Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7

by Bill Powers

Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7

images by John O'Hagan

Tamiya's 1/72 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7 is available online from Squadron.com

I have long yearned for a really good Bf 109, in 1/72 scale - any mark, I didn't care! The most recent release from Academy seemed to be a Hasegawa kit that was engraved but with the flaws of the Hasegawa perpetuated. The Monogram/Revell G-10 model is a great kit but with some real problems, propeller, canopy, no hole in intake, simplistic detail, etc.

So when Tamiya released the 1/72 version of their 1/48 scale kit, I was overjoyed. I bought two and built one immediately using the superb Squadron interior set.

This is the first Tamiya I have ever built. Unaccustomed as I am to building such fine kits, I'll say this is the best kit I have ever built in 50 plus years of modeling! For those who build nothing but Tamiya, this may be a brash statement, but remember this is the first Tamiya for me!

The kit pieces go together beautifully with only one exception - the bottom wing joint. When you build the kit you'll see what I mean. Sand this joint carefully to keep the excellent panel line detail. NO PUTTY was required anywhere! I did sand some pieces to make them thinner, such as the splitter plate inside the oil cooler intake.

I replaced the opening part of the canopy with a Squadron piece, but I used the front and rear pieces from the kit. Excellent fit! Furthermore, the armored head protection from the kit fit perfectly inside the Squadron canopy.

The Squadron interior is excellent. It even has holes in the oxygen bottle cover! I don't remember if I thinned the kit fuselage walls or not. I usually do because the interior is then larger and more to scale.

I painted the model with Model Master Paints based on a scheme I always liked from an old Scale Aircraft Modeling magazine. This article predates the In Action book that has a photo of that plane. The article said one color, 75 on the top surfaces and very small mottle using three colors on the fuselage. Lots of yellow, which makes the model stand out on the contest table.

Then I went wild on filling the panel lines with oils, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre, and Raw Sienna. The results show in the pictures. What a great kit!

So many schemes are available for this version of the 109. Would someone please make a nice 1/72 scale kit of a Bf 109G-6?

Model and Article Copyright © 2002 by Bill Powers
Images Copyright © 2002 by John O'Hagan
Page Created 05 April 2002
Last updated 04 June 2007

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