Hasegawa's 1/48 scale Bf 109E
Tiger Emil

by Andreas Beck

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

Years back this particular Bf 109 E attracted my interest. But there was only one famous color photo. Wouldn’t there be more?

Then I discovered other pictures saying they were showing “Black 3” in a Jagdwaffe Volume. Could it be that there were more photos?

Back to the bookshelves and I got lucky . There was a shot in an old publication from the 1960s  from almost the same perspective but way back from some 200 meters this photo didn´t tell anything – except the complete upper wing  camouflage demarcation! This was the point to move ahead with this project.

So now which kit to use? Due to the uncertainty of the outcome I did not want to sacrifice a Tamiya kit so I elected to build the Revell re-release of the Hasegawa 109 (later molds) . This was also a good opportunity to test my new H&S Infinity airbrush.

The project was finished when a new surprise appeared. The announcement of the latest “Luftwaffe in Focus – Special 3” , which is sent out from late December, shows a decent 109 from JG 3 , the photo taken in winter 1940/41 . The left fuselage is  showing “tiger stripes”, and yes , a close comparison revealed that it is the JG 27 “Black 3” in an earlier stage of its life . The story to be assumed from this is simple. JG 3 gave its Emils to JG 27 and re-equipped with Bf 109 Fs in the East while preparing for the assault on the USSR. JG 27 went to the MTO and most Emils retained their old camouflage.

• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

Model and Text Copyright © 2008 by Andreas Beck
Images Copyright © 2008 by Andre Kröcher
Page Created 22 December, 2008
Last Updated 22 December, 2008

Back to HyperScale Main Page