Vogelsang's Messerschmitt 328

Model Airplane News, Mar 1998 by Nelson, Jerry

REGULAR ATTENDEE at the Las Vegas QSAA giant scale fly in is Jorg Vogelsang of Hagen, Germany. Jorg is widely known for his exceptional, giant-scale models and even more so for the extremely high level of craftsmanship he obtains with each project.

Jorg won the Best of Show award at the 1997 QSAA meet with his scratchbuilt, 27-percent-scale Messerschmitt 328. The original aircraft was built late in WW II and was used to test pulse-jet and turbine engines. Jorg's model is built of fiberglass and carbon fiber and has an aluminum main spar in the wing. Wing construction is mostly carbon fiber. The Me 328 is powered by two AMT turbines producing 22 pounds of thrust each. With a ready-to-fly weight of 45 pounds, the model has an impressive power to weight ratio.

The model is very scale in function, and Jorg has incorporated a retractable, shock absorbing, air-operated landing skid system for landings. A bungie cord and a droppable wheeled dolly are used to catapult the aircraft on takeoff. The entire nose section is removable for access to the radio equipment and to allow the starting of the twin AMT turbines. A split-rudder speed brake helps slow the model during landings.

At the 1997 QSAA event, Jorg flew his Me 328 twice during the noontime flight demo periods, and everyone was impressed with the model's performance. At full power, the AMT turbines are very quiet in operation and provide an exceptional rate of climb; it was obvious that there was lots of power available. The aircraft appears to fly in the 200mph speed range, and landings are done with the engines at idle or shut down completely (they are so quiet, it is hard to tell which).

An interesting note is about the fuel. Jorg uses Jet A1 fuel to power the model. When he went to the local airport to purchase the fuel, the operator would not allow him to put the fuel into a can to bring to the field; he would only sell the fuel if it was put directly into a full-size aircraft. After much discussion, an agreement was made to allow Jorg to purchase five gallons of jet fuel and bring it to the event.

Jorg is an exceptional modeler, and all his aircraft are magnificent, to say the least. His next project will be a 40to SO-percent-scale Curtiss Pusher biplane, and we just know it will be a masterpiece of engineering. All of his projects are the ultimate in model excellence.