Messerschmitt Bf 110G2 Profipack - 1:72 Eduard

[Paul A H]

Messerschmitt Bf 110G2 Profipack

1:72 Eduard

Designed to fulfil a German Air Ministry requirement for a long-range, twin-engined combat aircraft, the Bf 110 was Messerschmitts interpretation of the zerstörer or heavy fighter concept. Following the prototypes first flight in 1936, it saw off competing designs from Arado, Focke-Wulf and Henschel and was in service by the outbreak of war in 1939. Fitted with the same engines as the Bf 109E, the Bf 110 was a powerful aircraft and was very well armed in comparison with its counterparts.

Despite early successes in Poland, the inadequacy of the Bf 110 as a fighter was exposed by the RAF during the Battle of Britain, resulting in heavy losses. The aircrafts Achilles heel was its lack of manoeuvrability. This aspect of the design was not improved to any degree in later versions, and for this reason the Bf 110 found itself utilised in other roles such as fighter bomber and night fighter. The aircraft was particularly successful in this last role, mainly due to its stability and heavy armament. The Bf 110G-2 was one of the last variants and was equipped with powerful DB605B engines. Although useful as a fighter bomber, the G-2 was capable of carrying a fearsome 37mm cannon under the fuselage, which turned it into an effective bomber destroyer.

Such is the quality of their output these days, that each new kit from Eduard seems to find its way straight to the top of the pile. This was the case with their 1:72 Hellcat series, released in 2010, as well as their family of Bf 110s, of which this is the latest iteration. Put simply, Eduard kits have become a byword for exquisite detail and superb engineering. Their latest kit arrives packed into a surprisingly large top-opening box adorned with an attractive image of a 37mm armed G2 flying through a formation of B-17s.

Inside the sturdy box are six sprues moulded in slate grey/blue coloured plastic. This makes a nice change to Eduards usual (but if Im honest, rather unattractive) light olive coloured plastic. There is also a single circular sprue moulded in clear plastic. As this is a profipack edition, the plastic parts are accompanied by a small fret of pre-painted photo etched parts and a set of die-cut paint masks. The instruction book is a glossy, stapled A5 affair and it includes full-colour painting diagrams. All together, the overall impression is of a superb quality package. There is plenty of spare room in the box though, so if you are planning on buying some of Eduards Brassin accessories for the kit, youll have plenty of space for them!

The quality of the plastic parts is second to none. The mouldings are clean and crisp and there is no trace of flash and no sink marks. Eduard have packed in plenty of detail and parts such as the cockpit sidewalls and radio sets are comparable to resin items. The surface detail on the outside of the airframe is just as good. It is comprised of recessed panel lines and delicately engraved rivet and fastener detail, and it looks absolutely cracking.

The cockpit is made up of what seems like dozens of plastic and photo etched parts. The cockpit floor serves as the platform for construction, and to this are added the seats, radio set, instrument panel, rudder pedals, control column and throttles. As this is a profipack edition, photo etch parts are provided to help things along, and as well as seat harnesses, there are replacement details for the instrument panel, rudders, radio and throttles. To save you filing the raised detail off of the plastic instrument panel, a blank version is provided for use with the photo etched parts. A nicely moulded twin-barrelled MG 81Z is provided, complete with a photo etched ring and bead gun sight.

The wings are moulded with a single lower span and separate port and starboard upper spans. The ailerons are provided as separate parts, although the landing flaps are not. The engine cowlings are each moulded in two vertical halves with additional parts for the chin intakes. Once the wings have been assembled, the fuselage should just drop into place. The nose, which houses four machine guns, is moulded separately. The tail planes are nicely moulded but, unlike the wings, the control surfaces are moulded in place.

Once the basic airframe is together, its time to fit the canopy. This is a complex jobbie, moulded in no fewer than eight parts. It can be posed in either open or closed positions, and quite frankly it would have been a travesty if this hadnt been the case, given all the detail in the cockpit. Care will need to be taken adding the armoured windscreen though, as any smears of glue will be obvious. As mentioned above, this is a profipack edition, so a full set of canopy masks has been included.

Turning the model over, the underwing radiators are each made up of three parts and, as with the rest of the kit, they are beautifully detailed. The main undercarriage legs are each made up of no fewer than five parts, with optional photo etched scissor links thrown in for good measure. The main gear wheels are moulded in vertical halves. The airscrews and hubs look very good too, as do the engine exhausts. There are a number of small parts included to cover the final details, including the aileron balance weights and various aerials and antennae. An optional photo etched part is provided for the DF loop

A good amount of ordnance is included. There are bombs and bomb racks for under the fuselage and wings, as well as auxiliary fuel tanks. There are also single and twin 21cm rocket tubes, the aforementioned 37mm cannon pack and a twin 20mm cannon pack.

Eduard are usually pretty generous with the decal options in their profipacks, and this is no exception. Choices are provided for the following four aircraft:

• Bf110G-2 of 4./ZG 76, Prague, Czechoslovakia, Spring 1944;
• Bf110G-2 of 5./ZG1, Monte Covino, Italy, Summer 1943;
• Bf110G-2 of 10./ZG 26 (III.JG 5), Gossen, Norway, Spring 1945; and
• Bf110G-2 of 5./ZG 1, Wells, Austria, Winter 1943-44.

Each option is illustrated with a four-view profile as well as a detailed illustration of the nose artwork. The decals look crisp, thin and glossy and the colours used are nice and bold.

Conclusion

Eduards Messerschmitt Bf110 series is now the definitive family of kits of the type by quite some distance. The level of detail Eduard have packed in is superb and the engineering is excellent. Add the photo etch parts and masks into the mix, and you have the complete package. Highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of