Revell / ICM 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4/Trop by Roland Sachsenhofer

Revell / ICM 1/48 scale
Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4

by Roland Sachsenhofer

Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4

Revell's 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-2/F-4 is available online from Squadron

Description

Revells recent release of a 1/48 scale Bf 109 F-4/trop is easily identified as the well known ICM-forms of that famous fighter plane: level of detail is generally high, parts show crisp and fine molding and the DB engine can be displayed fully open.

That is the good news - which may be enhanced by the more than moderate price of this kit - but there is bad news too…

One of them is without doubt the dubious fit of parts. In particular the forward area of the fuselage cannot be built without intense trimming, sanding and a serious amount of putty. The price to show the engine open is paid with constant instability of that area.

Another point refers to the slightly deformed shape of cowling, spinner and, in particular, of the props. In my opinion the lower part of the cowling is too square in width, but I am definitely sure that the kits propeller blades are wrong for anything ever mounted on German planes… have a look at the workbench! Being much to slim and pointed I had to exchange them with examples from an old Hasegawa kit.

Thumbnail panels:

On my kit, the mounting of the antenna on the fin did not exist. I recreated that characteristic detail with scratched metal.

Revell's decals are without doubt of high quality, but I did not want to depict the well known “Yellow 14” of Hans Joachim Marseilles, the kit's only choice for an African 109. So I used the excellent decals from Kagero No. 21 „Messerschmitt Bf 109 in North Africa“.

My model depicts a Bf 109 F-4trop of 6./JG 3 flown by Uffz. Franz Schwaiger in April 1942 from Martuba.

If you are interested in the building process, please have a look on the workbench at the JAM Forum.

As ever, remarks will be appreciated: ro.sachsenhofer@gmx.at

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