1:48 Bf 109F-2

The Friedrich was a refined Bf 109

On the Messerschmitt Bf 109 the F version meant above all an aerodynamic clean-up. The wingtips received a rounded shape, the bracing struts of the horizontal tail disappeared, the radiators sank into the wing and the cowling of the DB 601 engine went into a smoother line. Pilots often described the Friedrich as the best flying variant of the whole family. The F-2 sub-version carried a 15 mm MG 151 cannon in the axis of the propeller reduction gear, complemented by a pair of machine guns above the engine, and entered combat in 1941.

A double cut, two sides of the glass

On the Friedrich the canopy frames are visible from the outside and from the inside, and each side was painted in a different shade. The package therefore contains both sets of shapes. The inner framing can be glimpsed through the side hinged panel once the cockpit is closed, and without a mask the boundary between the interior and the exterior shade is only made with difficulty.

The cannon in the propeller axis was a source of constant argument on the Friedrich. Armorers complained about jams and some squadron commanders preferred to have the weapon removed and flew with the machine guns only.

Box contents

• Two sets for the canopy, one for the view from outside and one from inside
• Two sets of shapes for the national insignia, twice as many as the neighboring numbers
• An enclosed decal sheet
• Worked out for plastic models in 1:48 scale