Bf 110 E Engine and
Nose Gun Sets

Eduard BRASSIN, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

Eduard's 1/32 scale F-117 Wheels is available online from Squadron.com

Since their launch in mid-2012, Eduard’s 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf 110 kits have established themselves as the best in this scale by a considerable margin.  Brett Green’s review of the original Bf 110 E Profipack release
(http://www.hyperscale.com/2012/reviews/kits/eduard7083reviewbg_1.htm) concluded that it is “a viceless build with almost perfect fit” and “a beautifully detailed kit”.  The cockpit, particularly, is very well equipped, containing details previously unseen in 1/72 Bf 110s.

Two areas of Eduard’s Bf 110 C, D and E kits that did not receive the same level of detail are the nose gun bay and the engines, both of which can only be completed in the closed position.  Most modelers will probably find this acceptable, but for those wanting to add further detail Eduard has come to party with two Brassin sets that have been designed specifically for its 1/72 C, D and E.

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DB 601A/N Engine

The engine set contains parts for one Daimler-Benz DB 601A/N engine, as well as replacement exhausts and upper cowlings.  The latter are necessary because the fixed kit cowls need to be cut away in order to fit the replacement engine.  This cutting will need to be done carefully, after the kit nacelle halves have been glued together and allowed to dry.  Also make sure you remove the parts from the correct, port side nacelle – if you cut up the starboard nacelle you will be in trouble, because I’m pretty sure the engine assembly won’t fit!

Photo-etched blanking plates are supplied to fill the gaps between the upper and lower wing halves that would otherwise be visible as a result of the surgery to the nacelles.

The new cowls are finely cast, with the forward cowl containing some impressive internal structural details.  Additional detail is provided in the form of photo-etched stiffening plates, complete with lightening holes, for attaching to the front of the upper (resin) and lower (kit) cowlings.

Even better is the engine itself, which has been cast as a single piece complete with spark plug leads, magneto and other ancillary equipment.  The coolant tank, supercharger and engine bearers are supplied as separate parts.  These are combined into a single unit that is attached to a nicely detailed firewall, which in turn slots into the gap between the upper wing and lower engine nacelle where the kit plastic was removed.  (This is where it will pay to have been careful with your cutting and sanding.)

Eduard suggests adding some extra plumbing to the front and the back of the engine; with good references and sufficient enthusiasm you could add even more, although given the scale and existing level of detail, I’m not sure if it’s really necessary.

The final touch is provided by two sets of beautifully moulded resin exhausts – one for the new engine, and one for the unmodified nacelle to ensure there is no mismatch between kit and aftermarket parts.

Bf 110 E Nose Guns

The Brassin nose gun set is less complex than the engine set in that no cutting of kit plastic is required.  Eduard’s 1/72 Bf 110 E kit is designed with separate upper and lower gun cowls that are added to the front of the completed fuselage assembly.  The Brassin set mimics this by providing a resin gun bay that plugs into the front of the fuselage assembly, and is then enclosed by replacement resin lower and upper gun cowls.  However, I probably wouldn’t install the upper cowl, because doing so would defeat the purpose of the set by hiding all of the lovely resin gun bay detail.

This detail comes in the form of a single piece bay, complete with finely moulded wires and gas bottles.  The four MG17s are supplied separately in a slightly darker, hopefully robust resin because they look very delicate and will require great care if they are to be cleaned up, painted and installed without damage. 

Additional details are also provided for the lower cowl:  four gun magazines, should you wish to use them, and a tiny ESK 200 gun camera that is mounted at the very front of the cowl.

Each set is cleanly cast with no apparent production flaws, and Eduard’s instructions are well illustrated and logically set out.  I would recommend following them closely, particularly when you are assembling and installing the replacement engine.  With careful construction, painting and weathering, both of these sets will make eye-catching additions to your 1/72 Eduard Bf 110 E model. 

Thanks to Eduard for the samples.

Review Text Copyright © 2013 by Brad Fallen
Page Created 13 June, 2013
Last updated 13 June, 2013

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