Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Profipack - 1:72 Eduard

[Paul A H]

Messerschmitt Bf 110G4 Profipack

1:72 Eduard

The Messerschmitt Bf110 was designed to fulfil a German Air Ministry requirement for a long-range, twin-engined fighter aircraft, or zerstörer. Following the prototypes first flight in 1936, it beat off competing designs from Arado, Focke-Wulf and Henschel and was in service by the time war broke out three years later. Fitted with the same engines as the Bf 109E, the Bf 110 was a powerful aircraft and was very well armed in comparison to its counterparts.

Despite early successes in Poland, the inadequacy of the Bf 110 as an out-and-out fighter was exposed by the RAF during the Battle of Britain. Heavy losses resulted, mainly as a result of the aircrafts 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 increasingly 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-4 was one of the last variants and was equipped with powerful DB605B engines and the Liechtenstein radar set.

Such is the quality of their output these days that each new kit from Eduard seems to surpass its competitors with relative ease. 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 Zerstorer arrives packed into a surprisingly large top-opening box adorned with an image of a G4 somewhere over the Eastern Front.

Inside the sturdy box are seven sprues moulded in a blue-grey coloured plastic. This makes a nice change to Eduards usual (but if Im honest, rather unattractive) light olive 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, a set of die-cut paint masks and a photo-etched tool for the radar antennas. The instruction book is a glossy, stapled A4 document and it includes full-colour painting diagrams. All together, the impression is of a 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 are no traces 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 superb.

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, as well as the 20mm Schräge Musik cannon.

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 is moulded separately, whiclst 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 assembly, 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 handy 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. The main gear wheels are moulded in vertical halves. The airscrews and hubs look very good too, as do the engine exhausts which benefit from some photo etched details. 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

In comparison with the earlier Bf110G-2 kit, an extra sprue is provided which holds the parts for the Liechtenstein radar set. Options for the FuG 220 SN-2b, c and d variants are included. A photo etched jig is provided in order to aid with the assembly of the complex antennas.

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-4 9W+BO of 6./NJG 101, Fritzlar, Germany, 1945;
Bf110G-4 2Z+FR of 7./NJG6, Neubiberg, Germany, 1945, flown by Hptm. Willhelm Johnen;
Bf110G-4 G9+DC of Stab II./NJG1, Bad Langensalza, Germany, 1945; and
Bf110G-4 B4+KA of 4./NJG3, Kjevik, Norway, 19454.
Each option is illustrated with a four-view profile as well as detailed illustrations of the radar arrays. A diagram showing the placement of stencil decals is also included. The decals look crisp, thin and glossy and the colours used are nice and bold.

Conclusion

Eduards Messerschmitt Bf110 series is the definitive family of kits of the type by a country mile. The level of detail they 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