Eduard Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 - 1:48 Eduard ProfiPACK

[Julien]

Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3

1:48 Eduard ProfiPACK

 

 

The Messerschmidt Bf 109 is one of the iconic aircraft of WWII. The E-3 appeared as a result of the Luftwaffe looking to improve the performance of the 109E. The airframe received some structural improvements and and it was armed with two MG17s above the engine and two cannon (one in each wing). A total of 1276 E-3s were built.

 

The Kit

As a ProfiPACK kit, the kit comes with 2 sheets of photo-etch and a sheet of masks, the plastic is on 4 main sprues with a small clear spure. Construction begins in the cockpit area. Side wall detail is added in PE and plastic, some parts including the control column are added to the cockpit floor. As well at this time the main radiator under the nose is built up and installed into the fuselage half. The seat and other controls are added to the cockpit floor and this can be added into the fuselage half as well.

 

 

Next the engine is built up. A full engine is provided if you want to leave the covers off same additional detailing might be in order. However if putting the ocvers on then it still has to be built up to hand the prop and exhausts off if nothing else. The engine can then be added to the firewall behind which the instrument panel and areas to mount the machine guns is added. Once complete this can also be added into the fuselage half. With the final addition of the made up tail wheel the fuselage can then be closed up. The engine exhausts can then be added as well as the nose machine guns. 

 

 

Next up the wings can be assembled.  hey are of a conventional type with a single part lower and left/right uppers. The main gear bays are installed into the uppers before closing up the wings. The slats can then be fitted. The wing radiators are then made up and added to the wings. Following this the flaps and ailerons can be added and positioned how the modellers wants them. The fuselage can then be added to the wings.

 

 

Following this the tailplanes and rudder can be added. The tail control surfaces are moulded in so cant be positioned, but the rudder can be.  The main wheels are then made up and added to the legs, and the gear doors added. The cowlings can then be added and the propeller made up and fitted. Small parts are fitted to the glazing and then these can be fitted as well. 

 

 

 

 

Decals
Decals are in house from Eduard and should pose no issues. There is a main sheet and a supplemental sheet for the stencils, markings are provided for 5 examples;

 

• Uffz. Karl Wolff, 3./JG A 52, Pihen/Calais, France, August 1940
• Oblt. Josef Priller, Staffelkapitän B 6./JG 51, France, Autumn 1940
• Obstlt. Hans-Hugo Witt, Geschwaderkommodore C JG 26, Dortmund, Germany, April 1940
• 1./JG 2, Bassenheim, Germany, May 1940
• 3./JG E 51, Mannheim-Sandhofen, Winter 1939-1940

 

 

 

Conclusion
This is a welcome welcome release from Eduard of an earlier variant of their excellent Bf 109 family of kits. Highly recommended.

 

 

     

Review sample courtesy of