This recent new tooling has been ‘boosted’ with extra detail parts, fresh decals and tape masks.
Luftwaffe fans widely welcomed the new 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf 109E from Special Hobby on its initial release last year. It benefited from more modern design and moulding technology than those produced previously by other manufacturers. The result was exquisite detail and sharp rendering of parts.
Fellow Czech company Eduard, whose own 1/48 ‘109s dominate the scale with their quality, has decided to repackage Special Hobby’s 1/72 Bf 109E in ProfiPACK format (item7032). This means plain and pre-coloured photo-etched (PE) metal details are included, as well as pre-cut kabuki tape paint masks. Also present is a new decal sheet carrying markings for six Bf 109E-3 airframes from 1939-40. These are:
• WkNr. 1079/Black outline 9, Erich Rudorffer, 2./JG 2, Beaumont-le-Roger, France, September 1940
• Red 1, August-Wilhelm Schumann, 5./JG 52, Mannheim-Sandhofen, Germany, Nov-Dec 1939
• WkNr.1380/ < + –, Carl-Alfred Schumacher, CO of JG 1, Jever, Germany, early 1940
• < – + ―, Max Ibel, CO of JG 27, Guines, France, Sept-Oct 1940
• WkNr.1271/White 13 + ―, Helmut Henz, CO of 4./JG 77, Kristiandsand-Kjevik, Norway, September 1940
• WkNr.5058/Yellow 3, Arthur Haase, CO of 6./JG 51, Marquise-West, France, August 1940
Eduard’s PE parts include seat belts, instrument panels, rudder pedals, windscreen trim, an oxygen regulator casing and other items. Marry these to the existing, superb styrene airframe and you’ll have a show-stopping build. Special Hobby’s ‘109 offers a full engine, upper nose guns and separate cowlings/flying control surfaces. The full package is excellent value at just £13.83 when ordered direct from Eduard. However, the kit is also obtainable via Hannants in the UK, for £14.50.
