ACADEMY 1:72 MESSERSCHMITT BF-109E 3/4
"Heinz Bar" with Kettenkrad
'INBOX Review'

 

Reviewer: Hrvoje Šafhauzer  (rec.models.scale)   

Kit Details

History

What one shall write about Messerschmitt Bf-109 fighters, not being told elsewhere? Any internet browser would provide plenty of links about general history of this most produced fighter ever.

Introduction

Although I have purchased this particular kit almost year ago, so far I have not been able to find a inbox or built kit review on any of my three favorite modeling websites. So here it is.

The kit

Kit comes in a standard Academy sturdy top-opening box, identical in size with Hasegawa one. Boxtop is adorned with somehow strange looking Bf-109 E-4 in its landing stage, being followed by a Kettenkrad and a Kubelwagen (off-road vehicle) on the ground. On the longer box-side, there are photos of a completed model – again standard Academy fare. Also, the small glue tube is included, and complete box was shrink-wrapped. Funny, only the Academy kits that I have purchased at the Balkans were without glue, it is standard offering elsewhere. Kit instructions state year 2003, but kit could be older.

Two sprues with parts are placed in a heat-sealed cellophane bag, and there is minimal flash. Cockpit transparencies for E-3 and E-4 are 3-parts each, enabling you to pose the canopy opened or closed, and they are placed in a heat sealed cellophane pouch which is, strangely, placed in a cellophane bag with Kettekrad parts. Parts are engraved finely, with parts marked as not for use for making a tropical version, or E-7 B fighter bomber version with a single bomb. Kettekrad parts are on a sprue, nicely mold also. 36 of them are marked as not for use, being the wooden boxes, Jerry-cans and steel barrels, and these are to be quite useful for any 1/72 diorama.

There is no pilot, nor Kettenkrad rider, provided so one should look at aftermarket sets for beefing up the tentative diorama.

Accuracy

For comparison I have used 1/72 5-view drawings published in former Yugoslavia in the reference stated below. When laid against the drawings, kit is length- and span-wise spot on, and most of the panels are on the right places. Naturally, there are some things not being correct. Small nose intake behind a spinner is missing, nose lower teardrop bulges are portrayed almost like spheres, and some wing panels are missing. Unfortunately there are two biggies some of them could be hard to correct. There is no separation between the ailerons and flaps, being made as a single peace, but this could be corrected by proper scribing. Other thing is that underwing radiators with their flaps are completely wrong looking like the ones from old Matchbox kit, and correcting it and extending the flaps would be troublesome. As per myself, I am intending to remove them and replace with copies of Airfix ones, but it is up to modeler. Canopy central part looks little short, but worst thing is that the frames for E-3 canopy are unnoticeable, while these for E-4 are as required. Propeller blades are having rear side almost flat, complete thing looking strangely. So one could look after replacement maybe.

Various Bf-109 E 1/72 kit undersurfaces: 
A – Airfix; 
B – Matchbox; 
C – Revell mold from 60s (here with Airfix 4xSC50 kg bombs and carrier; 
D – ORB Vacu. 

Cockpit interior is provided with some details at fuselage sides resembling to the real thing vaguely. No doubt, the detailers intending to pose the canopy in the open position will have to do quite a bit of work. Pilot seat is furnished with harnesses, but only for the seat back and being not so prominent. The wing cannons are molded together with lower wing, looking somehow skinny to me. Also the nose MG 17s do not appear to be staggered, but this will become more clear when the fuselage is assembled. Main landing gear legs are looking somehow iffy to me, with hub inner part molded together, and detail on the main wheel hubs looks also unfamiliar to me. Obviously, wheels-up option was not considered as an option by mold designer.

Two instrument panels are provided, with raised instruments and no decal for them, but which one is for E-3 and which one for E-4 is not stated in the instructions, so one is left to other sources. Gun sight is not provided, so one is to be scratchbuilt or taken from other kit. Two head armors are provided also and in similar way the difference is not stated clearly, but they are keyed to respective cockpit canopies providing one can realize applicable canopy. 

Regarding the Kettenkrad, I simply have no information, so I can claim it OK. Vehicle modelers could provide more light on this?

Instructions are the standard fare, extended A4 folded in four, with additional small sheet with painting & decaling instructions for Wick's two E-4s, but shown with E-3 canopy. One instructions part is providing assembly and painting instructions for Kettenkrad.

Camouflage and Markings, and Decals

Camouflage and markings are given for 2 E-3s, both "white 13" flown by Feldwebel/Oberleutnant Heinz Bär of 1/JG.51 in summer 1939 and September 1940, respectively; and for 2 E-4s, "yellow 2" and "chevron and bars" flown by Oberleutnant/Major Helmut Wick of 3/JG.2 and I/JG.2 in September 1940 and November 1940, respectively. Quite a lot of stenciling is provided, including fuselage frame numbers for port side, and applicable victory bars, as well as distinctive markings including Wick's "Horrido". There are 8 pairs of "die Balkenkreutzen" for respective planes, and of course there is no dreaded swastika. First Bär's E-3 is given in RLM 70/71/65 scheme with fuselage sides covered by 70/71 splinter scheme. Other three Emils are in RLM 02/71/65 with 65 fuselage sides with different demarcation heights. Bär's one is with no mottling on sides, while both Wick's Emils are mottled heavily, where second one is having all-yellow nose and spinner. Instruction sheet also provides the painting details in the assembly steps.

Kettenkrad is to be painted in panzer gray or dark yellow (desert sand), with only one decal for a registration plate.

Conclusion

OK I needed an E-3 for making it in VVKJ (Royal Yugoslav Air Force) colors from 1940/41, so I selected this kit over the slightly cheaper Hobby Boss E-4 since the second one had no E-3 style canopy available. With hindsight, I should purchase that one also, instead of Grumman "F4F-3", but that is another story. 

Funny, but after all these years my favorite Emil, out of several I have made in this scale, is still old rivet festooned E-4B/N from Airfix. So it is up to one either to correct the deficiencies of this kit or use some of its parts for converting some other more accurate in details Emil to E-4. 

References

 

SMAKR Home  |  What's New  |  Submissions  | Information Requests |  News  |  Links  |  Reference Corner  |  Site Info 
1/72 Reviews  |  1/48 Reviews  |  INBOX Reviews