Messerschmitt Bf-109F2

[Mike]

Messerschmitt Bf-109F2

1:48 Zvezda

The 109 was ubiquitous throughout WWII and was as often tweaked as the Spitfire, going through many different versions before the end of production. Its popularity as a modelling subject in any scale seems unshakeable, and as a result of this, the choice of kits, marks and color schemes seems almost never ending.

Zvezda have tooled this new kit to join the 109 bandwagon, but have determined to bring their own flair to the party. The kit has been designed to be modular in construction, allowing maximum use of the parts for prospective later releases, and one can hardly fault them for that.

Presented in a top opening box with attractive artwork, you receive two full sprues and two half sprues of parts in grey styrene, a clear sprue with two full canopies and two alternative windscreen parts, and a small but densely packed decals sheet.

The kit includes a full engine made of many parts with individual exhaust stubs. The detail extends further back into the cowling mounted machine gun bay, with full length barrels and optional parts depending on which example you are modelling.

Moving aft to the cockpit, you have a choice of decal or raised detail for the instrument panel, which is a thoughtful option for those that prefer to paint their own IPs. The detail included in the cockpit is good, with 3-piece rudder assembly, plus various knobs, wheels, cables and boxes. The sidewall detail is moulded into the fuselage halves, with additional parts added to improve the three dimensional look. Here we have a small sink mark on the outside of part 2, the starboard fuselage half, caused by the thickness of the internal detailing. It falls between two panel lines however, so shouldn't be hard to fill and sand.

A crew figure is included, made from 4 parts, and is portrayed in a seated position, goggles down and stubs of his restraining harness going back over his shoulder, so that he doesn't look like he's been placed in there as an afterthought.

The fuselage is made up of sections, the largest of which extends from the rear of the engine to the last panel line before the tail, which hints at other variants in the works - here I found a small sink mark between two strengthening straps which will need careful treatment during the build. Similarly, the wheel wells in the wing are also modular, as are the wing tips, two sets of which are supplied and used according to the example you are building, as are the two upper cowling sections and coaming area.

The pilot's head armour is attached to the inner surface of the canopy, and there are three choices of windscreen, again depending on which decal choice you are modelling. There is also a full spare canopy with a different framing an curved upper surface, again pointing to other versions.

All of the flying surfaces are poseable, as are the leading edge slats, with separate clear parts for the wingtip lights. Landing gear includes separate scissor legs and very nicely moulded treaded tyres with fine detail on the hubs. Two different props are included for... yes, you guessed it different airframes, and all of the parts are used whether you are modelling it parked or in flight.

You even get a pair of cowling props if you decide to pose the cowlings open to reveal the nicely moulded engine, which are shown in the final stage of construction. Also shown at this stage is an optional stand that can be purchased separately - does this mark a resurgence of in-flight models?

Decals are included for 4 airframes, as follows:

• Eastern Front, Summer 1941 (Yellow 5+) yellow nose, grey/grey splinter over pale blue with mottle over the sides of the fuselage
  
• Major Hannes Trautloft JG 54 Summer 1942 - yellow nose, green/green freehand camo over pale blue
  
• Hans-Ekkehard Bob, June 23 1941 - chequered spinner, grey/grey with grey mottle over pale blue and yellow underside of cowling
  
• Hans Von Hahn, July 3 1941 - grey/green with green smoke-ring mottle over pale blue and yellow underside of cowling
  

Swastikas are provided as 2-part decals to comply with regulations in some countries, and the decals seem to be in register with a slight cream cast to the white decals, which shouldn't notice once applied. Modellers will be relieved to hear that the spiral spinner on the last decal option is provided as a decal with only a small overhang of carrier film either side of the white decal.

Conclusion

It's a fine looking kit in the box, and the moulding is excellent. Panel lines are very fine, and could conceivably disappear under thick layers of paint, so exercise care if you're planning to brush paint your model. The level of raised and engraved detail is excellent for the scale, flash is minimal and all parts seem to have been treated with the same care. The few sink marks noted above should be easy to remedy, and are an acceptable trade-off for the detail included.

I'm now looking forward to the next releases in what promises to be an excellent fleet of 109s from Zvezda.

Review sample courtesy of

[davidelvy]

Looks good, but how many notes?

[FalkeEins]

...it's about the same price as the Airfix 109E will be..mine was £13 from an Ebay seller (Shrewsbury Models IIRC)

[Jon Kunac-Tabinor]

If it builds as well as their excellent La-5 and 5FN then it will be a real pleasure of a model.

Looks like I may be doing some mottling this year!!

Jonners

[Mike]

I started building it last night, and should post up a WIP thread later today once I've got a few more bits stuck together

[Mentalguru]

I would like to get hold of one of these- but why does it include an early E-1 style canopy?

[Mike]

I would like to get hold of one of these- but why does it include an early E-1 style canopy?

Is that the spare one on the sprue? If so, I'm guessing at future versions

[FalkeEins]

I would like to get hold of one of these- but why does it include an early E-1 style canopy?

..some early Fs were fitted with 'E' type canopies basically - JG52 Geschwaderkommodore Hrabak's is one F-2 identified with an 'E' canopy..

the attention to detail in this kit is phenomenal.. Hrabak is not even one of the decal options..

Edited June 10, 2010 by FalkeEins

[smuts]

Got one on order from Hannants & with a bit of luck it'll come when she's in the isle of man

Andy.