1:32 Bf-109E-3/4/7 undercarriage wheel bay paint mask Cyber Hobby

The Emil in the large scale and its landing gear

A masking aid for the main landing gear bays of this German fighter in the E-3, E-4 and E-7 versions. In 1:32 scale the area is large enough for every imprecise transition of colors to show.

The subject: the first Messerschmitt used en masse

The Bf 109E, called the Emil by its crews, was the first form to get the inverted V12 Daimler-Benz DB 601 with direct fuel injection. It was thanks to that engine that it did not cut out under negative g, a noticeable advantage over the English Channel. The E-3 version carried cannons in the wing, the E-4 brought a reworked canopy and better armor for the pilot, and the E-7 added a rack under the fuselage for a drop tank or a bomb. The landing gear was attached to the fuselage and splayed outward, so the track is narrow and the bays are shallow, yet clearly visible from below.

Shades and the order of work

German machines of that period usually had their inner surfaces in a grayish shade matching the factory specification RLM 02. Lay it on as the first coat over the whole area, close the bays off once it has cured and move on to the light underside and the segmented scheme on the upper surfaces. Inspect the edges in a strong light before removal.

The set will please

• builders of German fighters in the large scales
• anyone interested in the period of the Battle of Britain
• anyone who insists on a crisp boundary of shades
• modelers who want to shorten the preparation before spraying