Eduard "Africa" Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 & Bf 109G-2 Combo - 1:48 Eduard Limited Edition

[Julien]

"Africa" Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 & Bf 109G-2 Combo

1:48 Eduard Limited Edition

 

 

 

The Messerschmidt Bf 109 is one of the iconic aircraft of WWII. The F-4 would use the 1332hp DB601E engine which would be fitted with a broader balded propeller for improved altitude performance. The aircraft would carry the new Mauser MG151 20mm cannon with 200 rounds per gun. Production of the F-4 would start in May 1941 and last a year with 1841 examples being built, 576 of these being the tropicalised version. The G variant of the 109, colloquially known as the Gustav was one of the primary fighters available to the Luftwaffe during the closing years of WWII, and saw extensive active service, all the while being upgraded to combat the increasing Allied superiority in the air.  Happily for the Allies, the supply of experienced pilots was fast running out, so as good as the upgrades were, they couldn't make an appreciable difference to the outcome.  The G-2 differed from the initial G-1 insofar as it eschewed the pressurised cockpit, and it was sometimes fitted with different head armour for the pilot

 

The Kit

We have previously reviewed the profipack boxing of the F-4 and the G-2, so will point you to those reviews if you want to see whats in the box here. This duel boxing contains one of each kit of the F-4, and The G-4 with the masks and photoetch you find in the profipack kits. In addition in this box you get some resin tropical filters and an impressive decal sheet. 

 

 

 

 

Decals
This really is the main reason to get this boxing. The decal sheet is by Cartograf so quality is a given.

 

 

There is a main sheet and stencils all in one, markings are provided for an impressive 12 examples;

 

• Bf 109F-4/Trop, W. Nr. 10137, flown by Oblt. Hans-Joachim Marseille, CO of 3./ JG 27, Ain-el-Gazala, Libya, June 1942
• Bf 109F-4/Trop, W. Nr. 8673, flown by Hptm. Hans-Joachim Marseille, CO of 3./ JG 27, Quotaifiya, Egypt, September 1942
• Bf 109F-4/Trop, flown by Hptm. Eduard Neumann, CO of I./ JG 27, Martuba, Libya, December 1941
• Bf 109F-4/Trop, W. Nr. 10154, flown by Lt. Friedrich Körner, 2./ JG 27, Ain-el-Gazala, Libya, June 1942
• Bf 109F-4/Trop, W. Nr. 8438, 4./ JG 27, El Gazala, Libya, end of 1941
• Bf 109F-4/Trop, W. Nr. 8596, flown by Ofw. Erwin Sawallisch, 4./ JG 27, Quotaifiya, Egypt, August 1942
• Bf 109F-4/Trop, flown by Lt. Jürgen Harder, 7./ JG 53, Martuba, Libya, June 1942
• Bf 109G-2, flown by Fw. Anton Hafner, 4./ JG 51, Bizerta, Tunisia, November 1942
• Bf 109G-2/R1, W. Nr. 10805, flown by Lt. Wilhelm Crinius, 3./ JG 53, Bizerta, Tunisia, January 1943
• Bf 109G-2/Trop, flown by Hptm. Heinrich Bär, CO of I./ JG 77, North Africa, 1942 – 1943
• Bf 109G-2/Trop, 2./ JG 77, North Africa, autumn 1942
• Bf 109G-2/trop, W. Nr. 10533, flown by Uffz. Horst Schlick, 1./ JG 77, Bir-el-Abd, Egypt, November 1942

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion
This is a welcome release from Eduard for those who like the Mediteranean Theatre, or the avid 109 fan.. Not only do you get two ProfiPACKs but extra parts for the tropicalised machines, and a great selection of decals. If you want to make use of more of the schemes then overtrees are also available for the extra kits. Highly recommended.

 

Africa Dual Combo 

 

 

       F-4 Overtrees 

 

      G-2 Overtrees 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[Antoine]

Very good selection of colour options.

 

On 6/15/2018 at 11:47 AM, Julien said:

Bf 109F-4/Trop, W. Nr. 8596, flown by Ofw. Erwin Sawallisch, 4./ JG 27, Quotaifiya, Egypt, August 1942

From the so-called Experten schwarm.

That is, until Stahlschmidt saw them emptying their ammo drums into the sand dunes, just before coming back to their airfield to report a dozen abschuss between themselves!

[Valkyrie]

Thanks Julien i will be tackling this over the holidays, nice of you to include the over trees links too....I will be making use of that too.