1:48 Romanian Emils Part 1 - Messerschmitt Bf-109 E in Romanian Service

Romanian Emils in the east

The Romanian Air Force entered the war with a varied mix of machinery of domestic and imported manufacture, and the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E was among the most modern of it. The designation Emil took hold for the early versions with square glazing and the straightforward shape of the nose, which are recognized from a distance against the later Gustavs. For a modeler that means the kit can be any commonly available one, while the final impression is made only by the markings. Romanian national insignia differ markedly from German ones and will transform even an aircraft whose silhouette is otherwise exactly the same as that of thousands of others.

Contents and scale

The sheet is drawn for 1:48, that is the most widespread scale of aircraft kits. The motifs are printed on a single film, from which you cut out the sections you need as you go. The markings can be used on any kit of an early version of the Bf 109 in this scale, because the position of the insignia on the fuselage and wing is practically identical across makers.

Recommended procedure

1:48 forgives less than larger scales, as small numerals here measure only a few millimeters. It pays to work with flat-jawed tweezers and never to transfer a motif with your fingers. When the film curls on the water, let it lie for a moment and it will straighten by itself. Once it is in place, draw the water off from every side, so the motif does not shift as it dries. Apply the final varnish in thin coats; a single heavy coat can dissolve the colors beneath it. The kit is sold separately.