Messerschmitt Bf 110C-6
Limited Edition

Eduard, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

Eduard’s Bf 110C/D Profipac Edition is available online from Squadron.com

The Bf 110 is perhaps the best known representative of twin-engined heavy-fighter concept popular with several nations in the late 1930’s, and called Zerstorer (Destroyer) by the Luftwaffe. Although the Battle of Britain revealed its vulnerability to modern single-engined fighters, it still provided useful service in many roles for the duration of WW2. A useful overview with considerably more information on the type can found here at Wikepedia.
One of the perhaps lesser-known Bf 110 versions is the C-6, the subject of this “First Look” article.  I have only been able to glean a smattering of information about the C-6, some of which is slightly contradictory. Matters are not helped by Eduard’s instructions that feature their standard Bf 110 background notes, which whilst providing a good overview of the major variants, do not mention the C-6. This is perhaps an understandable economy for a limited Edition kit.

Here is what I can advise about the Bf 110C-6. It was essentially similar to the C-4 but deleted the two 20-mm MG/FF cannon from the lower nose, whilst retaining the four MG17s in the upper nose and rear gunner’s MG15. A single much larger and more powerful 30-mm MK 101 cannon was mounted under the fuselage centreline in a pod, along with a significant blast-trough let into the underside of the nose. I understand that only twelve Bf 110C-6's were produced. Some apparently had 1,200-hp DB 601N engines fitted in place of the 1,050-hp DB 610A normally fitted to the C-series aircraft.

I have read in some publications that the C-6’s were operated exclusively by Erprobungsgruppe 210 (Testing Group 210), although Eduard’s research suggests that the type was flown by NJG1 as well. I have also read on-line that at least one flew as a night-fighter with NJG1, as well as three being used in North Africa by 8/ZG 26; whilst the remainder were operated by SKG. 210 (Erpr.210 renamed) in Russia for as long as the type remained serviceable.

Intended Role?

What I have been unable to ascertain by just skim reading is the intended role for the Bf 110C-6.

Its service commenced in France in the summer of 1940, which coincides with the battle of Britain, where the Bf 110 and the Zerstorer concept was found wanting. Such a powerful aircraft weapon as the MK 101 makes sense for destroying heavy bombers and heavy armoured vehicles, or for anti-shipping strikes against freighters, support vessels and lightly armoured warships. But only the latter would make some slight sense as a Luftwaffe priority in mid-1940, as Germany was considering the invasion of Great Britain. After all, German cities were barely threatened by bombing at this time, and most nations’ tanks were in the 15-25 Tonne class; neither situation warranted the power of the MK 101 to deal with them. Of course, the Germans may simply have been experimenting with a heavy cannon armament; something they had a bit of penchant for, as attested by numerous other aircraft designs later in WW2.

I would like to know what the actual rational was behind the Bf 1010C-6, so if you know, please e-mail me, and I will post your explanation on Plane Talking with a link to this review.

Previous 1/72 Bf 110C/D/E Kits

Several kits have preceded Eduard’s Bf 110 kits in this scale. I shall only mention Bf 110C, D & E versions here as they are essentially similar. Previously, there have been kits by Airfix (1959 tooling), Monogram (re-boxed by Revell), Matchbox, Italeri, Fujimi, and more recently Airfix again with their 2010 release, and a Bf110C from Hobby Boss. Of these Airfix’s and Hobby Boss’s new releases are the most readily available, and the only modern kits; although Fujimi’s has recessed panel lines. They all have various accuracy issues, some severe, and all are easily surpassed in quality and accuracy by Eduard. I am unaware of any previous C-6 offering in “The One True Scale”.

Overview

Eduard’s recently released 1/72-scale Bf 110 kits have been widely reviewed, and my modelling database records that there are eight “First Look” and build reviews here on HyperScale; so the subject has been well covered previously here. This Bf 110C-6 kit shares the same core parts as Eduard’s various Bf 110C, D & E boxings.
This Limited Edition boxing also comes with Eduard’s Profipac extras that consist of coloured PE details, a pre-cut paint mask for the canopy and wheels, and a glossy instruction booklet (items that the Weekend Editions lack).

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Rather than cover old ground I shall refer readers to Brett's kit review for comments and images regarding the common base kit. This review includes sprue-shots, as well as assembly images; whilst the finished model can be seen here. Brett’s articles give an excellent appreciation of what is on offer and what can be achieved with Eduard’s Zerstorer kits. I have also included contents images from Eduard’s website, but I shall focus mainly on the parts and decal options that make this Bf 110C-6 Limited Edition unique.

The Contents

The parts come in a top-opening box and are enclosed in resealable cellophane bags, as is the coloured PE fret (with card stiffener) and pre-cut paint mask. The decals for the two schemes offered are loose in the box with their tissue-paper protective covering. The instructions are provided as a glossy colour printed booklet. They include a parts map and have very clear and easy to follow drawings. English is used throughout.

The sheer quality of Eduard’s moulding is apparent from the accompanying images and supported by Brett’s review I linked to earlier. Kits like this make Eduard for me in many ways Tamiya’s closest rival, even their equal, when it comes to 1/72-scale aircraft kits. In fact, some might say, that in this scale at least, the coloured PE and paint-masks put the Czech brand ahead of the Japanese one.

Whichever Bf 110 variant you wish to build in 1/72-scale (or 1/48), you would have to have rocks in your head to buy any other brand Zerstorer kit but Eduard, be it a Weekend or Profipac Edition; and besides their quality, both packages are priced very competitively too.

The Bf 110C-6 Bits

Eduard provides a number of resin parts under its Brassin brand to cater for the MK 101 cannon’s external parts, its ammunition drum, and what might be gun-charging air bottles within the cockpit. These are cast superbly as we have come to expect from Eduard. 

The kit’s PE set differs slightly from that of the Bf 110C/D Profipac, in that it includes the face of the 30-mm ammo drum, and a mounting plate for the pod enclosing the MK 101’s breech and recoil mechanism.

Some plastic surgery is required (on the kit, not me – I’m way past being a candidate for improvement!). This is to accept the resin 30-mm cannon blast trough. It is necessary to cut a slot in the underside of the nose where the two MG/FF 20-mm cannon emerge on other variants, and remove a small panel from the each fuselage half.

Fortunately, the parts to cut away coincide with the panel lines in the affected areas, and so it can serve as convenient cutting guides. Of course final finishing of this slot should be done by matching the resin part it is intended to fit.

Some might have wished Eduard to supply an entire resin nose to avoid the need for surgery, but this would add to the kit’s cost; and it is already 43% more than the Bf 110C/D Profipac Edition (but still worth it I feel). I think Eduard made the right choice, as the required surgery is very simple indeed.

The remaining external parts are the resin cannon barrel and pod, plus a PE plate that fits between the pod and fuselage where it attaches. Internally there is a resin frame that fits to the floor behind the pilot’s seat. This has the top of the gun’s receiver, onto which mounts a resin ammo drum with its PE face fixed in place. Also cast with this frame are what look to be two air accumulator bottles, which I assume were used to charge the cannon. But of course this is speculation on my part.

In all other respects the kit builds up as a regular Bf 110C kit would.

Marking Options

The kit has two colour scheme options:

• Erpr.Gr.210, flown by E. Beudel / H. Diemer, Calais-Marck Air Base, France, Summer, 1940. RLM 70/71 splinter camouflage over RLM 65 under-surfaces.

• NJG1, Venlo Air Base, the Netherlands, February, 1942. Overall black finish.

The decals look to be of superb quality.

They include comprehensive stencilling for which a page of the instructions is provided to guide their placement.

Eduard’s Bf 110 kits are the most accurate and best detailed available in 1/72-scale, with build articles reporting a very good fit of parts. Eduard’s Bf 110C-6 is a welcome Limited Edition to this series of kits.

Some minor surgery is needed for the C-6 version, but this approach by Eduard is understandable. It is also a little more expensive than the standard Bf 110C/D Profipac kit (US$12.75, or 43% more); but this still represents great value for a superb kit with extra resin conversion parts. (Frankly, I think that the standard Profipac and Weekend Edition kits are ridiculously good value to begin with.)

If you find an early Zerstorer with a 30-mm MK 101 appealing, get one quick, as this is a Limited Edition. I highly recommend it.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review text & dark-gey background images Copyright © 2014 by Mark Davies
Page Created 1 July, 2014
Last updated 1 July, 2014

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