Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3
Weekend Edition

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

Eduard's 1/48 scale Bf 109 E-3 Weekend Edition is available online from Squadron.com
 

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3 was the most numerous of all Emils built, with more than 1200 produced from early 1939.  This combination of timing and quantity saw the E-3 operate the closing stages of the Spanish Civil War, play a leading role in Germany’s early World War II campaigns, and still be available in sufficient numbers to contribute heavily to Luftwaffe efforts in the Battle of Britain. 

The evolution of Luftwaffe camouflage and markings during this period saw E-3s finished in a great variety of paint schemes, including some of the most colourful worn by German aircraft during the conflict. 

All of this makes the E-3 a very popular subject with kit manufacturers and modelers alike.  Eduard’s 1/48 Weekend Edition Bf 109 E-3 is the latest kit to enter this crowded market, hot on the heels of the E-1 Weekend Edition which I reviewed earlier this year here:

http://www.hyperscale.com/2013/reviews/kits/eduard84164reviewbf_1.htm).

Reflecting the similarity of their full-scale counterparts (the Bf 109 E-1 and E-3 were produced in parallel), Eduard’s E-1 and E-3 Weekend Edition kits are almost identical.  The only difference is in the wing sprues, with the E-3 wing including the bulges and panels appropriate for the type’s armament of two MG-FF cannons, rather than the E-1’s MG17s.   

As with several other Eduard kits I have recently seen (including the E-3 Profipack boxing reviewed here
(http://www.hyperscale.com/2013/reviews/kits/eduard8262reviewbf_1.htm),
this E-3 kit is moulded in two different colours of plastic – Eduard’s old olive-brown and the new dark grey that is replacing it.  More important than colour is quality, and the more I see of Eduard’s 1/48 Bf 109 series the more I like it.  Moulding quality is excellent, with no flash or obvious imperfections.  Surface detail is very crisp, and the rivets are exceptionally fine and look great under paint.  To see what I mean, have a look at Brett Green’s build of the 1/48 E-1 Profipack release here (http://www.hyperscale.com/2012/features/bf109e1eduard48bg_1.htm).

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

Being a Weekend Edition, the kit doesn’t have the extras – canopy masks, multiple decal choices and photo-etched detailing parts – that come with Profipack releases. 

But with careful assembly and painting the kit’s plastic engine, cockpit and other detail parts will look good even without the addition of photo-etch (although I don’t think I could go without photo-etched seatbelts, or a replacement resin seat with moulded-on belts).  And no frills means a lower price – approximately US$10 less than the equivalent E-3 Profipack boxing on Eduard’s website. 

Markings

With only one marking option to play with, Eduard has fortunately chosen a good one – Bf 109 E-3 ‘Yellow 1’, flown by Oblt. Josef Priller, commander of 6./JG 51, based in France, Autumn 1940.  (This is one of the marking options included in the 1/48 Profipack release.)  Eduard’s instructions include detailed notes about ‘Yellow 1’, and point out that its finish went through a number of changes before reaching the scheme depicted here, with the likely original upper surface colours of RLM 70 Black Green/RLM 71 oversprayed with a random mottle of RLM 02.  The RLM 65 undersurface colour was extended high up the fuselage sides, before also receiving an overspray of RLM 02.  The rudder and cowlings were RLM 04 Yellow.

I have found photographs of this aircraft, which appear to match the kit’s painting and marking suggestions.  While the Weekend Edition painting and marking guide is in black and white only, full colour illustrations of ‘Yellow 1’ are provided on the box top and sides.  Additionally, a full colour painting and marking guide is available for downloading (along with the rest of the kit’s instructions) from Eduard’s website here: http://www.eduard.com/store/out/media/84165.pdf.

The small decal sheet is an Eduard production and looks very good.  All markings are crisply printed, with no registration issues apparent.  The sheet supplies instrument panel decals, but not stencils; Eduard no longer provides these with Weekend Edition kits, although they are available separately here: 

http://www.eduard.com/store/Eduard/Bf-109E-stencils-1-48.html?cur=2&listtype=search&searchparam=bf%20109%20stencil

It’s good to see Eduard’s 1/48 Bf 109 E-3 released in Weekend Edition format.  The quality of the base kit, and Eduard’s choice of marking scheme, makes this an attractive release in its own right.  However, the kit’s comparatively low shelf price, along with the range of aftermarket decals available for E-3s, also make it an excellent canvas for depicting some of the huge variety of schemes applied to this early war Luftwaffe stalwart.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample and for the images.

Review Text Copyright © 2013 by Brad Fallen
Page Created 30 April, 2013
Last updated 30 April, 2013

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page