Scale Plastic & Rail

1:48 Messerschmitt Bf 110C/E in MTO, from Eduard

1/48 Messerschmitt Bf 110C/E in MTO Limited Edition
Eduard
Catalogue # 1164
Available direct from Eduard for 44,95€

We all have our favourite aircraft, for whatever reason that might be. When it comes to Luftwaffe aircraft from WW2, three aircraft top my list: the Messerschmitt Me 262, the Heinkel He 219 and the Messerschmitt Bf 110. I can't quite say why the Bf 110 is on the list – I certainly like its elongated, shark-like appearance and also feel that it was an aircraft that knew both success and failure in equal measure. Perhaps at the end of the day it boils down to its experimental use in the Battle of Britain with Erprobungsgruppe 210 as a fighter-bomber under the leadership of the Swiss pilot Walter Rubensdorffer, a topic I have researched in great depth, that gave me a true appreciation of the aircraft.

From its early aerial victories over Poland and Western Europe, through its humiliation in the Battle of Britain and hard-fought conflicts in Southern Europe and North Africa, its successes and gradual failure in the East, its decimation as a daylight bomber killer against the American forces from 1943 onwards and its crowning glory as the most successful German night fighter aircraft operating against the RAF, the Bf 110 can definitely be said to have had an active, eventful service life (below).

http://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Bf-110/Messerschmitt-Bf-110/images/1-Bf-110E-IV.Flieger-Korps-(G8+KT)-transport-unit-01.jpg

Eduard have launched a large range of Bf 110 models in 1/48th scale over the last few years. I do not have any experience with their later Bf 110G variant kits, but plenty of experience with models of three of their earlier variant kits, the Bf 110C, the Bf 110D and Bf 110E. They are highly accurate kits that all have the same couple of issues that need addressing. I will touch on these at the end of my review. Now, Eduard has produced a limited edition kit of Bf 110s that saw service in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations, which I shall now describe in detail.

The box contents, which fill the box to the very brim, are actually quite standard for the earlier version kits, with only the instructions and decals being different, along with the inclusion of some resin wheel parts and two dedicated etched frets, along with some extra sprues to allow the Bf 110C and Bf 110E to be modelled from the same kit. There are 9 olive-coloured sprues, 2 clear sprues and a small masking sheet. Taking each of the sprues in turn, the first one (below) gives the modeller a large number of parts associated with fuel tanks, bombs and rockets, most of which can go into the spares box because they will not be needed; only some of the smaller bombs and their racks will be required for the options offered in this kit.

The next sprue (above) contains some really finely detailed parts for the cockpit and undercarriage. Only the strange option of a tailwheel supplied with a moulded-in yoke is poor – but thankfully an option with a separate yoke is supplied, which is fine. The third sprue (below) holds one complete set of engine nacelles, instrument panels and fins/rudders. Here, we see for the first time the excellent engraved detail that Eduard has imparted to these kits.

Above is shown the next sprue, most of which is again not required. Alternative engine nacelles with their intake interiors are all that will be required for one particular aircraft. A huge variety of detail parts festoon the next sprue (below); here we are given further pieces for the cockpit, cannon armament, nose and rear machine guns and general fittings. Again, I feel the exhausts are slightly below the standard of the rest of the parts since their openings could be crisper, but apart from this, the level of detail is excellent.

The interior of the wheel wells, undercarriage doors, cockpit floors, ailerons, propellers and spinners are all given on the next sprue (above). The propeller blades are really well done, being exact replicas in miniature of the original's twisted, bowed shape. The kit wheels are also given, though these will be replaced by most modellers with the kit's resin items to be described later. A pair of beautifully engraved fuselage halves (below), applicable for a single kit option, is provided on their own on the next sprue.

The fuselage used for the other 4 options is provided on another sprue (above), along with the tailplanes, lower nose panel, alternative upper nose panels, central bomb carrier and more cockpit pieces. The bomb carrier has always stood out for me as a perfect moulding, capturing the intricacies of its shape and detailing better than any other model has done, in any scale (below); it typifies the standard of moulding of most of this kit. The large belly tank for the Bf 110D will not be required.

The last olive sprue (above) gives the parts for the wings, all with beautiful surface detail. However, I feel Eduard missed a trick here, learned by most model companies with their newer models of The Bf 110's little sister, the Bf 109. Bf 110s often appeared on the ground with slats and flaps deployed; Eduard's kits have solid slats and flaps which have caused much extra work and scratchbuilding in the models I have been previously involved with. A shame, when all of the new Bf 109 kits (including Eduard's own in 1/32 scale) have separate slats and flaps; I suppose it gives the modeller an extra challenge!

We now turn to the transparencies; the first sprue (below) gives alternative closed and open sections for the whole canopy along with an open version of the mid and rear canopy;

and the second (above) provides an open option for the front canopy along with the windscreen, optional armoured windscreen panel and landing light. All of the transparencies are clear and distortion-free. The next photo (below) shows the masking set (for the canopy and wheels) along with the 2 etched frets. The upper fret is pre-coloured and contains alternative instrument panels, cockpit fittings and belts and straps for the seats; the lower fret is uncoloured and gives general fittings, including radiator grills, rear gunsight, armoured windscreen framing and rudder pedals. Both frets are of the highest quality.

The additional resin items are illustrated above. Alternative wheels are provided (something Eduard got wrong with some of their earlier releases) which are extremely well cast. There are also air filters for the desert aircraft offered as one option in the kit. Next is shown the decal sheet (below), printed as usual by Cartograf, with great register and colour density. I think that the red colour used on the decals is not a wonderful match for the Luftwaffe RLM rot, but most modellers will not find this a problem.

As previously mentioned, there are 5 marking options offered:

• Bf 110E Trop, 8./ ZG 26, Derna airbase, Libya, 1942 Bf 110E, Nachtjagd Division, Mediterranean, 1941 (both above)
• Bf 110E, Oblt. Theodor Rossiwall, CO of 5./ ZG26, Argos, Greece, May-June 1941Bf 110C-3, Capt. Arami Ammannato, 235a Squadriglia, Lonate Pozzolo airbase, Italy, Spring 1943 (both below)

• Bf 110E, Heinz Nacke, 6./ ZG 76, Greece, 1941 (above)

The Italian machine, involved in the shooting down of an RAF Lancaster on the night of July 16/17 leaps out as a modelling subject as far as I am concerned.

As mentioned at the start, I will now give a few thoughts on the building of Eduard's 1/48th Bf 110s:

• Excellent engraved detail
• Check references with regards to the correct wheels to be fitted to each aircraft
• General very good fit of parts apart from:

1. the upper nose panel – it appears to have been designed to be fitted in the open
2. position and needs some time and effort to get it to fit in the closed position successfully
3. the nacelles do not fit as well as the rest of the kit and need careful joining, both together and to the wings

• Transparency material is more brittle than is usual with Eduard
• Replace exhausts with aftermarket items for best effect e.g. Quickboost
• Excellent sit of finished model
• Do not use tail wheel with moulded-in yoke
• Main aerial mast to canopy joint invariably weak – if single aerial wire is attached under any tension whatsoever or if the model experiences heat fluctuations, then the wire puts the mast under a small, gradual strain and results in the aerial mast tip being pulled to starboard (I have seen this happen on 3 models!)

Many Eduard products are carrying a QR Code so that you can scan this with a Smart Phone and be taken directly to the product page. Scan this code below to be taken there:

So What Do We Think?
A really excellent kit as standard, the optional extras and etched frets in this limited release give even better value. Because of one or two fit issues, along with some instructions that need to be studied and followed very carefully for each particular option, I feel that it is not a model for the inexperienced. However, most modellers will relish the build and be delighted with the result. Eduard are also to be commended for their choice of MTO markings given in the kit.

A great limited edition release

Our thanks to Eduard for the review sample. To purchase directly, click THIS link.

Robin Jenkins.