Full title: Messerschmitt Bf 109s over the Mediterranean, part I
Authors: Maciej Góralczyk, Arkadiusz Wróbel
Series: miniTOPCOLORS #34

Kagero Publishing keeps on releasing a "miniTopColor" series which consists of a booklet with eight colour schemes and drawings of a title type of machine, plane or armour, and supported with attached decal sheet so a customer could build and fully decal one of machines depicted inside. This features makes the series is dedicated mostly to scale modelers. In the latest issue focused on aviation topic we get a bunch of Messerschmitt Bf 109s used on the Mediterranean theatre of war.

This volume covers one Emil, three Friedrichs and four Gustavs. Selection of the painting schemes comprises following planes:

• Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7/N; probably W.Nr. 4139, 'White 11', pilot: Lt. Theo Lindemann from 7./JG 26, Ain-el-Gazala, Libia, summer 1941
  
• Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 trop; pilot: Ofw. Karl-Heinz Bendert from Stab. II./JG 27, Derna, Libia, December 1941
  
• Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 trop; W.Nr. 8665, pilot: Lt. Gustav Frielinghaus from Stab.II./JG 3, Sicilia, Italy, early 1942
  
• Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4/Z; W.Nr. 13060, 'Yellow 2', pilot: Uffz. Karl-Heinz Witschke z 3./JG 77, Comiso, Italy, early July 1942
  
• Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 trop; 'Black 7' z 2./JG 77, Tunisia, early 1943
  
• Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2/R2 trop; 'Black 19' z 2.(H)/14, La Marsa, Tunisia, March 1943
  
• Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6; 'Yellow 13', pilot: Uffz. Hans Jegg z 9./JG 53, Italy, summer 1943
  
• Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 trop; 'Black 8' z 5./JG 27, Trapani, Italy, summer 1943 roku

As usual for this series content of the booklet starts with the references used by authors, all of them are very respected historians and publication series so I hope this at least partially guarantees good value and historical accuracy of the drawings of depicted planes. MiniTopColors series has a standardised format of 20 pages in nearly A4 size printed in full colour. As I said before we get eight painting options. Planes are presented on four-view drawings but lower surfaces are reduced only to the wings. Units and pilots emblems are printed next to the plane, but in a very enlarged form so you can capture all their small details, usually not seen or difficult to catch on original photographs or other references. Profiles presents not only painting schemes but also a lot of individual characteristics like exhaust trails, paint chipping, weathering, dust and all sorts of possible dirt so can notice at first glimpse whether this as a factory-new or battle weary machine. Painting schemes are well described, including individual characteristics and features. Text is bilingual – English and Polish.

Large sheet of decals with individual markings and inscriptions in three scales – 1:72, 1:48 and 1:32 was printed by Cartograf. I can not say anything negative about the decals, its simply usual Cartograf quality. Thin carrier film, good colours, no misalignment in print of particular colours.

This is surely an interesting proposition for Luftwaffe or, being more specific, Bf 109 enthusiasts. A very big advantage of this publication is anattractivness of the topic. Together with decal this is a comprehensive reference and solution for individual markings at the same time. High quality of the book is guaranteed by the names of authors and deserved reputation of the decal producer.

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