Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4

Trumpeter, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Mick Evans

Trumpeter's 1/32 scale Bf 109 F-4 is available online from Squadron
 

Trumpeter’s 1/32 scale kit is very impressive in the box but it is clearly not a Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4. The detail in the kit is actually for Bf 109G-2. 

I compared the Trumpeter offering with the Hasegawa Bf 109 G-6 kit that I already had in my collection. While the Hasegawa kit is excellent, the Trumpeter kit is the correct length according to the plans in the Kagera Bf 109 books that I have. The Hasegawa is some 3mm short in the nose. 

So what about the Trumpeter kit’s accuracy as a Bf 109 F? 

Well, firstly, it has the two engine air cooling scoops on both sides of the nose that are present from a G-2 onwards but not on an F-4.  These will need to be removed and the resulting hole filled with plastic card. 

Next, the wheel wells are the squared off version that is present on almost every version of the Bf 109 except the Bf 109 F-4 where the wheel well is completely round.  Hasegawa in their Bf 109 G series provide the round wheel well and the flashed over areas need to be removed to make the wheel well the squared off version.  The modeller will need to scratch build the corner pieces to make the wheel well round to present an accurate version of a Bf 109 F-4.  I will detail how to do in my build review. 

Also missing is the fuel filler point below the port side cockpit sill, the kit still has it high up on the rear fuselage.  This will need to be filled and a new filler point scribed below the cockpit.

The kit is beautifully engraved and detailed.  There are approximately 242 finely engraved grey coloured injection moulded plastic parts, 38 photo etched parts, 3 soft nylon parts, and 11 clear injection moulded parts in this kit.

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Thumbnail panels:

The plastic parts have absolutely no flash at all and the surface detail is crisply moulded displaying fine panel lines and rivet detail.  The surface of the parts has no moulding imperfections.  The moulding that this manufacturer is applying to their kits these days is nothing short of superb.

Cockpit detail is provided by the way of 72 plastic, photo-etched and clear plastic parts, the engine and engine bay area is made up of 61 plastic and etch parts. 

Etched metal seat belts are also provided for the pilot’s seat.

The clear canopy is provided in three parts.

The instrument panel is a clear part too. Decals are supplied for dial and other instrument panel detail.

The fuselage interior has all of the internal ribbing and structure moulded in place, which adds to the realism of the interior detail.

The engine build up is excellent in both detail and realism and is completed with a very comprehensive build of parts to replicate the weapons system.  The engine is enclosed with engine cowls that can be positioned open for those who wish to show off the engine detail, but some knock out pin marks will need to be removed from the insides of the cowl.  The wings contain nicely detailed undercarriage and flaps.  The wings also have optional positioned flaps allowing the flaps to be displayed lowered or streamlined as well as separate ailerons which can be displayed displaced.

The external stores parts include the wing mounted R1 mod containing the MG 151 20mm cannons in underwing gondolas and these were rarely fitted to Bf 109F-4s.

A 300 litre centre line fuel tank is provided as well.

Wheels have separate vinyl tyres, including the tail wheel.

The instruction sheet is made up of a detailed black and white explosive assembly view that details the assembly of the kit with no ambiguity.  Overall the kit looks accurate to the Kagera publication plans that I have except for the three points that I have previously mentioned.

The three colour schemes are provided on a glossy colour sheet detailing the colours required for the provided scheme.

The decals are crisp, accurate in colour and in register.

The three schemes covered are:

• Bf 109 F-4 Wk-Nr 5749 flown by Hauptmann Hans “Assi” Hahn Gruppenkommandeur III/JG 2 “Richthoffen” summer 1941. Finished in the colour scheme of 74/75/76 with some RLM 70 mottle.  The spinner is RLM 66 and the rudder and lower engine cowl is RLM 04 yellow.

• Bf 109 F-4 flown by Kurt Brundle of III/JG 3 “Udet” spring 1942 Finished in the colour scheme of 74/75/76 with some RLM 02 mottle and wing camouflage.  The spinner is RLM 66 and the rudder, fuselage band and lower engine cowl is RLM 04 yellow.

• Bf 109 F-4 flown by Oberstleutenant Gunther Freiherr von Maltzahn Geschwaderkommodore JG53 May 1942.  Finished in the colour scheme of 74/75/76 with some RLM 70 mottle.  The spinner is RLM 66 with the front section in dark blue and the lower engine cowl is RLM 04 yellow.

Full stencil decals are provided too.

This 1/32 scale Trumpeter kit is nicely detailed but it is not a Bf 109F-4 without some modification.  Trumpeter should have done more research on this before moulding.

For me a bit of modification and I will have an accurate Bf 109 F-4 in the very nice scheme for Han “Assi” Hahn’s aircraft.

A build review will follow when I have completed the kit.

Text Copyright © 2011 by Mick Evans
Images Copyright © 2011 by Brett Green
Page Created 23 February, 2011
Last updated 24 February, 2011

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