History

During the French Campaign it was decided to employ the Bf 109 E as a Jagdbomber (Fighter/Bomber). Successful tests were conducted using a rudimentary bombrack mounted beneath the fuselage employing an electrical release gear. Under the command of Hauptmann Walter Rubensdörfer, E.Gr. 210 was charged with service evaluation and working up tactics. Under the designation Bf 109 E-4/B the Jabos equipped 3. Staffel/E.Gr.210, beginning operations against Channel targets during july 1940. Some E-1 were also equiped as Jabos.
(Source: Bf 109 In Action, Squadron Signal)

The Kit

Eduard's new 1/32 scale Bf 109 E-1/4 kits (see reviews here: E-1 and E-4) include both an external fuel tank but no bombs for the Jabo version. This (probably voluntary omission) has now been compensated with the release of a separate set by Eduard.

The parts (a single plastic sprue and a photo etched fret) are located within a simple plastic bag and the small instruction booklet acts as "cover artwork" since there is no cardboard box. On the plastic sprue there are only 16 parts which will allow you to build one ETC 500 rack with it's 500 kg bomb and one ETC 50 with four 50 kg bombs. Some PE parts are also provided for the bomb fins and their typical bracing. There are enough parts to do two configurations, so one set can be used for two different aircraft, one fitted with the 500 kg bomb and the other with the four 50 kg bomb.

Some will wonder why the bombs weren't included in the new Bf 109 E kits in the first place. Well, since the Jabo version saw limited use when compared to the fighter version, only a fraction of the modellers would have used the extra parts anyway. So it is actually a nice idea from Eduard as it will keep the price of the kits lower and still give the possibility to model the Jabo version if one wishes so. Maybe in the future we will be able to combine our own kits online and choose their content ourselves who knows?

Conclusion

Nice little set which will allow the modeler to build a Jabo version of the Bf 109 E. These wearing often very colorful decorations.