Jeff Foley is no stranger to the winners’ circle, taking two Mr. Top Gun titles, winning the Masters class five times and the Top Gun Pro-am pro once. His Messerschmitt Me-109E is still the only “single engined, WW 2 fighter” to win Mr. Top Gun! It also a 5 time winner of the AMA Nats in the Designer Class and Jeff has earned the AMA Flight Achievement Award. Hard to believe that Jeff designed it in 1998! Jeff says, it is getting a bit small now for competition and he hopes to have something else to compete with next year.
Jeff comments: “We are definitely burning the midnight oil here getting ready for Top Gun! Regular work on UAVs during the day and working on TG models at night. My co-worker, Mark Farmer will be making his first appearance at TG with a T-45 Hawk done in the Navy retro scheme and my son Brad will be returning to fly in Pro-am Pro flying a Ziroli P-38. He placed 3rd in Pro-am sportsman a few years ago and has been tied up with graduating college since then.
The 109 is coming along well. It is the same model I flew last year and I am making a few upgrades. I am correcting the items I lost static points on last year, adding more power and doing some tweaking on the flying qualities. Should be much better than last year. I had very few flights on this airplane last year and it showed. Although this model is the same design as the one I had previously…it is a little heavier and flies different. “
Above: Present day scheme (Left), 2003 scheme (Right.)
Specs are:
- Scale 1/4.5
- Span: 86 in.
- Weight: 26 lbs
- Power: DA 50
- Radio: JR 12X
- Gear: Modified Platt
No, I don’t think so, at least not this year. Maybe one or 2 more wins, eventually, but each year it is shrinking in size in relation to all the competitors. AND it has some brand new comptition from a particular new DH Mosquito which is making it’s first trip to TG this year. Many of us who don’t compete are getting VERY spoiled by the absolutely incredible models these builders and fliers put out each year. A huge BRAVO and THANK YOU for the whole contest, especially what the organizers do every year to put on a great show.
THANK YOU!!
I have an old Royal Kit of a BF109 and this article makes me want to go home and start building. But I need 4 more building tables or finish the 4 projects I’ve got going. Great Job and I hope you do win.
Gerry: Perhaps you can help me with some tips on how to reproduce the old style rivet, the same as in the letter head picture of MAN On-Line. I’m working hard in a Grumman F3F-3
Bi-Plane 1/5th scale and it does have millions of rivets. Would appreciate your help. Thank you.
Hi Jorge, send me an email at gerryy@airage.com and I’ll be happy to chat with you about raised head rivet detailing. We’ll leave the Top Gun page alone.
cheers,
GY