Adlerangriff
Battle of Britain Bf 109 E-1/3/4

Eduard Limited Edition Dual Combo
1/72 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

Adlerangriff or Eagle Attack was the German title for the Luftwaffe’s attack on the RAF in 1940 and this special two-kit boxing from Eduard allows modellers to produce two of the Bf 109s from this air battle.

Apart from the illustrations on the box top and sides there is no indication of exactly what the contents are - it is only on the ends of the box do we find that the kits are for the Bf 109 E-1/3/4.

As a Limited Edition Dual Combo the box contains all that is required for two very special builds. The box is a large 37x24x5cm or 15x9.5x2 inches with an eye-catching illustration on the top. 

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The plastic parts are courtesy of Special Hobby, a kit released singularly under the SH banner last year as SH 72439 and widely praised for its accuracy and details, but this version goes bit further as I will show.

Inside the box is a substantial A4 28-page glossy manual which starts with a two page outline of the Adlerangriff operations , repeated in Czech. There then follows a parts map and paint guide for Gunze and Mission Models paints along with names and RLM numbers. Some eighteen parts will not be used from each set of sprues. Eight pages cover the construction with all steps clearly indicated, along with colour call-outs. Parts, whether plastic, PE or resin  are clearly marked.

Curiously, some steps are labelled with capital letters while others have no identification at all. The final fourteen pages are colour four-view illustrations of the thirteen (!) decal choices plus stencil locations.

Then we have a single resealable clear bag containing the duplicate sets of sprues along with transparencies , which are rattling around with the solid parts and not separately bagged - potential for scratching here!

There are two multi-part photo-etched frets, two sets of masks, two sets of resin wheels and a single resin figure of a standing pilot.

Finally there is a sleeve containing the two decals sheets. One has the two sets of stencils and the other much larger (19x14cm) one containing the individual markings for the thirteen choices, along with crosses and two-part swastikas. There is a row of full swastikas as well, obviously to be cut off if the kit is distributed to countries where these are verboten.

A pretty full box of goodies.

The sprues are in mid grey and are of superb quality with no visible flash and only minor seams to be cleaned up. The ancillary sprue is doubled up while the main airframes are depicted on separate sprues, one for the E-1 variant and another for the E-3/4 which had gun bulges under the wings. The transparencies provide canopies for each variant, and are clear and thinly moulded with provision to be posed open. The cockpits are nicely detailed with a combination of moulded and PE parts that should look just brilliant. There are also fairly detailed engines and the parts to pose these visible . The leading edge slats, as well as flaps and ailerons are also separate and posable to add interest to the finished model. Careful selection of parts will be needed for the different canopies, so the decal choices will probably be needed to be decided upon at this stage.

Markings

The thirteen decal choices are all from June to September 1940 and in variations of RLM02/71/65 with combinations of white or yellow ID markings on the airframes.

They are

• E-3 WNr 5102  of Lt Herbert Kunze, Stab 1./JG 77, Deberitz, Germany, with high colour demarcation,

• E-3 WNr 5274 of Lt. Werner Machold, 1/JG 2, Marigny, France, with mid wavy demarcation ,

• E-4 E-3 WNr 3413,of Lt. Hans Krug, 5/JG 26, Marquise, France with high demarcation,

• E-4 E-3 WNr 3709, of Oblt. Josef Fozo, CO of 4/JG 51, Desvres, France with high demarcation but also lower fuselage over-sprayed in 02 plus 71 mottles,

• E-3 of Maj. Adolf Galland, CO of 111./JG 26, Caffiers, France with high demarcation  but overall 01 with fine squiggles of 71,

• E-3 of Maj. Adolf Galland, CO of 111./JG 26, Caffiers, France a few months later, as above and now with yellow wing and rudder tips.

• Variant not stated, WNr 1480 of Oblt. Franz von Werra, Gruppenadjutant of II./JG 3, Wierre-au-bois, with high demarcation and white wing tips and rudder,

• E-1, WNr  3771, of Fw. Ernst Arnold, 3/JG 27 , Peuplingues, France with high demarcation and yellow nose,

• E-1, WNr 3417 of Gefr. Erich Mummert, 4/JG 52, Peuplingues, France in same scheme as number 4 above, but with yellow nose and rudder,

• E-4, WNr 5375 of Hptm. Wilhelm Meyerweissflog, Stab JG 53, Etaples, France with high demarcation and fuselage mottles of 02, plus red nose band and white rudder,

• E-4 WNr 3709 of Oblt. Josef Fozo, CO of 4/JG 51, Desvres, France with high demarcation but also lower fuselage over-sprayed in 02 plus 71 mottles, plus yellow nose and rudder,

• E-4 WNr 5153 of Oblt. Egon Troha, CO of 9/JG 3 at Desvres, France, with high demarcation plus slanted yellow nose and rudder, and finally,

• E-4 WNr 4869 of Lt. Bernard Malischewski, Stab II./JG 54, Campagne-les-Guines, France with high demarcation, plus 02 mottles and 71 criss-crosses and yellow nose and rudder.

Certainly a vast and interesting set of markings.

The decals themselves are beautifully glossy printed with excellent colour and registration and some carrier film which will need trimming. 

The little resin pilot figure is very nicely sculpted and will add o a vignette or base.

No painting details are given for the pilot but I am sure there is enough information about Luftwaffe uniforms to make that an easy thing to overcome.

This is a very special kit that will give the Bf 109 modeller weeks of fun and produce a couple of stunning models, whether built with or without the engine exposed. Grab it while you can!

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2021 by Graham Carter
Images Copyright © 2021 by Brett Green
Page Created 27 September, 2021
Last updated 28 September, 2021

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