]

Barry,
That would have been the find of the year but I am sorry to agree with the last few posters. There are too many red flags on this one and it looks like it was painted yesterday.
Regards,
Andy

[lenny]

Fake I'd say also, those large fasteners don't look like aircraft fasteners.... Paint is too fresh and doesn't have the normally seen undercoat.

Saying that, for $60 it's a nice display piece, but not real IMHO.

[Adam S.]

I was surprised at all of the initial positive comments as I am also sure that it is bad.

Still not a bad price for a display piece.

Could we see the cut edges at the support struts?

[Stormfighter]

Thanks for all of the comments. I will take better pictures tomorrow and post them. The piece definitely shows signs of age and if you have it in hand, it does not look like it was painted recently. I plan to contact some aircraft experts, including a contact at the Smithsonian's Garber Facility where WWII German aircraft are restored. I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't original, but I want to hear from experts who can explain in detail why it isn't. For what it's worth, I asked the flea market dealer where he obtained the piece and he told me he bought it at an estate sale.

Barry

[juvatwad]

Fake....One easy tell are the "stringers" on the reverse. Period stringers I've seen were typically wider with two rows of rivets. Also, although I haven't seen a ton of originals, the ones I have seen are bare metal on the reverse. That may be related to when the plane was built though. I do know of an early war FW-190 fin that is bare metal on the reverse.

Ian