Bf109 E-1 canopy

[maltadefender]

Hi all,

I'm just building my BoB GB Messerschmitt and wanted to check something with those in the know.

According to the kit instructions and the Aeromaster decal sheet, the E-1 should have the completely square canopy, common with the later types, rather than the more delicate-looking and slightly more rounded earlier canopy for the E-3. Yet when looking for pictures of the E-1 they all seem to have the earlier-style canopy. Is there a definitive answer on this? I can't find any pics of the aircraft I'm building, which is Maltzahn's II/JG 53 based in Guernsey during early August 1940.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

According to the kit instructions and the Aeromaster decal sheet, the E-1 should have the completely square canopy, common with the later types, rather than the more delicate-looking and slightly more rounded earlier canopy for the E-3.

Not quite true. As built, it should have the E-3 style canopy. However, many E-1s and E-3s were later retrofitted with the E-4 style square canopy and windscreen. It seems to me that many E-1s were later upgraded to E-1/B standard and that is when they got the later canopy.

[Super Aereo]

As Enzo Matrix says, many earlier models were retrofitted with the later (E-4 type) canopy during mid-late 1940.

Edited October 7, 2010 by Super Aereo

[maltadefender]

Not quite true. As built, it should have the E-3 style canopy. However, many E-1s and E-3s were later retrofitted with the E-4 style square canopy and windscreen. It seems to me that many E-1s were later upgraded to E-1/B standard and that is when they got the later canopy.

Ach so, danke schoen!

[Dave Fleming]

As anexample (although not directly relevant!) one of the RAF's Es (AE479) was captured with the early canopy but later fitted with the later style from another captured example.

[Steven Eisenman]

Personally I would not trust Aeromaster one bit. Not without a picture. And you should not either. I have the 1/48 sheet. If you look closely, the aircraft drawn is actually an E-3/E-4 with the wing cannon and under wing bulge. So as drawn, it is not an E-1.

The early canopy was used even into the E-4 range.

Going through my pictures, JG 53's E-1 and E-3s had both the early and late style canopy.

Now, this is possibly a picture of von Maltzahn's aircraft, although it is an E-3, before the red band applied or after it was removed, note the chevron on the side (But I don't know it actually is his aircraft). It has the early style canopy. (Based on the picture posted below, it is perhaps not his aircraft, but..) I have also included a picture of a JG 53 E-1 with the late style canopy retro-fitted. It is possible that at the time of the red nose band, the unit began to refit later canopies as needed. But from the pictures below, it was a mixed bag.

E-3 Early Style

E-1 Late style

E-1 Late style

E-3 Early

Edited October 7, 2010 by Steven Eisenman

[Steven Eisenman]

Just came across this, which allegedly is von Maltzahn's aircraft. Clearly has late style canopy, but no way to tell which model E. Could be E-1(retrofitted), -3 or -4. Unless there is someone who can match an aircraft to von Maltzahn, it is back to modeling decision time.

I'm inclined to think an E-3 or E-4.

Edited October 7, 2010 by Steven Eisenman

[Steven Eisenman]

I was thinking about what can be seen in the picture of von Maltzahn on the leading edge of the wing. I went through all my 109E photos and came across a a 109E in a very similar position. Note that you can see the muzzle of the wing cannon just inboard of the vertical of the cross. One would think that the muzzle would be visible on von Maltzahn's aircraft, and it is not. So, I'm going to say that given this little evidence, his aircraft was an E-1, probably repainted and fitted with a late model canopy.

Of cours you could reach a different conclusion based on the camera angle and the framing.

[maltadefender]

Wow thank you Steven. That certainly looks like the scheme from the decal sheet in the last picture pre-yellow nose. I'm surprised that the mottling goes that far up the fuselage, looks to me like RLM65 was used to break the sharp edges of the splinter scheme up rather than bringing the splinter scheme colours down to darken the fuselage sides. Maybe that was because they were spending so much time over the Solent - the bluer the better?!?

Lots to think about now but I shall definitely trim her out as an E-1 with the E-4 hood.

Awesome stuff thank you all.

[Steven Eisenman]

Wow thank you Steven. That certainly looks like the scheme from the decal sheet in the last picture pre-yellow nose. I'm surprised that the mottling goes that far up the fuselage, looks to me like RLM65 was used to break the sharp edges of the splinter scheme up rather than bringing the splinter scheme colours down to darken the fuselage sides. Maybe that was because they were spending so much time over the Solent - the bluer the better?!?

Lots to think about now but I shall definitely trim her out as an E-1 with the E-4 hood.

Awesome stuff thank you all.

Most likely that aircraft was originally in 70/71 down the sides to the bottom. Remember the scheme changed to bring the blue up to the top.