Eduard Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2 - 1:48 Eduard ProfiPACK

[Julien]

Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2

1:48 Eduard ProfiPACK

 

 

The Messerschmidt Bf 109 is one of the iconic aircraft of WWII. The F-2 introduced the 15mm MG 151 cannon. This was supplemented by two MG 17 machine guns mounted under the engine cowl. As the better 20 mm Mauser MG 151/20 version become available, a number of F-2s were retrofitted with it in the field. About 1,380 F-2s were built between October 1940 and August 1941. 

 

The Kit

This is a profipack boxing, with 4 sprues of plastic, a clear sprue, 3 sheets of photo-etch, Masks (not shown); and 2 decal sheets. Construction starts shockingly enough with the cockpit. Various control wheels and the main control column is added along with the armoured seat back. Following this the seat pan and rudder pedals are added. A full set of photo-etched belts is provided for the pilots seat. Following this side panels and parts are added into the fuselage sides, including some photo-etched panels. The instrument panel is made up using the supplied photo-etched parts. Once all of these sub-assemblies are made up they can be placed inside the fuselage and this closed up. As well as the cockpit the tail wheel and exhausts need to be added before the closure takes place. One of the decal options uses different exhaust parts and this is not mentioned on the instructions so the modeller will need to check the profiles.

 

 

Once the main fuselage is together the intake needs to be added on the side. For the tropical version this will need the additional filter adding as well. Construction then moves to the rear of the main fuselage with the tail planes and rudder being added. All of the control surfaces are separate so can be posed as needed by the modeller.

 

 

Next up are the wings. The lower is one part with left and right uppers. The wheel well detail needs to be added into the lower wing and then the uppers can be added on. Once complete the wing assembly is mated with the main fuselage. Next up the leading edge slats and ailerons can be added.  On the underside of the wing the left and right radiators are assembled and added to the wing. The flaps can then be added making sure to get the radiator flaps at the correct angle.

 

 

 

Moving towards finishing the model the main landing gear units are completed and added to the model. The wheels are a single part with a left and right hub. The gear leg is attached as is the door. The canopy parts can then be added not forgetting the pilots head rest & armour in the main centre part. Last but not least for the main kit the propeller and spinner are added. If needed a centre line bomb and rack are included. The bomb fins and sway braces are photo-etched parts which will look more in scale.

 

 

 

 

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;

 

• Hptm Hans Philipp, CO I./JG 54 (Winter Camo), Krasnogvardeysk,Soviet Union March 1941.
• Oblt Siegried Schnell, CO 9./JG 2, (Yellow 9), Theville, France June 1942.
• Lt Horst Buddenhagen, 5./JG 3, (Black 7), Darmstadt, Germany April 1941.
• Lt Hans Besswenger, 6./HG 54, (Yellow 4), Ostroe, Soviet Union July 1942.
• Oblt Wilhelm Hachfield, 2./JG 51, (Red 1), Kiev, Soviet Union Summer 1941.

 

 

Conclusion
This is a welcome new F-2 release from Eduard. Highly recommended.

 

 

 

     

Review sample courtesy of