1:72 BF 109E-4/7 (TAMIYA) - MASKS

HGW 1:72 Bf 109E-4/7 masking set

This item is not a kit but an accessory for a model. It is a set of masking templates for the Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 and E-7 in 1:72 scale from the maker HGW. The templates are stuck onto the clear parts and bound the frames of the canopy, so that after spraying a sharp transition is left between the frame and the transparent area. The target kit is Tamiya.

Why the E-4 and E-7 in particular

The Bf 109 of the E series changed over the course of production, and one of the visible changes was the shape of the canopy. The set is cut for the E-4 and E-7 versions, which have an identical canopy. For the earlier E-3 version HGW offers a separate set, because its frames differ. So when choosing, go by the sub-variant of the aircraft you are building, not just by the fact that it is a Bf 109E.

The real subject

The Messerschmitt Bf 109E was a German single-engine fighter with a liquid-cooled inverted V12 engine. The E-4 version had reworked armament and an angular canopy, and the E-7 version gained the ability to carry a drop tank or a bomb under the fuselage; the tank extended its range. Both versions have an identical canopy, and that is why one set of masks covers them.

Masking tips

• Wash and degrease the clear part, or the mask holds badly
• Carry the small shapes with tweezers and press the edges down with a stick
• Spray the frames with the interior shade first and only then with the camouflage
• Spray several thin coats rather than one heavy one
• Peel the mask off shortly after it dries, pulling at a shallow angle

The package holds masks only. The model, paints and glue are not included.