1:72 Messerschmitt Bf-109E Photoetched parts instrument panel for Airfix ex Modell-Hobby /AFX

A photo-etched instrument panel for the Bf 109E 1:72 (MH Models)

A photo-etched detail accessory from the maker MH Models (formerly Modell-Hobby) for models of the Messerschmitt Bf 109E in 1:72 scale. It is not a kit but a replacement for the instrument panel. The set contains etched metal parts and a transparent film with printed dial faces that are placed behind the etching, so that the panel comes across as three-dimensional and legible, unlike a flat plastic part.

The real subject

The Messerschmitt Bf 109E, nicknamed Emil, was the main version of the German fighter aircraft in the period of the Battle of Britain. It was one of the most widespread fighters of the early period of the Second World War, with a powerful inverted V12 engine. Its narrow cockpit has a characteristic instrument panel whose detail markedly lifts the impression of a model in a small scale.

Fitting and painting

• Remove the original panel from the kit or sand it back flat.
• Separate the parts from the fret with a sharp knife on a hard surface.
• Place the film with the dial faces behind the etched panel and fix the joints with super glue or glue for clear plastic.
• Degrease the metal parts and coat them with a primer and paint.

Who it is for

• Modelers who want a realistic cockpit without engraving details.
• Builders with experience of photo-etching.
• Collectors striving for fidelity in a small scale.

The accessory does not include the model, paints or glue.