An exceptionally impressive 1:32 scale diecast representation of Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2/Trop Werknummer 10639, the famous “Black 6” associated with Leutnant Heinz Lüdemann of 8./Jagdgeschwader 77 during the North African campaign. Released as Corgi Aviation Archive AA34909, this large and highly detailed collector model depicts the aircraft at Gambut, Libya, during November 1942 and was limited to just 999 pieces worldwide.
Black 6 served with 8./JG 77 during the intense fighting which accompanied the Axis withdrawal following the Battle of El Alamein. On 4th November 1942, the aircraft was damaged and forced to make an emergency landing, with Lüdemann suffering slight wounds.
The aircraft was subsequently moved to Gambut for repair but was abandoned as German forces withdrew. It was captured later that month and became one of the extremely small number of genuine wartime Bf 109s ultimately preserved in the United Kingdom.
Corgi reproduces Black 6 in its distinctive North African desert camouflage, with the prominent black tactical number 6, German national markings, yellow lower engine cowling and white wingtip identification markings. The scheme has become particularly familiar to British enthusiasts through the aircraft's later preservation and display history.
After decades of preservation and restoration, Black 6 was returned to airworthy condition and became one of the most historically significant aircraft to appear on the British airshow circuit. Its display career ended following a landing accident at Duxford in October 1997, after which the aircraft was retired from flying.
The surviving airframe, Werknummer 10639, remains part of the Royal Air Force Museum collection. Its survival provides an exceptionally rare opportunity to examine an authentic wartime Bf 109G rather than one of the later Spanish-built derivatives frequently used to represent Messerschmitt fighters in films and displays.
The Bf 109G series introduced the more powerful Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine and became the most numerous family of Messerschmitt's famous fighter. The G-2 retained relatively clean aerodynamic lines before later Gustav variants acquired increasingly prominent bulges and additional equipment.
Designed primarily as a single-seat fighter and interceptor, the Bf 109 combined a compact airframe with powerful armament and excellent climb performance. Tropicalised aircraft operating in North Africa incorporated equipment intended to improve reliability in the exceptionally dusty desert environment.
Corgi's enormous 1:32 Bf 109 tooling allows an exceptional level of functional detail. The model features movable control surfaces on metal hinges, configurable landing gear, an opening canopy, a removable upper engine cowling revealing a detailed engine bay, leading-edge slats, independently deployable radiator flaps and a removable centreline drop tank.
With a worldwide production run of only 999 pieces, AA34909 was already one of the lower-production 1:32 aircraft released within the Corgi Aviation Archive range. This particular example is especially notable for being supplied with Certificate No. 02/999, an exceptionally low certificate number within the edition. Combined with the imposing 1:32 scale, extensive working features and the remarkable history of the surviving Black 6, this makes the example particularly appealing from a collector's perspective.
Fact Sheet
Brand: Corgi
Series: Aviation Archive Collector Series
Scale: 1:32
Model Code/MPN: AA34909
Aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2/Trop
Werknummer: 10639
Aircraft Marking: Black 6
Associated Pilot: Leutnant Heinz Lüdemann
Unit/Markings: 8./Jagdgeschwader 77
Location: Gambut, Libya
Year/Date: November 1942
Operator/Country: Luftwaffe / Germany
Conflict: Second World War
Theatre: North African Campaign
Role: Single-Seat Fighter / Interceptor
Engine: Daimler-Benz DB 605A
Preservation: Surviving original aircraft in the Royal Air Force Museum collection
Limited Edition: 999 pieces worldwide
Material: Heavyweight diecast metal with detailed plastic sub-components
Special Features: Authentic Black 6 desert camouflage, movable control surfaces, configurable landing gear, opening canopy, removable engine cowling with detailed engine bay, leading-edge slats, deployable radiator flaps and removable centreline drop tank
Dimensions
Length: 11.25" or 28.6 cm
Width (Wingspan): 12.5" or 31.8 cm
