1:48 Bf 109 G-4/R3 reconnaissance blue 4

Decals 1:48 Bf 109 G-4/R3, the blue four

A separate decal sheet in 1:48 scale with the markings of a reconnaissance Messerschmitt Bf 109 in the G-4/R3 version. It is not a kit: the decals are applied onto the finished paintwork of a built model and replace or supplement the markings from the box.

The real subject

The Bf 109 G-4 belonged to the most numerous series of the German single-engine fighter of the Second World War and was powered by a liquid-cooled Daimler-Benz DB 605 inverted V12. The letter R with a number in German designations meant a factory conversion kit fitted to the production airframe; the R3 kit assigned a machine to a reconnaissance role, so the aircraft flew not for an aerial victory but for photographic record. The number four in blue is the individual marking of a particular aircraft within its unit.

Usage tips

The decals belong on finished, dried paintwork, and on a smooth glossy base; on matte paint air gets caught under the film and silvering results. Trim the carrier film as close to the design as possible, blot the water away with a soft cloth after placing it and let it dry thoroughly. On broken surfaces a decal softener helps, as it pulls the film into the scribed lines. The markings are finally unified with a last coat of varnish.

Who the set is for

• builders who want to build a particular machine instead of a generic scheme from the box
• anyone interested in the less usual reconnaissance use of a fighter
• modelers whose kit decals have yellowed or are falling apart
• collectors of markings for models in 1:48 scale

A decal sheet is supplied. A kit, paints, varnish and a softener are not included, unless stated otherwise.