Messerschmitt Bf 109 e-3

ProfiPACK Edition, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

Eduard took the plastic sprues of 2020's Special Hobby Bf 109 E kit and added a few of their own embellishments and parts to produce a set of Overtrees kits in 2021 and then the very special Alderangriff Dual Combo set depicting the E-1, E-3 and E-4 in 2021.

I reviewed tthis last year (q.v). This kit is a single set of sprues from the Dual Combo set and uses some of the parts not used in the original edition.

As usual with Eduard the kit comes in a sturdy top-opening box with a fine illustration of ‘9’ belonging to Offw. Erich Rudorffer in a battle with a pair of Spitfires over France in 1940 and all six decal choices in colour on the side of the box.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

Rattling around inside the box and inside a resealable bag are the two main sprues. As a Profipack it benefits from the addition of a colour PE fret, a set of canopy and wheel masks and a lovely decal sheet covering six choices.

The parts are beautifully moulded in dark grey and I could see no flash or serious seams that need attention. Surface panelling is subtle and well-rendered, and the wings come with the extra bulges that this variant had in order to accommodate the wing cannon fitted to the E-3.

The interior is more than adequate in this scale but is really set off with the PE additions. In addition, the kit contains the engine and its bearers so that a detailed open cowl can be modelled. Wheel wells are moulded into both wing surfaces and look good. Ailerons and flaps are separate items so can be posed however you wish.

This kit does not include the resin wheels or figure that came with the Alderangriff kit.

Instructions and Markings

The instruction booklet is a 16-page A4 document that begins with a brief history of the early Bf109s, followed by a parts map indicating the 12 parts not used here, and a paint chart in Gunze Aqueous, Mr Color and Mission Models colours.

There follows a seven page, well-illustrated set of construction stages, with colour call-outs where necessary and important points highlighted in colour.

The final seven pages cover the five decal choices and the stencil locations. Decals are nicely printed in-house and include both full and segmented swastikas , the former are cut off for markets where this symbol is forbidden. Each decal choice is illustrated by a colour four-view drawing and the interestingly different  choices are:

WNr. 1079 ‘9’ belonging to Offw. Erich Rudorffer of 2/JG2 at Beaumont-le-Roger, France in September 1940 02/71 over 65 scheme with high demarcation and a yellow nose,

1. Red ‘1’, an early E-3 belonging to Oblt. August-Wilhelm Schumann of 5/JG52 in Germany in November 1939 in overall 65 with round blobs of 71,02 and 70 over the upper colours,

2. ‘<+-‘ WNr 1380 of Obstlt. Carl-Alfred Schumacher from JG1 at Jever, Germany in early 1940 in the same scheme as 1 above but without the yellow nose,

3. ‘<-+-‘ of Osstlt Max Ibel of JG27, Guines in France late 1940 in the same scheme again but with 02 mottles on the fuselage and a yellow nose and rudder,

4. White ’13’ WNr. 1271 of Oblt Helmut Henz of 4/JG77 in Norway September 1940 in a high demarcation 70/71 over 65 with a few mottles on the tail, and finally,

5. Yellow ’3’ WNr. 5058 of Fw. Arthur Haase, of 6/JG 51, at Marquis-West, France in August 1940 in the standard 02/71 over 65 with high demarcation and a mass of squiggles and mottles in both 02 and 71 on fuselage and tail and yellow spinner, rudder tip and wing tips.

It is nice to see this excellent kit again with a great variety of interesting decal choices, and the embellishments provided by the PE and masks. Just get hold of some Overtrees kits to use the spare decals on.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text & Images Copyright © 2023 by Graham Carter
Images Copyright © 2023 by Brett Green
Page Created 13 February, 2023
Last updated 13 February, 2023

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page