The
Messerschmitt Bf109 E series was the first model to be fitted with the Daimler
Benz DB601A engine. Which had a vast improvement in performance over the Bf 109
A, B, C and D models that were powered by the Junkers Jumo engines during the
Spanish Civil War. The ongoing development of the Daimler Benz DB601A increased
the maximum speed from 334 mph from the unsuccessful E-2 to 348 mph. Installation
provisions were made for engine mounted MG FF cannon, which were found to be
unsatisfactory. Again vibration and jamming caused its rejection as it did in
previous attempts. During early production lines the wing
mounted MG 17 machine guns were replaced with 20mm MG FF Cannons and 7.92mm
machines guns in the front cowl as per the E-1 Series. The Bf 109 E-7 was
upgraded from notes learnt from the Battle of Britain. Mainly the fighter's poor
operational range during flights. The main upgrades to the E-7 were the ability
to install a 300 litre centreline drop tank plus the ability
to carry bombs. A tropicalised version was developed also for
use in the Mediterranean and North Africa Theaters.
Click on
images below to see larger images
It’s
seems a while ago that Eduard released the Bf109 E-1, but it was only in
February 2009 and then followed up with the E-4 and Bf109 E-3 in late 2009. Back
when the E-1 was released it seemed like a lot the
modelling community was saying " do
we need another 1/32 Bf 109? "
The E series hadn’t been represented well for many years. The only releases
were from Hasagawa with raised panel lines and a questionable shape profile. The
other option is from Matchbox, with its poorly shaped front and wide panel lines
and thick detailed parts. Both
kits are dating back to the 1970’s.
The
kit is packed with tons of plastic and extras as 176 parts molded in olivey
coloured plastic, 9 parts in clear, two Photo Etch frets one in Eduard’s
colour and canopy masks decals for 5 aircraft (s)
and stencilling for one aircraft. There are 5 aircraft markings schemes plus
stencil data for one aircraft supplied with the kit.
http://www.hlj.com/product/EDU03004
The
kit itself is molded very nicely up to Eduard standards. There are nice and
crisp panel lines and rivet details on the exterior surfaces. On my last review
sample of the E-3 there were a couple of small sink marks present on the upper
wing root surfaces, which I was glad to see is not present in this sample. There
is still a small amount of flash on some parts, but there are no injector pin
marks on any of the detailed surfaces. The control surfaces feature (s
a) fabric sag look to them, to some it may look overdone,
but it would be easy to fill them with some Mr Surfacer to get them to your
liking.
As
previous releases, the option of a fully detailed DB601A engine is included with
the kit. This can be fitted showing or left out with the cowling on. If the
second option is taken there are extra parts included in the kit to mount
machine guns into the cowl, stubs and propeller. Detail of the exhaust stubs are
excellent with raised welding seems. The cowl is supplied in four separate parts
also to show off all the engine bay or some of it.
All
the control surfaces parts are molded separately, the rudder actuator is
included in the Photo Etch fret. Flaps have been molded with tabs to position
them in a dropped position. These could be removed easily to gain raised
position on them.
Cockpit
detail is excellent out of the box. Plastic and Photo Etch parts combine to
complete the front office. Looking at some references the oxygen bottles seems
to be sitting to high due to being too long.
The
new components that feature in this kit is the Tropical Filter, which was partly
present in the E-4 release and the centreline fuel tank, again these were
included in the E-4 release as extra parts that weren’t required. Also
included is the newly tooled canopy parts to replace the narrow profile canopy
that was originally tooled. Which got many modellers talking about in the past.
To new photo etch frets are included for this boxing.
Also
in the past there has been some criticizing Eduard, on the wheels appearing to
narrow and the wheel hubs ribs being to shallow. These were corrected on the E-3
release and appear again in this release.
Decals
are printed by the world leaders in Decal Technology, Cartograf. There are
two sheets supplied, one containing the stencils and the other carrying National
and unit markings.
As
per the previous 109 releases from Eduard there are 5 schemes to choose from in
this boxing of the Trop E-7’s which are based in Ain-el-Gazala, Libya. And
four of the five schemes that are provided in this boxing are for JG 27. The
schemes are the following -
3./JG 27, Ain-el-Gazala,
Libya, 1941
Stab I./JG 27, Ain-el-Gazala,
Libya, 1941
2./JG 27, Ain-el-Gazala,
Libya, 1941
2./JG 27, Ain-el-Gazala,
Libya, 1941
I./JG 27, Ain-el-Gazala
airfield, Libya, Summer 1941
Again this new addition to Eduard’s Emil range
is superb straight from the box, offering lots of optional extra parts or
display possibilities. Eduard E-7 release will be a nice addition to the other 3
previous releases of the Emil family. I am one of the many modellers that are
looking forward and waiting to the first Eduard release of the Bf109 Friedrick
family.
I would like to thank Hobby Link Japan (www.hlj.com)
for supplying this review sample.
Dave
Johnson
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