web hosting short URLs photo sharing

Reviewer: Jamie Brocklehurst (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted:  27 November 2003

Kit Details:

Airfix in 1/48th presents: 
- BF109F  
- Kit code 04101

Preamble:

I've moved on from cold war jets now, and I've always had an interest in the aircraft that invaded my country 60 years ago: Aircraft of the Luftwaffe. Whilst going through my model shop, I found two real gems of Luftwaffe examples; the Henschel Hs-129B, and the subject of this review, the Bf-109 by Airfix. On looking on the back I saw the J.G. 27 squadron, famously based within the command of the "Desert Fox", Irwin Rommel in Martuba, North Africa. I've always been interested in the Afrika Korps, so I had to get this model because of the ability to make a plane of J.G. 27 in the light earth scheme.

Aircraft History:

With the arrival of the BF109F in Luftwaffe squadrons along the coast of the  English channel in 1941, German pilots enjoyed a marked superiority over the RAF's Spitfire VB. The 'F' was regarded as the best of the bunch, not spoilt by bumps and excrescences of the other variants.

The Kit:

I was pretty shocked when I saw three sprues for a 1/48th scale kit, but then I realised how small old aircraft are compared to the modern ones. I put this 109 (when finished) next a modern aircraft, namely the F/A-18 and was surprised by the size difference!

So you get three sprues in general; one clear, the other two. From opening  the box this one would be a quick build; in total it took me about 2 hours. The plastic is typical airfix; soft and grey. There is engraved AND raised panel detail on the aircraft, although detail on the undercarriage is pretty sparse.

Instructions:

4 sheets of A2 stapled to make 9 A4 sized pages, no sprue diagram. You've got 15 steps. Paint range, as expected, is Humbrol.

Construction:

This kit, like all my others, is built completely OOB because I can't afford all of the resin detail sets, and I don't possess a credit card! I think that this kit would look especially good with any aftermarket parts that are available, especially in the undercarriage.

Construction starts with the pilot, you have to cement his arms together and he should be painted Humbrol #89 which in English translates to a middle blue colour. The straps he has moulded were painted light earth and his shoulder pads were painted Trainer yellow. Put your pilot to the side and get your Iron Grey out to paint the cockpit base and what I believe is a gun breech cover. Remarkably for an Airfix production, the cockpit is very well detailed, you get detail on the walls, and there is a fair number of parts to fit in here. Now you have to fit the pilot in his seat which should be painted Iron Grey, then detail the joystick by painting the bottom parts the same colour but the top part black. The same Iron grey colour is used on the seat's headrest and the back of the cockpit. Altogether a very nice fit.

Step four requires you to construct the propeller, you have to cement the prop blades (painted #91 Black green) into the base of the whole unit which has three holes for you to do this. Put the front part of the nose on and then leave.

Now you have to get to work on the whole fuse itself, and it's at this point your first options become available; whether you want to have a fuel drop pod on, and whether you want your gear up and down; this part is determined by the tail wheel at the back. I decided to pull all the stops out for this one, and perforated two holes in the fuselage for the pod and I positioned the tailwheel in the down position. Your first transfer goes on the dashboard, which isn't raised but flat, but before you do that, fit the gun-sight in. My first disaster occurred at this point when my transfer for the dashboard decided to rip. The Propellers can spin, but it can be awkward to fit these in because you still have two rectangular shaped gaps in the front of the fuse, so you have to cement the small part at the front in order to fit it in. The part that spins the propeller is a small circle that fits smugly in the whole at the front of the fuselage, get the propeller you made in step 4 and attach it.

Another option becomes apparent; if you are making the J.G. 27 plane, like me, you have to fit the tropical filter. Otherwise, you install a simple intake. I had to perforate the left engine cowl in order to fit the filter. If you are one of the sub-assembly sect (e.g. cement the wings together first), then you've saved yourself a job by doing the wings before the rest of the plane, the step after this means you have to fit them. The aftermarket people should be particularly interested to note that you have to install the engine cowls separately; I don't know if any manufacturers make engine details for this model. Install the tailplanes, canopy (which isn't very clear, so most of your hard work isn't noticeable) and your wings.

Now you have to assemble the fuel pod, which looks a little bulbous, but never mind. Easy fit, just cement the two parts of the pod together and mount it on the pylon. Fit the radiators under the wing. I had no problems fitting the undercarriage, it all fits in very smugly. And that's your 109!

Colour Schemes:

Scheme one is of JG.54 (as shown on Boxart). This was based in Mensuvaara,  Finland during 1942 and uses a basic wraparound scheme in Black Green, Aircraft blue, Dark Green and Trainer Yellow. The second option is that of JG.27, using a light earth colour for the upper fuselage and aircraft blue for the bottom. The propeller nose is painted white, along with the wing-tips.

Decals:

In a word, poor. My 109 is missing the white band on the J.G. 27 scheme and the one on the dashboard, due to them both tearing. I recommend some third party decal sets.

Accuracy:

If it looks like a 109, it'll do me fine, and it does :) The inclusion of the trop. filter and various small parts on the wings and on the cockpit canopy (namely the antenna) makes this one look accurate.

Overall Recommendation:

Overall, a good kit to build if you need a break from building the harder ones. Skill level is 2, and I paid £7.99 for it, add £3.30 for paints coming to a grand total of £11.29 Much recommended. Try to get some better decals.

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