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First Look Review
148
Schlacht Bf 109Es
Schlacht Bf 109Es
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by: Rowan Baylis [ MERLIN ]

Iliad Design have released an excellent new set of decals devoted to the Messerschmitt Bf109E in its ground attack guise. The set includes markings for no less than six aircraft - that’s a quintet of ‘E-4Bs and a solitary E-7 Trop:

Bf 109E-4B “White U”, flown by Georg Dorfell, II./SG1, Russia, 1942
Bf 109E-7 Trop “S9 DR”, 7./ZG1, near El Alamein, August 1942
Bf 109E-4B “Red A”, II. (Schl)/LG2, Russia, summer 1941
Bf 109E-4B “White C”, II./LG2, Russia, 1941
Bf 109E-4B “Yellow H”, 6.(Schl)/LG2, France, 1940
Bf 109E-4B “Black M”, 5.(Schl)/LG2, Russia, 1941

The chosen schemes offer plenty of variety, with a mix of RLM 71, 02,65 or RLM 74, 75, 76 on the ‘E4-Bs and then something really eye-catching on the ‘E-7 Trop - the RLM 79,78 finished machine has a replacement wing still bearing European camouflage. The later, in particular, is pretty irresistible for me, so I can foresee that landing on my workbench in due course…

The decals themselves are beautifully produced - the thin, glossy items are crisply printed in perfect registration on the sample sheet and look to have excellent colour density.

Quite often on sheets offering a selection of schemes, you don’t get sufficient items to build all the subjects, so you end up relying on kit decals or raiding the spares box. What I really like here is that Iliad Design provide full national and individual markings for all six of the aircraft.

The decals are backed up by full-colour high quality profile views and top/bottom schematics for the camouflage patterns. There are clear notes accompanying each scheme that list the colours and point out distinctive features.

Set #48032 "Schlacht Bf 109Es" is available now from Iliad Design, price: $12.00

Conclusion
To misquote our own Mal Mayfield, “You can’t have too many ‘109s!” - and this is another fine release from Iliad Design that should have very broad appeal to Luftwaffe modellers. Recommended.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.
SUMMARY
Highs: High quality decals for 6 attractive schemes. Full markings for each. Clear instructions.
Lows: None that I've noted.
Verdict: Luftwaffe Schlacht aircraft always make for interesting modelling subjects with their distinctive markings. Iliad Design have produced an excellent of decals that should have wide appeal.
Percentage Rating
95%
  Scale: 1:48
  Mfg. ID: 48032
  Suggested Retail: $12.00
  PUBLISHED: Dec 14, 2017
  NATIONALITY: Germany
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 88.37%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 93.00%

Our Thanks to Iliad Design!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Rowan Baylis (Merlin)
FROM: NO REGIONAL SELECTED, UNITED KINGDOM

I've been modelling for about 40 years, on and off. While I'm happy to build anything, my interests lie primarily in 1/48 scale aircraft. I mostly concentrate on WW2 subjects, although I'm also interested in WW1, Golden Age aviation and the early Jet Age - and have even been known to build the occas...

Copyright ©2021 text by Rowan Baylis [ MERLIN ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



   
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