Home  |  What's New  |  Features  |  Gallery  |  Reviews  |  Reference  |  Forum  |  Search

Early Birds of Future Aces
Messerschmitt Bf 109 B / D

Art Scale Kit, 1/48 scale

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number, Description, Scale & Price

Art Scale Kit Item No. D48084 - Early Birds of Future Aces - Messerschmitt Bf 109 B / D

GBP £12.50 UK Price (£10.42 Export Price) plus shipping available online from Hannants

12.30 € plus shipping available online from Art Scale Kit website

and from ASK retailers online and worldwide
Contents and Media:

Waterslide decals and instructions.
Scale:

1/48
Review Type: FirstLook
Advantages: Interesting subjects; high quality decal printing; colour instructions; option for removing clear top coat.
Disadvantages: None noted.
Recommendation:

Recommended.

Reviewed by Brett Green

Introduction

 

The Jumo-powered Messerschmitt Bf 109s — the A, B, C and D series — chart the formative evolution of Germany’s most famous fighter.

Entering service in the mid-1930s, the Bf 109 A and B equipped early Luftwaffe Jagdgeschwader, providing Germany with a modern monoplane fighter at a time when much of Europe still relied on biplanes. Their combat debut came with the Legion Condor in Spain, where the A and B ,and later the cannon-armed C model, quickly demonstrated the design’s performance advantage, shaping Luftwaffe tactics and validating the 109’s lightweight, high-lift wing.

At home, these early variants formed the backbone of Germany’s pre-war air defence, flying standing patrols and readiness duties as the Luftwaffe expanded.

By 1938–39, the improved Bf 109 D became the definitive Jumo-engined model, although it was soon overshadowed by the DB-powered “Emil.”

Retired from frontline service, Bf 109 A–D series aircraft soldiered on in training schools where thousands of new pilots -including many future aces -first encountered the sharp handling characteristics of the Augsburg Eagle.

 

 

FirstLook

 

Art Scale Kit has released a new family of decal sets for 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109 B / Ds, a neglected subject if there ever was one!

 

 

Tonight we examine Early Birds of Future Aces - Messerschmitt Bf 109 B / D.

 

 

Kits are few and few far between, but Dora Wings and AMG have 1/48 scale Bf 109 Ds in their ranges. If you have a deep stash, you might even be lucky enough to own one of the long unavailable Classic Airframes kits.

Markings are supplied for the following four subjects:

  1. Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1, W.Nr. 655, 3/J88 Legion Condro, Werner Molders, Spain, Ju-Dec. 1938

  2. Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1, JFS2, used by Erich Hartmann during his cadetship, 1942

  3. Messerschmitt Bf 109 B-1, Stab J88 Legion Condor, Gotthard Handrick, Spain 1938

  4. Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1, W.Nr.2609, 3./JG5, Hans Rºdiger, Germany 1938

  5. Messerschmitt Bf 109 B-2, 1./J88 Legion Condor, Wolfgang Schellmann, Spain 1937

  6. Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-2, 2./J88 Legion Condor, Gotthard Handrick, Spain 1937

Instructions with four-view illustrations for all six subjects.

 

 

ASK has also supplied three sets of national markings.

 

 

Decal printing quality looks very good. The decals are glossy in finish. Apparently the clear top layer of the decals may be removed after application with lighter fluid, much in the same way as current Eduard decals.

 

 

If desired, the clear decal film may be removed by careful peeling or with a wash off Zippo lighter fluid.

 

 

These are nice looking decals that will offer an individualised finish for your 1/48 scale Doras.

 

Thanks to Art Scale Kit for the samples

Text and Images Copyright © 2025 by Brett Green
Page Created 10 December, 2025
Last updated 10 December, 2025

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page
x