1:72 Bf 109E-0 “First Emil”

Messerschmitt Bf 109E-0 in 1:72 scale from AZ model

This kit from the Czech maker AZ model covers the Bf 109E-0, that is the pre-production form of the best-known German fighter of the Second World War. The release carries the designation First Emil and is aimed at modelers who want to capture the early, less usual stages of a type's development in their collection, not only the production machines of the Battle of Britain. 1:72 is the most widespread aircraft scale, so the model can be built beside a whole range of other fighters of the same era.

The real subject

The move from the B, C and D lines to the Emil was a turning point for the Bf 109. In place of the Junkers Jumo 210 engine the airframe received an inverted Daimler-Benz DB 601 V12 with fuel injection, which meant markedly higher power and at the same time different demands on cooling. With the new engine the look of the aircraft changed too: the radiators moved under the wing and the nose took on a slimmer, cleaner shape that stayed with the Emil to the end of its service. The pre-production E-0 batch came about precisely so that the new powerplant and the cooling system could be proved in practice before series production of the E-1 version got under way. Only a small number of machines were built, and their details differed in particulars from the later production aircraft.

Building and painting tips

In 1:72 scale the Emil is a small model, so cleanliness of work decides. Use liquid cement for plastic applied by capillary action into the seams, cut the parts off with enough margin and thin the edges. Mask the cockpit with pre-cut masks or carefully with tape, as the narrow frames are otherwise hard to manage. Cover the model with a primer, lay the paint on with an airbrush in thin coats and prepare a gloss varnish under the decals. Early Emils carried a splinter camouflage of dark shades on the upper surfaces and a light base on the lower ones, but always take the particular shades and schemes from the instructions in the package. Finish with a matte varnish and only restrained weathering, so that a small model does not look dirty.

Who the model is for

• collectors of the development versions of the Messerschmitt Bf 109
• modelers building a line of Luftwaffe aircraft in 1:72
• those interested in early pre-war and early wartime machines
• more advanced beginners who want a small but detailed project

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.