1/72 Messerschmitt Bf 109E

[hacker]

Title says it all whats a good kit of this plane these days. l was going to opt for the Academy Kit as l build that one before and found it a pleasant build

[stevehnz]

I asked this question a while back & found the Academy kit was full of inaccuracies even though it makes up nicely & is an attractive kit by all accounts. I was steered toward the ICM ones as being the best value for money & more accurate. At least, thats what I took from all the advice.

Steve.

[rowmk9]

Yeah the Academy one isn't the best in terms of accuracy, but I found it a pleasant build too. As Steve says, the ICM 109E is the best in terms of price/accuracy but just a note of caution - it is fiddly in places and has to be assembled with care. It's not what I'd call a starter kit.

For ease of assembly and a very respectable (though not mm perfect) outline the Tamiya offering is a good bet. Price usually scares people off from it though.

Others like Airfix and Revell are best avoided, as they are old toolings and suffer from basic, raised detail AND poor fit.

[dfqweofekwpeweiop4]

I like the Tamiya one, it might be expensive but no where near as expensive as the Fine Molds Bf109F/G/K's. That said for my own serious builds I'm sticking with Tamiya for the E's and Fine Molds for the rest. I'll build up others for practice/auctions and fun etc.

thanks

Mike

[Greenshirt]

If cockpit detail is not critical the HobbyBoss 109E series are a good value. I've built a few and unless you look under the canopy they are as good as the Academy. As to accuracy I remember something "not quite right" but sitting in my sub-collection of -109's (~15 from various manufacturers) they don't stand out.

Regards,

Tim

[SoftScience]

I built the Academy and ICM kits, and must suggest the ICM kit. It is as detailed as the Tamiya offerings, but at a fraction of the price (at least in the US). The fit is good, but the decals are only so so. I suggest going with aftermarket.

Here is mine, straight out of the box

[Chuck1945]

The Tamiya kit is probably best for ease of assembly, the rear fuselage is just a bit short though (~1mm). This only shows up if you are using decals sized for the correct length. The ICM is a virtual copy of the Tamiya kit except the rear fuselage is corrected as to length. In fact the Tamiya parts will fit the ICM better than some of the ICM parts

So yeah, as others have said already, ICM for most accurate, then Tamiya.

[Touvdal]

I would recomend the ICM have build 50+ of this, fit is good, some care should be taken in the cowling area. The E-3 canopy is a bad fit, so if your building only one go for at E-4 or E-7.

cheers

Jes

[dfqweofekwpeweiop4]

Incidently, I've just checked out the ICM Bf109E's on Hannants website. They are only £3 cheaper than the Tamiya ones, not as cheap as I was expecting. I guess it might then come down to how many you build or what markings are in the kit. If I only wanted one or 2, I'd stick with Tamiya but thats just me!

thanks

Mike

[Master Zen]

Mikemx beat me to the point but yes, the ICM is not that much cheaper than the Tamiya... at least here in the UK. 1mm short isn't a biggie for me and the decals are decent except for the ivory-colored whites. Fit is fantastic, it's basically shake and bake and I can't recommend it enough.

[Miggers]

"Others like Airfix and Revell are best avoided, as they are old toolings and suffer from basic, raised detail AND poor fit. "

I've always been led to believe the Airfix and ex-Matchbox(Revell) 109E's are well accurate in outline and dimension.

Did the Matchbox one back in the mid '70's when it was released and I'm pretty sure it fell together.

I also have a 1980 pressing of the Airfix one in the stash(been there for 30-odd years now)that I've fondled a few

times and the fit seems pretty good on that one too.

There is the original Revell kit from the 1960's that's a bit of a rum'un,but it was just about the only kit of an E

for a long time.

I seem to remember the Airfix and Matchbox kits being mooted(raved about)as light years ahead of it for

accuracy when they were released.

It's up to you,but I'd have a shufty on E-Bay and see if you can spy one of 'em for sale.

The early Airfix one is in a picture 1980's type box and the Matchbox one has it in a desert

scheme on the front with "Matchbox" in great big letters.

I don't think you'll be dissapointed and they'll certainly be cheaper than the above mentioned.

Airfix one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AIRFIX-1-72-MESSERSC...=item35b00d5654

This could well be the Matchbox kit in Revell's box:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Revell-1-72-Messersc...=item3a62cea185

Mark

Edited April 26, 2011 by Miggers

[Adam Maas]

What's the verdict on the Hasegawa kit? I did one last year and found it a nice build overall.

[Chuck1945]

What's the verdict on the Hasegawa kit? I did one last year and found it a nice build overall.

goes together ok, but overall not as detailed nor as accurate as the ICM kit

[thx6667]

This could well be the Matchbox kit in Revell's box:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Revell-1-72-Messersc...=item3a62cea185

Mark

IIRC it is Revell's own old tooling, not the MB kit which is generally considered to be very accurate in outline, just lacking in details.

[General Jumbo]

"Others like Airfix and Revell are best avoided, as they are old toolings and suffer from basic, raised detail AND poor fit. "

I've always been led to believe the Airfix and ex-Matchbox(Revell) 109E's are well accurate in outline and dimension.

Did the Matchbox one back in the mid '70's when it was released and I'm pretty sure it fell together.

I also have a 1980 pressing of the Airfix one in the stash(been there for 30-odd years now)that I've fondled a few

times and the fit seems pretty good on that one too.

There is the original Revell kit from the 1960's that's a bit of a rum'un,but it was just about the only kit of an E

for a long time.

I seem to remember the Airfix and Matchbox kits being mooted(raved about)as light years ahead of it for

accuracy when they were released.

It's up to you,but I'd have a shufty on E-Bay and see if you can spy one of 'em for sale.

The early Airfix one is in a picture 1980's type box and the Matchbox one has it in a desert

scheme on the front with "Matchbox" in great big letters.

I don't think you'll be dissapointed and they'll certainly be cheaper than the above mentioned.

Airfix one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AIRFIX-1-72-MESSERSC...=item35b00d5654

This could well be the Matchbox kit in Revell's box:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Revell-1-72-Messersc...=item3a62cea185

Mark

I'd agree here - the Matchbox kit looks right. And free nostalgia with every build!

[hacker]

Hmmm never thought of the Matchbox kit. Sure lacks details but with aftermarket parts you could have a winner there

[MDriskill]

What's the verdict on the Hasegawa kit? I did one last year and found it a nice build overall.

Overall fairly good. Its worst fault is the rear fuselage, fin, and rudder are undersized. Roy Sutherland, back in his "Cooper Details" days, did a "fixer" set for it that simply replaced the dinky rudder and tailwheel, and showed you how to re-cut the fin a bit larger, which made a huge improvement in the overall look. I did one of these and was happy with it.

I also think the "round top" canopy is fairly bad, but you can simply avoid those variants or find alternate glass.

If you have one lying around I wouldn't avoid building it, but there's no point in seeking one out in view of the more recent Tamiya and ICM efforts.

Edited May 2, 2011 by MDriskill

[John]

IIRC it is Revell's own old tooling, not the MB kit which is generally considered to be very accurate in outline, just lacking in details.

I can confirm that it's the old Revell tooling. My son bought one a couple of months ago.

John

[hacker]

so it seems the ICM 109 gets the vote here. l may get the Hasegawa one for a hacker to make a "B" version.