Here's a First Look at Eduard''s new 1/48 scale Bf 110. Despite being somewhat prepared for it by photos of the test-shots, the sheer level of detail they''ve packed into area like the cockpit is still amazing.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Hi Rowan!

This seems to be a very nice kit... I'm really tempted!

Do you think they will do a Royal Class boxing of the Bf 110? If there are different variants like in their Fokker and I-16 sets I will maybe wait a little...

Thanks for the review!

Jean-Luc

Hi Jean-Luc

I think that's a pretty safe bet for the future, as there are definitely other versions on the way. Among the unused parts on the sprues are a Dachelbauch fuel tank, an assortment of drop tanks and items like underwing mortars.

I wonder how many Bf 110s would go into a Royal Class version? Eduard might just manage to squeeze 3 into a very big box...

All the best

Rowan

Hi Rowan

great review .... if I did not already wanted one I would now

Sadly Germany is not such a big market as GB so will have to wait until the second run is done (I've heard nice stories already, why the kit is not yet available here ... )

best wishes

Steffen

Hi Steffen

It's odd how the market works - you manage to buy some kits weeks before they are available in the UK (months even - I've still never seen ICM's second set of Luftwaffe ground personnel over here).

I'm making a start on the Bf 110 right now, so I hope to add an update by the end of the weekend.

All the best

Rowan

Weeks? How i'd love it to be just weeks. Here in Australia it sometimes takes months to get European stuff in good supply . We're the last to get anything.

Andrew

Hi Andrew

You missed my next line - "months even...". But, seriously, i feel for you - I know how frustrating it can be to watch others enjoying kits that you just can't get hold of locally. I know on-line shopping has changed a lot of that, but I do like to support my LHS where I can.

All the best

Rowan

Great review. This will surely be a stunning aircraft and very suited for the possible "Twin spinners" campaign

I had planned to get one and that plan is still in effect. However, when this kit reaches my LHS in Riga is a good question.

Hi again

I made a start yesterday. The cockpit parts are going together very nicely:



Eagle-eyed viewers will spot a couple of non-kit items in there - a throttle lever and the support for the folding centre-seat. The reason's simple - the carpet monster ate the original throttle lever! and it was just easier and quicker to replace the support with a length of plastic rod than mess about cleaning off the sprue attachment and mould line from the kit item.

On the point of the throttle levers - it's something of a surprise that Eduard have supplied them as styrene, rather than their usual etched, parts. They are really tiny and need careful clean-up - as witnessed by me managing to lose one within minutes of starting the build!



The gunner's seat is made up of 2 parts to capture its distinctive shape. It needs a touch of filler to get a smooth inner surface.



I normally like to attach sidewalls to the fuselage, rather than build a full cockpit tub, so I've broken away from Eduard's recommended sequence here.



As you can see, this works fine for the starboard sidewall, but don't do it with the port side - I tried and it left a noticeable gap at the base, so I'll follow the instructions for that.

Moving away from the cockpit, I've found a couple of points to watch out for:



The propellers have quite thin roots to each blade - and also quite thick sprue attachments - so treat them with a little extra care.



As I noted in the Review, the wing halves are slightly warped, with a tendency to splay apart. The plastic is quite flexible, so it was no problem to clamp them with clothes pegs while they dried overnight - and the result is a nice pair of perfectly straight wings. But checking them this morning, the points where the ailerons attach will need a small spacer added to maintain the thickness.



And while on the subject of the wings - don't forget to add the undercarriage attachments before closing the wing halves. These pins fit from the inside and will be vulnerable to damage until the nacelles are fitted.

There's a bit more to do, and then I can start to think about painting. John Snyder of White Ensign Models has very kindly supplied a set of superb Luftwaffe ColourCoats enamels, so I'll be using them throughout the build - look out for a full Review soon.



All the best

Rowan

Looking pretty good Rowan. Doesn't look as if there are any major problems so far.
I shall be waching this with interest, as I have succombed to my weak will and bought one .
Have you finished it yet, wanna race .
Andy

hi Rowan,

Fantastic review. The sheer number of parts is mind boggling - well for someone like me who essentially hovers on the outer fringes of aircraft modelling.

@ Steffan: If you think the supply of Eduard to Germany is bad... Eduard isn't even represented in SA. We have to import their products privately.


Rudi

thanks Rowan - looking good....just a request for you to use the Wespe decal option (if /when you get that far..)

Hi Neil

You've read my mind. I actually said to Andy last night that I ought to go for that one, if only to see how well the decals fit.

Can you point me towards photos of either of the Wespe a/c the decals are for?

All the best

Rowan

Go for the wasp. That is the one I am going to make, if I ever get it in the mail.

Just bought this and am very excited to see how you do this build. But I will do the Doxie decal.

It has been about a week since your last photos were posted. A lot of us are waiting.

Hi Carl

Sorry - you'll have to wait a bit longer! It's been too heavy at work for me to get any time free for modelling and the weekend was swallowed up on behind the scenes stuff for Aeroscale. But don't worry - I'll post an update as soon as I get a chance.

All the best

Rowan

Thanks for the review and the build Rowan...it sure looks nice and I anxiously await your project to be finished.

Two thumbs way way up...to the skies

[quote]


..I've drawn a blank so far .....both the Kagero Bf 110 book (Volume III) & the Classic Zerstoerer Colours Vol II have a nice selection of photos & profiles of SKG 210 & II./ZG 1 machines, Kagero coming closest with S9+HM...there was a decent Jet & Prop article on this unit way back which I'm still hunting for...

Hello guys, as regards the Royal Class version of Bf-110 discussed earlier, Mr. Vladimir Sulc of Eduard wrote on a Czech modelling forum that it will most probably include two complete kits, markings for C, D, E versions plus some night fighters. Bonuses: an Iron Cross replica and a dashboard replica in 1/4th scale. Some extra photoetch is a natural feature and a figure set may be included as well. Cheers, Pavel

Hi Rowan

well, I cannot search for pictures for a while, but I know there was a short article in LiF (only a photo of the rudder was displayed IIRC) ... unfortunately I cannot remember where it was, maybe Neil could have a look...

best wishes

Steffen

I preordered and it still isn't here. I also went to the LHS. His allotment was gone in a few minutes. Rowan might actually finish his build before I even get mine.

Hi all

Shock! Horror! I'm finally back from work and (touch wood! ) should be able to get back to the workbench this weekend. In the meantime, dusting off the poor Bf 110, here's a warning of what not to do...

Eduard's instructions for the nacelles seem to go contrary to standard modelling "logic", in that they show the wheelwell sidewalls being fitted after the the nacelle itself is attached to the wings.





For the sake of experiment, I tried fitting them earlier (luckily, only with double-sided tape) which would make painting easier...



The reason for Eduard's assembly sequence is clear. With one sidewall fitted, you can fiddle the nacelle around the undercarriage attachments... but with both fitted, it just seems too tight and there's a real danger of breaking something. So, my advice is to stick with Eduard's instructions.

Looking at the flaps, it seems Eduard might have missed something. At the time of my review, I had two conflicting references on the subject of whether the flaps were fabric-covered or not. Now I've just received Kagero's Bf 110 Vol. 2 which includes plans for the Bf 110E. These and a number of photos I've looked at of battle-damaged Bf 110s seem to confirm that the original flaps were partially fabric-covered.



I haven't had a chance to get up to RAF Hendon to examine their preserved Bf 110G but, although this is basically an OOB review build, I'll add rib-tapes and show the metal panelling as per Kagero's plans.

More later - hopefully without such a big delay this time!

All the best

Rowan

[quote][quote]


Sorry to Neil and Steffen for a belated thank you for checking through their refs! Many thanks to both of you - I really appreciate the effort... and as you can see, the point of committing to paint is a bit further off than I'd have liked...

All the best as ever

Rowan

For anyone interested in building this kit, Brett Green of hyperscale has posted a nice little resource guide for it at www.hyperscale.com find it on the news page for 16th OCt.

It's in PDF file so it can be downloaded and printed much better. Apparently it will be a regular (3 monthly) feature for major new releases. Looks like a nice idea.

For me though, i'll be happy when this kit just arrives in the LHS

Andrew