Matchbox | Bf 109E 1/32 Scale

Reviewed by Jeffrey Brundt

I was lucky enough to pick up this kit through Larry Hawkins initially. Then I found one on eBay and most recently I picked up another as part of a package deal along with a 1/32 Dauntless. The last Emil acquired proved to be the most well preserved. This is a vintage '70s kit (the box copyright is 1976) and typical Matchbox. Like most Matchbox kits it's molded in several colors. In this case it's dark brown, black and light tan. For some strange reason they figured kids would like this so painting wouldn't be required. There are four part sprues and one clear sprue. All the parts are clearly numbered and remarkably free of flash. The one nice thing about this kit is the engraved panel lines. Prior reports have made it seem like these lines are 'trench-like'. To me they don't appear too bad. I agree they are a bit over scale but panel line depth is subject to interpretation like weathering or dry brushed highlights; to each his own.

The Emil is provided with a detailed DB601 engine consisting of 27 pieces as well as a nose gun bay with two MG-17's. The engine cowling is made up of three separate pieces. The cockpit is utilitarian to say the least but much better than other kit offerings I have seen. It could definitely be supplanted with an aftermarket resin job from Cutting Edge. The ailerons, rudder and elevators are molded as separate units and can be positioned. The fabric is nicely done on these as well. However, the slats are molded as part of the wing in the closed position so some surgery is required if you want them to be in the open position (as would be since the real ones deployed via gravity when the airspeed dropped) The 20mm MG FF/M wing cannon are fully molded and the underside wing fairing has a door allowing you to show the ammo feed drum if so desired. The treaded tires are molded in two halves with a center hub and brake being separate. The gear legs need a bit of clean up and the addition of fine wire for brake lines would help. The super-detailer could redo these if he wanted but they look fine as is.

The decal sheet is a bit old and probably unusable. You do get markings for several different versions. The first is for Adolph Galland's JG-26 Emil from 1941 with the famous Mickey Mouse caricature and the 'Schlageter' crest. The second is for a JG-2 Emil based out of Le Harve in 1940. The last set is for a Slovak Air Force 109 used in the early days of the Russian campaign. There is a separate color and marking guide instruction sheet included. It shows the three different versions and their color schemes as well as the individual paint colors for the detail parts. This is helpful if you decide to paint all the small parts first. I personally plan on ordering some sheets from Meteor or Eagle Strike Productions.

Overall this is a nice kit. Besides the Hasegawa 109E this is the only other Emil in town. Unfortunately it's out of production so if you want one try eBay or the trader's boards. The Hasegawa kit is nice to be sure but the Matchbox kit does have engraved panel lines; which for some is a definite plus. Now that I have three Emils I can build one from each theatre of operations (Western front, Mediterranean and the early Eastern front).

Horrido!

Matchbox | Bf 109E 1/32 Scale

Reviewed by Jeffrey Brundt

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