Another 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109F-2? Really? Yes – and Zvezda’s new kit is very nice indeed!
The box contains 213 parts, 12 of which are transparent plastic for various canopy types, wingtip lights, and gunsight glass. A small decal sheet also is included.
The instruction sheet is divided into 24 main stages, with several preliminary “substages.” Study the instructions carefully, as they can be a bit confusing.
Four interesting camouflage options are shown, but none completely; all have left-side views, but there’s only one top view for the first scheme, and only the fourth has a right-side view. Colors are called out in Testors Model Master paints and a brand of paint that I assume is Russian, as none of it is familiar to me. Interestingly, RLM colors are not referenced. Yet there are other questionable colors, such as Model Master “2130 USSR pale blue” for the underside.
Construction goes easily. The engine and cockpit are well detailed; no aftermarket kit is needed, as everything is well represented. A fantastic multipart pilot figure is included with a feature I’ve not seen before – seat belts molded in such a way that the belts go over the figure’s shoulders and the buckles sit right where they would on the real aircraft! It looks like he’s actually strapped in. Very nice! Unfortunately, there are no belts at all without the pilot. The only negative aspect of the cockpit is an obvious ejector-pin mark right in the center of the seat pan – surprising, considering they are notably absent elsewhere.
I had to search the Internet and borrow a Hasegawa instruction sheet to complete the scheme for Major “Hannes” Trautloft of JG 54 from the summer of 1942. I used Testors Model Master RLM enamels, all sprayed freehand with only the hard edges masked by Tamiya tape. The exact colors of the real aircraft are a puzzle, as the only color photo that I know of is faded and brown-toned. I went with RLM 02 gray and a dark green similar to the late-war RLM 80 olive green, a color combination I could see working well in summertime Russia.
Although register on some of the decals is a little ragged, they behaved well and conformed to details without silvering; the white was opaque enough to cover the yellow of the fuselage band.
The kit provides nice details I’ve not seen on other 109 models – such as molded stitching on the wheel wells’ canvas lining! (On the downside, the wells are not the correct shape for an F-2.) Future editions will obviously include wing guns and separate panels on the underside of the wing to allow you to show off the wing structure inside, including ribs with lightening holes and stringers with great rivet detail. Overlapping panels are represented in appropriate places by one panel edge being higher than the adjacent panel, not just a smooth surface with an engraved panel line, to create the impression of a multipart, 3-D assembly.
The engine and gun bay are complete, lacking only wires and hoses. The model can be opened up, as I chose, or you could leave the engine out and display the aircraft undergoing maintenance. Having read the book and watched the video of the restoration of the Bf 109G-2 Black 6, I enjoyed a similar experience seeing this model take shape – especially when the engine was mounted. It really looks the part!
Building the model with the cowling closed would involve some thinking. I might leave the engine out, mounting the exhaust stubs to card stock and boxing in the openings so the exhausts could be slid in after painting. Styrene rod could be used for the propeller shaft. Then, you could display the beautiful engine separately.
I did modify the kit by cutting and dropping the lower radiator flaps; they are molded closed, even though all the other control surfaces are posable.
I think this kit is easily the nicest, most-complete 109 I’ve ever built. There are features I’d like to see more manufacturers use, like the overlapping panels. Zvezda has really raised the bar for future 109s.