Spanish Emil

I recently built a couple of models from Wingsy Kits and was impressed with their quality and detail. I didn’t have a 109E in my SCW collection, so decided to do another Wingsy kit. A few Bf-109E-1s and E-3s arrived in Spain just before hostilities ceased and didn’t see much action. This model represents an E-1 flown by Hauptmann Siebelt Reents of 1.J/88, who claimed a single victory over a Polikarpov I-16 just before the end of hostilities.

The kit did not disappoint, it is a very nice kit. I don’t care for some of their PE parts, easy enough to ignore them and use wire and card stock instead. I used Kelik 3-D cockpit accessories, master gun barrels in the wings, and Reskit exhaust. I had a very old AeroMaster decal sheet for a Spanish E-1 for 6*119. I used the kit stencil decals, they’re very nice and the tiny stencils are legible, you can actually read them!

I used Model Master RLM 63 over RLM 65. There’s much controversy over the color of RLM 63. I came across a RLM color chart that lists two colors, RLM 63 V1 which is a light grey (Hellgrau) and RLM 63V2 (Schwatzgrau) which is a greenish grey similar to RLM 02. RLM 66 is also called Schwartzgrau. Very confusing. To me, the MM RLM 63 always looked too light, so I added a little 02 to darken it a little. Looking at black and white photos of the period and comparing the contrast between the white rudder and the grey fuselage, I went with my own version of RLM 63. Some profiles of 6*119 have a grey spinner while others show a yellow spinner. I just liked the yellow better. I guess if I’m wrong the rivet counters can sue me. Whatever, I now have an Emil to go with my 109A , B, and D models. I’ll be raiding my piggy bank for more Wingsy kits in the future.

12 additional images. Click to enlarge.