1:32 Bf 109F-2

The Friedrich of the first war year in the east

The F-2 version was the form of the Messerschmitt with which the Luftwaffe entered the summer of 1941. Against the preceding series it received rounded wingtips, deeper radiators and a 15 mm cannon firing through the propeller hub. Pilots praised its delicate handling and the clean wings without underwing gun pods, through which the later versions lost their agility again. Most examples of this variant passed through units over the Channel and then over the Russian front.

The finish was changing at that time. The gray-green shades of the Battle of Britain were giving way to a lighter pair of gray-blue tones on the upper surfaces and a light blue underside, and in the east conspicuous yellow features were added: the engine cowling, the undersides of the wingtips and a band around the rear fuselage. It is this combination that makes the model the most rewarding Messerschmitt version in terms of color, and the insignia masks help to keep the crosses and the swastika on the fin crisp.

Contents

• Two films for the canopy, the outer and the inner face
• Three masks for the national insignia
• Decals as a supplement to the masks, which most sheets in this series do not include
• The dimensions match a model in 1:32 scale

The canopy framing of this version is angular and fairly wide, so the mask helps mainly on the side panels, where the double glazing breaks. The decals in the box go onto a gloss coat, otherwise matte edges appear underneath them.

With an aircraft from the Eastern Front, reckon with the yellow features being painted over by units according to the season, and the winter white finishes were only temporary, often washed off by rain.