Brett Green is unlikely to need much by way of an introduction to Internet modellers - Brett is editor of Hyperscale, the hugely popular on-line magazine. I've long admired Brett's models as featured on his site, so it's a great pleasure to see this useful guide, which should really be titled "Modelling the Messerschmitt Bf 110 in 1/48 scale" - as this is the only scale covered.
Contents
No2 in the Osprey Modelling Series, softcover 248 x 184mm with 80 pages, this volume sees Brett team up with fellow master-modeller Chris Wauchop to provide detail and inspiration on how to get the best out of the available Bf 110 kits.
In terms of available models, this really boils down to 2; Fujimi's ageing (but still basically very good) Bf 110 C/D/E and Revell-Monogram's much more recent Bf 110 F/G series. Also available, but quite hard to find and rather expensive, is Mauve's up-date of the Fujimi kit with additional parts to create a Bf 110 F/G.
The book also covers the various after-market detail & correction sets and decal sheets for the kits and gives a useful chart detailing their availability at the time of printing (2003).
Brett begins with a short history of the Messerschmitt Bf 110's service during WW2, along with a cross-reference chart to help modellers identify the features of the various versions.
Following a brief overview of the available 1/48 scale kits, it's time for some modelling. Basically, the book covers the Fujimi and Revell-Monogram kits and tackles them with 2 projects each: the first, aimed at intermediate-level modellers, shows how to get the best out of the kits, pretty much out-of-the -box, while the second is an advanced project, using after-market sets to add extra detail and correct the kits' failings.
The builds
First onto the modelling bench is the Fujimi B f110D, built as a joint project by Brett and Chris. The kit is depicted airborne, but is basically stock apart from using Fast Frames for the canopy and Superscale decals. This neat chapter shows what a good basic kit the Fujimi model is... and the in-flight photos are jaw-dropping.
Next, the same kit gets some super-detail treatment, courtesy of a True Details resin cockpit, an Eduard photo-etch set, Highlight Replicas resin flaps, a Cavalier machine gun and a Falcon canopy. Last, but not least, the model is built as an early night fighter, with markings for a Bf 110E taken from an Aeromaster decal sheet.
For the Bf 110G, the intermediate build is a ProModeler kit built by Chris Wauchop. Chris corrects a few things along the way before going to town with some superb post-shading and weathering, rounded off with Aeromaster decals.
Last among the main builds is Brett's Revell-Monogram Bf 110G, heavily modified using Cutting Edge resin sets for the spinners, cowlings, control surfaces and FuG 202 radar, plus an Aires cockpit.
An additional chapter covers the construction of Verlinden's compass-swing and gives a good basic overview on constructing a base for a model and painting figures in 1/48 scale and, rounding everything off, is gallery of other builds and a simple colour chart of basic Messerschmitt Bf 110 colour schemes.
conclusion
While this volume obviously deals specifically with the Messerschmitt Bf 110, the pages are filled with hints and tips which will be of value for all aircraft projects.
As regards coverage of the models, it's hard to find fault: the photography throughout the book is superb and each project is shown in detail at every stage. I think it's regrettable that the book doesn't include any reference photos of full-size aircraft but, otherwise, this is a very good book.
Of course, the real value of this book for many modellers will be the chance to see Brett Geen and Chris Wauchop's work in detail. The model-building shown here is superb and this volume will certainly help anyone contemplating tackling a 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Bf 110.
Contact details
Osprey Direct
PO Box 140
Wellingborough
Northants, NN8 2FA
United Kingdom
(01933) 443 863
Thank you to Osprey Publishing for kindly supplying the review sample.
