1/72 Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4

I enjoyed my recent build of an Airfix Gustav 109, so when I saw this Emil the other day with Battle of Britain markings I picked it up. Little did I know that unlike the Gustav, AO1008A was an Airfix "new tool" kit. Instead of the Gustav's one-part cockpit (a seat) it had a fully detailed cockpit, a detailed engine (viewable thanks to a removable upper fuselage forward) and flaps that can be positioned down. Most importantly, it had a three-part canopy that allowed my to fold the center part in the open position.

The markings were that of an aircraft in the summer of 1940 - specifically Lt. Josef Eberle's Yellow 13, which was photographed after Eberle belly-landed in a field after returning across the Channel. Eberle was later lost on combat with an RAF fighter on October 9, 1940.

JG 54's ground personnel applied the standard scheme of RLM 65 light blue underside and fuselage, topped by a splinter camo of RLM 02 and RLM 71. To darken the fuselage sides they applied vertical stripes of RLM 71. Of interest, the wing and tail tips were picked out in RLM 27 Yellow, lighter than the RLM 04 used on the propeller spinner, the "13" and the squadron emblem.

Candidly, I was initially disappointed in the camo scheme, mistakenly thinking when I bought it that it was the RLM 70/71 splinter I had done a couple of times before only to find that it was the much lighter RLM 02/71. But as is often the case with Luftwaffe subjects, the lack of contrast in the camo gets balanced by the yellow markings and black & white insignia. So I'm really pleased with the result, and am enjoying seeing it on the shelf with the Gustav.

2 additional images. Click to enlarge.