1:48 Bf-109E-3

The real subject

The Bf 109E, nicknamed Emil, was the form of the Messerschmitt with which the Luftwaffe entered the war. The wing had square-cut tips, the horizontal tail surfaces were braced by struts and the canopy was made up of flat panes. The E-3 version had cannons in the wing and machine guns above the engine. It was these aircraft that in 1940 met Spitfires and Hurricanes over England, and they belong among the most frequently built subjects of all.

Why reach for photo-etch

Thin metal can do what injection-molded plastic cannot: a part a few tenths of a millimeter thick with a sharp edge and fine engraving. On a model in 1:48 scale that shows above all on surfaces that are meant to be barely noticeable. The set is an accessory for a kit, which it does not replace. Which parts the package contains and which kit they are drawn for is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building advice

Plan the work ahead: a number of the metal parts belong inside and once the fuselage is glued you will not reach them. Prepare the place for a part by cutting away the plastic detail being replaced and sanding the surface flat. Separate the parts by cutting at the tab and bend them along the marked groove. Bond with super glue applied with the tip of a piece of wire. Degrease and prime the metal before painting and lay the paint on in thin coats.

• Photo-etched accessories for the Bf 109E-3, 1:48 scale
• Metal parts a few tenths of a millimeter thick
• It is a good idea to plan the work before the fuselage is glued
• The plastic detail being replaced is cut away and sanded flat
• Paint only holds on degreased and primed metal

Who it is for

For modelers who build the Emil and want to take the model all the way in detail. It assumes experience of fine work and fine tools. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.