HELLER 1:72 MESSERSCHMITT BF-109E
'INBOX Review'

 

Reviewer: Myself  (rec.models.scale)   
- A Built up review of this kit exists on this site - see the respective fully built kit review index to locate review

Kit Details:  Heller #80234 - 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf 109E

Aircraft History:  The Messerschmitt Bf 109 needs no introduction as all WW2 aviation enthusiasts would be aware of its exploits in World War II.  The E model, commonly referred to as "Emil" introduced the Daimler-Benz engine and improved performance over its preceding variants which also resulted in a slightly lengthened fuselage.  The Emil was the main Bf 109 variant used in the Battle of Britain and was later retrofitted with bomb and drop tank racks.

Kit Parts: There are four sprues of about 37 ghost grey coloured injection molded parts with raised panel lines.  The parts convey typical solid Heller quality, with no flash to speak of and moderate amount of detail on the parts.  As with a lot of these older Heller kits, many of the components that you might find separate on other kits, are molded integrally with the fuselage, such as the lower cowling oil cooler and upper cowling with gun troughs.  A separate sprue containing six parts makes up two sets of canopy options.  These are a bit on the thick side and a little distorted.

Instructions: 2 A4 sheets are found in the box, one containing modelling information and symbols and the other being double sided actually forming the instructions themselves.  On one side it is only half filled, with a four view diagram for painting and decal placement with Humbrol paint numbers (not names) quoted.  The other side of the sheet has a very small table of technical data accompanying the easy to follow six step construction phase, although really it is just two major steps, plus three smaller steps covering the propeller assembly, cockpit and main gear (the last supposedly doubling up as two steps).  Small numbers are stated throughout the assembly which refer to Humbrol paints - no colour names are provided.

For ease of assistance those Humbrol colours are 33 (Flat Black); 92 (Iron Grey = RLM 02); 91 (Black Green); 30 (Dark Green); 113 (Rust); 56 (Aluminium); 65 (Aircraft Blue = RLM "Hellblau") and 34 (Flat White).

Colour Options:  Only one scheme is provided for by the kit, which is not exactly that depicted on the boxart (which looks like a dark green wrap around scheme with white rudder and lower cowling).  The scheme directed to copy in the instructions is one which is two-tone dark green and black green splinter camouflage on the extreme upper surfaces and a blotchy camouflage scheme on the fuselage sides; with Hellblau undersides and a white rudder (but not lower cowling).  I think I will need to dig up some references for this scheme.  The instructions simply state this as a Mersserschmitt Bf 109E, Luftwaffe 1941.

Decals:  As can be seen by the above image, the decal sheet is very small, but unlike many of the other Heller kits in my range, look brand new (as opposed to being yellowed!).  There's effectively no stencilling provided at all but the decals look sharp and in good register.  The decals are semi gloss on a glossy backing sheet, fairly thin and look like they will adhere quite well.

Cockpit/Wheel Bay Detail:  Almost non-existent.  The main wheel wells are just cut outs in the lower wing and no detail in the upper wing halves at all.  The cockpit is made up of a floor which has rear bulkhead and rudder pedals already molded onto it.  A seat, control stick, instrument panel and a small dashboard gunsight are all that are provided.  There is, however, some dials and gauges molded on the instrument panel, and the sidewalls of the fuselage also have some raised detail.

Optional components:  The main choice of options centres around whether you wish to depict a Bf 109E standard or tropical versions.  The latter comes with different filter, spinner and canopy set.  The canopy comes in three parts allowing a cockpit to be displayed open, and the propeller can be installed to be moveable.  I also noticed that a heat knife is applied to the main wheel axle, which suggests you could even have moveable wheels.

On the Sprue Impressions:  Ye Olde solid little 70's Heller kit which should go together without too much difficulty, or so I have heard from others who have built this kit.  Fit in the most part is reportedly quite good, but some filler is still needed around the usual places.  The two sets of canopies is an interesting one, they say in the instructions that one is for the tropical version (as are spinners) and one without.  I know that later E's had square canopies and looking at them, one looks squarer than the other!  In most other respects this is a fairly basic kit represented in both build and detail form.

I suspect that this model is aimed at the Bf 109E-4 style of Emil although nowhere on the kit does it allude to this.  This would explain the squarer canopy style provided and the date on which the model is supposed to be a representative from (1941), although no bomb or drop tank is included in this kit.  I did try a quick fit of the canopy parts and found that in the closed position these are likely to be a little problematic, but I will cross that bridge when I come to it.  The fit of the rest of the major components looks quite okay, but as said some filler will probably be needed. The tail struts, and canopy shape, both look to be about right for accuracy which is the bane of many other a Bf 109 kit.  The undercarriage is oversimplified though, even for this scale.  The level of detail is at best moderate, but typical of the Heller kits from the 70's era.

Accuracy:  I wouldn't be classing this as the definitive "E" model in this scale by any means, especially considering the likes of the superb Tamiya model which was released in recent times.  For the main part it appears you will get a basically accurate profile of the Bf 109, but the subtleties of the different sub variants are not readily identifiable in the box to which version you are really building.  A few of the components appear overscale (like the pitot probes etc) or oversimplified (like the undercarriage) and some of the already molded-on parts like the underwing radiator, under nose oil cooler and the exhaust stacks do not look completely accurate.  The measurements appear within quite acceptable limits of scale dimensions, so overall, a basic but reasonably accurate Emil.

Conclusion:  For a cheap and basically accurate, moderately detailed, easy to build Emil alternative to the more pricey but better detailed and more accurate Tamiya version, then this one can certainly be recommended.  A bit of research is needed on the outcome of your project with this kit, as I suspect both the decals for the kit in the box and the colour scheme are not 100% correct.  I'm sure I will enjoy building this one, which should be a quick and easy project for most modelling skills. 

 

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