1:48 Messerschmitt Bf-109E-4/E-4

The real subject

The Messerschmitt Bf 109E ranks among the best known single-engine fighters of the Second World War. The E-4 version was powered by the liquid-cooled inverted V12 Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine and the cockpit was covered by a squared canopy with flat panels. The gun armament was split between two machine guns above the engine and two cannons in the wings.

What the set contains

A plastic kit in 1:48 scale. The finished model has a span of around twenty centimeters. The kit is supplied unpainted and unassembled. The number of parts, the color options offered and the contents of the decal sheet are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

Separate the parts with nippers and sand off the remains of the sprue gates, so that the mating surfaces seat dry before gluing. Paint the cockpit and the landing gear bays before you close the fuselage, because afterwards you will not reach them. A canopy with pronounced frames masks well with tape cut into narrow strips. Spray the camouflage from the lighter tones to the darker ones and apply the decals onto a gloss base, so that no matte edge remains beneath them. The narrow landing gear with the wheels splayed outwards is typical of the real aircraft, so try its angle dry and let the glue set properly before you stand the model on its wheels.

Who it is for

The kit is suitable for modelers with basic experience of building aircraft in 1:48 scale. The model fits into a collection of fighters of the first war years as well as serving as a basis for practicing camouflage transitions. Paints, glue and tools are not part of the package, unless stated otherwise.