Acing the Zwilling - Bf-109Z - War Thunder Review & Gameplay (Ace Match)
22Overview: A quick review of Bf-10Z for Germany, along with a 6 kill Ace match (12 if you count the AI planes).
Spoken "review" at the start:
Welcome to the crazy imbalanced world of War Thunder Air Forces! Today I'll be taking a look at the Bf-109Z for Germany a premium that sold so badly Gaijin removed it from the online store, only after about a year of being available for sale!
I picked up the 109Z when it was last on sale - with a discount and haven't really played it that much owing to lack of units to research.
First lets take a look at the history of the unit. This experimental aircraft was essentially two Bf 109F airframes joined together by means of a new wing centre section and new tailplane, both of constant chord, in a manner paralleled by the F-82 Twin Mustang. In the preproduction model, the right fuselage cockpit was faired over and the pilot flew the aircraft from the left side fuselage. Additional modifications included setting the main undercarriage hinges further inboard, with associated strengthening of the fuselage and modifications to the wing forward structure. Four variants of this aircraft were proposed. One was an interceptor armed with five 30 mm (1.18 in) cannon and up to a 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) bomb load, another a fighter-bomber armed with two MK 108 cannon and up to two 2,200 lb. bombs. Both airframes were to be powered by the DB605 engine. A third and fourth were designed on paper and would be similar to the first two airframes but powered by Jumo 213 engines. Only one Bf 109Z was built, and it was never flown, having been damaged in its hangar during an Allied bombing raid in 1943. The project was permanently abandoned in 1944.
How does this compare with the unit in game? Badly, for the most part with the unit lacking in the 5th cannon and about 750 Kg of bombload. This is due to the aircraft being neither of the prototypes and gimped by Gaijin due to only what I can guess as being "balancing" reasons. I originally flew the Bf-109Z in IL-2 (1946 or an older version), where from what I recall the unit does get the option of carrying the 5th cannon which sits in a pod in the center of the wing. Although it is only one cannon, its' position means that aiming is slightly easier and therefore it's mildly more effective. The flight performance isn't what I'd call exceptional, nor agile in compared to what it will fight against and it will certainly struggle (what doesn't) in an uptier situation.
So what was or is the problem with the 109Z? and why didn't it sell? There are a couple of reasons that I'd guess at:
Firstly, the unit didn't sell in anyway near the numbers Gaijin wanted or expected by removing the unit from the store Gaijin were hoping to increase sales for it "substantially" compared to what it'd sold before.
Secondly, the unit itself is a bastardisation of the two prototypes made of the aircraft in WW2 matching neither loadout for the first two prototypes, basically it's been pre-nerfed by Gaijin.
Thirdly, cost, this unit cost just over £30 when on sale which is kind of expensive for the unit considering its' performance, the weaponry fits available and its' use in game.
The fourth and final point, would be that the vehicle isn't the best for any role compared with the other Rank 4 German premiums. Basically being a hybrid means that it's not exceptional for the CAS role and it's not what I'd call an XP-55 in the air-to-air role.
Owing to this then it's no wonder the unit didn't sell well and like a few other units in game, it's more of a collectors item. Though being that it's a virtual product means that its' value is substantially less than what it was being sold for initially and it's highly doubtful that the price will increase (at least in comparison to the prior sales). Everything being Gaijin however, means that they could sell it for more in a future sale as it's all down to their whim.
So with that being said, it's obvious why Gaijin had to remove it from the store page right? Well no, as with previous units that've been removed from the store page and have since reappeared in the tech trees for considerable amounts of GE ** AMX-13 SS-11 ** Be-6 ** the Bf-109Z will probably reappear in either the same manner or for the occasional sale. Whether or not the loadout gets "fixed™" is a different matter.
On to the rest of the video or at least from what I recall, my first ace in the Zwilling. I've left the original audio on from the recording and used the same video, such is my prerogative.
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