Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4
Weekend Edition

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by David Wilson

Eduard's 1/48 scale Bf 109 E-4 Weekend Edition is available online from Squadron.com
 

The Bf109 is probably the best known and most discussed aircraft subject on HyperScale so let’s pass on the history lesson of the 109 and get to the plastic.

Eduard’s 1/48th Bf 109E series has rightly earned accolades for its fidelity to detail and Brett Green in his review of the Bf 109E-1 in February 2012 summarised Eduard’s new Emil family as “The best Messerschmitt Bf 109 E in 1/48 scale.”

His review of the Bf 109E-4 Profipack last year offers a good picture of the quality of the styrene parts: http://www.hyperscale.com/2012/reviews/kits/eduardr0007reviewbg_1.htm

The plastic-only Weekend Edition follows Eduard’s philosophy with these follow-on repackages. There is no compromise in quality- all the good styrene parts from the Profipack are there, just minus the “frills” and with a single decal option.

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The kit parts come well protected with the four grey sprues packed in two clear cellophane bags while the 8 clear parts are in a separate zip lock bag.

The single decal option is perhaps a little predictable but nevertheless important- W.Nr. 5819 of Obstlt. Adolf Galland, Geschwaderkommodore JG 26, Audembert, France – Dec.1940. Basically you can’t go wrong with an Adolf Galland marking option and the price of this kit gives the buyer a high quality “canvas” to use any of the multitudes of Bf 109E-4 aftermarket decals on the market.

Incidentally, the marking option offered was also one of the five options of the Profipack release, two of those including machines flown by Helmut Wick and Franz Von Werra.

More than 33,000 Bf 109s were produced of which around 560 were E-4 variants which featured prominently in the Battle of Britain. Adolf Galland’s 109E-4 is a well known machine and the Eduard kit also contains parts to make his specific airframe, notably the front canopy with the protruding telescope Galland used. Alternate parts in the kit allow for other schemes of the modeller’s choice using aftermarket decals.

There is a lot to like about Eduard’s Weekend Edition kits. The Bf109E-4 is a good example of Eduard’s marketing philosophy for its Weekend range – a budget-priced version of a mainstream subject with the frills removed but no compromise in basic quality.

The Bf 109E-4 Weekend provides a very high level of detail including a detailed engine to display the model with cowls off, or an option to close everything up (and have a nice DB engine for the spares box for another 109 project!). The surface detail is, of course, the same quality as the more expensive boxings.

The surface detail of parts is all you could hope for and Eduard’s gradual progression through all of the major Emil variants is giving us, without doubt, the best 1/48th scale Bf 109s on the market. 

The Bf 109E-4 Weekend Edition is thus highly recommended as top quality at a bargain price.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2013 by David Wilson
Page Created 12 November, 2013
Last updated 12 November, 2013

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