Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4

A-Model, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Glen Porter

CMR's 1/72 scale Typhoon IB Early Version is available online from Squadron.com

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 was considered by many to be the peak in the 109 series. A major re-design from the 109E, most of which remained through-out the rest of the series, it was equal to, if not better than, the Spitfire Mk V.

The handling of the later models, G and K, deteriorated due to an increase in weight and therefore wing loading even though they were faster.

The main criticism leveled at the “F” was that it was underarmed due to only having one 20mm cannon and two MG 17 machine guns.

Until recently, no model manufacturer had been able to come up with an accurate and detailed BF-109F in 1/72nd scale. Then along came FineMolds, a part of the Hasagawa organization from Japan, and offered us a complete range of late model 109s from an early “F” right through to a late “K”. These FineMolds kits are highly accurate with reasonable detailed and are now considered the yardstick in the scale. The only area where they can be criticized is in cockpit sidewall detail. Like Tamiya's 109E, another benchmark, the detail that is there looks more like it has been engraved on rather than moulded.

Recently, while looking around NKR Models' website, I came across an A-model kit of the 109F. A-model is a short run manufacturer from Poland but because I've never bought or built one of their kits I began to wonder just how good or bad this kit was. So, I bit the bullet and bought one.

Wow! On opening the box, with art-work on the lid which will not sell many kits, I was surprised to find what almost looked like a clone of the FineMolds “F”. Of course, I couldn't tell just by looking at it but I also noticed lots of detail for both the cockpit and engine compartment. Now, you must remember that this is a short-run kit, as mentioned above, and the detail is nowhere near as clean or crisp as that in the FineMolds offerings so dry-fitting is going to be the watch-word.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

On getting it home, I immediately compared it with the FineMolds kit. As expected, it's not exactly the same but close. The engine looks to be about 1 mm longer in the A-model kit and the wing is about 1 mm further back but it also seems to have all the advantages the FineMolds had over all previous “F”,”G” and “K” kits except for the crispness of the moulding.

There's lots of flash and on dry-fitting some parts it didn't take much to get a reasonable fit. However, there is also some warpage in the fuselage and wings and the lower wing half has almost no dihedral at all. Its going to have to wait for construction to see how much these problems effect things.

Although this kit is specifically an F-4, all parts are supplied to build an F-0, F-1 and an F-2 as well as an F-4Z Trop.

Obviously, there are a host of optional parts. You get three carby intakes, the square one from the “F-0”, the standard “F” and the bigger “Z” intake plus a dust filter just in case you want to do a Trop. There are three spinners and backing plates but I could not see much difference between them. Two oil-cooler panels, the deep one and standard, two props, narrow and paddle blade and optional exhausts which is strange as I believe they use the same exhaust right through to the “K”.

There are eleven parts for the cockpit not including the two sidewalls and you even get an MG 151 to go under the cover although I don't know why because there's no way you could ever see it. The sides of the engine are part of the fuselage moulding. You then get a detailed top, bottom including all the plumbing, two engine mounts, two coolant header tanks, a complete set of MG 17s and various other parts which I couldn't identify. It's going to be a very detailed little motor even with-out adding any extra plumbing. However, I must remind you once again, all these parts have to be cleaned up and made to fit. Remember, dry fit everything.

The decals. Not the best part of the kit. They are rather like the Matchbox ones of yesteryear, very matt, heaps of extra carrier film and the colours look a bit iffy, especially the reds. There is however, a full set of stencils and they may be usable. They cover eight aircraft, two German, one RAF (actually, it's 3 Squdn RAAF), US, Russian, Spanish, Italian and Hungarian.

Last but not least, the canopy is in three parts and quite nicely moulded but its a little thick although I think just passable, I'll make up my mind just before I use it.

If you want an accurate 109F, like lots of detail but don't want to spend a fortune on FineMolds kits and resin sets, this kit from A-model may be the answer.

A-model do some other 109 kits, among them an “E-3/4” and a “K-4” both of which I've ordered. If they are as good as this one, I'll do a follow-up review on them also.

Watch this space.

Highly recommended to broke Braille Scale 109 detail nuts.

Purchased with reviewer's own funds

A-Model kits  are available online from Hannants in the UK,
NKR Models in Australia and quality specialist model retailers worldwide.