Airfix 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 released

[fog99uk]

I was in Wonderland Models this morning and they have the new mould Airfix 1/72 Me 109 E-4 in stock

Airfix A01008 1/72 Bf 109E-4

The release seem to have come as a surprise as they were not expecting it for about a month. I have just had a look at hannants and they still have it marked as a future release.

The kit looks to be a scaled down version of the !/48 kit with a representation of the engine and separate flaps. marking are for Franz von Werra's (The One That Got Away) aircraft of I/JG-3.

They has also just got the Airfix re-released 1/48 Sea Harrier FRS.1 - 899 NAS Falklands and Indian Navy markings.

Edited May 12, 2012 by fog99uk

[Don Flynn]

IT'S ABOUT TIME

Someone over there post some sprue shots....if they've fixed the gigs I have with the 1/48th scale kit (canopy mainly...landing gear struts and prop hopefully) I'm getting 5 smuggled into the US ASAP

[FalkeEins]

..I'm getting 5 smuggled into the US ASAP

ha,ha..I'll have done five before you even see your first one!

[Don Flynn]

ha,ha..I'll have done five before you even see your first one!

Maybe...buddy of mine that side of the pond is snagging them for me...while you might have 1-2 weeks head start I'll be the 1st Yank who get's his grubby little hands on one

[Duncan B]

ha,ha..I'll have done five before you even see your first one!

But will it be worth doing 5 of them? Any better than the Tamiya kit, certainly cheaper but...?

I sound too negative there, I like the 1/48 even if it is a bit clunky like with regards to the panel lines but I'm not sure that in 1/72 it'll have the finesse of the Tamiya (or ICM for that matter).

Edited May 12, 2012 by Duncan B

[Don Flynn]

But will it be worth doing 5 of them? Any better than the Tamiya kit, certainly cheaper but...?

I sound too negative there, I like the 1/48 even if it is a bit clunky like with regards to the panel lines but I'm not sure that in 1/72 it'll have the finesse of the Tamiya (or ICM for that matter).

I'm thinking the panel lines will be like the new P-40B and Zero, they'll look right when painted. I love the Tamiya kit but it has its flaws (1.5 MM too short, skinny prop and wheels).

If Airfix does the same job plus fixes the issues I have with the 1/48th scale kit then I can do a few easy, the Emil is my favorite Bf 109 variant...I've done several Tamiya ones over the years and have a stash of those also

[FalkeEins]

But will it be worth doing 5 of them? Any better than the Tamiya kit, certainly cheaper but...?

..like 50 % cheaper. I suppose I'm a bit worried that surgery on the landing gear will be necessary (and more difficult in 1:72 scale) so my initial order was only for 2..

[Don Flynn]

..like 50 % cheaper. I suppose I'm a bit worried that surgery on the landing gear will be necessary (and more difficult in 1:72 scale) so my initial order was only for 2..

I'm hoping they fixed that with the new tooling, here's a pic of a test shot from awhile back

http://data4.primeportal.net/models/thomas...ix_10_of_52.jpg

You can see they fixed the canopy, and that doesn't look like it's sitting high, if anything I think the gear needs to spray out a tad more. I've got a couple Tamiya kits in the scrap box that I can donate legs for if needed (I get them cheap at shows here in the US...believe or it not I'll be paying more for the Airfix kit )

My friend that side of the pond said he's found 2 for me so far...3 more and he'll be sending me the stash

[thx6667]

iPhone pics, sorry about that, DSLR is recharging right now, but the panel lines are certainly a notch finer than the Zero and Gnat (which I thought were ok - certainly not Matchbox-like or "trenches").

Like the 1/48 kit, this one has separate flaps, upper and lower cowl, engine facsimile etc.. but ailerons and leading edge slats are integral.

I'm sure there much squinting at pics and firm opinions formed thereof, but the proof of the pudding will be what its like once its painted and decalled - you know the modelling part of the hobby.

And on that note, tout sweet, better build a 109!

[Master Zen]

I'm happy to see that Airfix panel lines are getting much thinner. If they added some more rivet detail, they'd be close to ideal.

That said, why make a new mold of an already super-saturated market which is the Bf 109E? You have the Tamiya which is superb, and the ICM too which is cheaper. Do we really need another considering we are in dire need of a cheap but modern Bf 109F? Stupid IMHO.

Airfix could also corner the market for modern French aircraft, which aside from the Rafale, there are no decent ones. If any Airfix execs are looking at this, pay heed

[Heraldcoupe]

That said, why make a new mold of an already super-saturated market which is the Bf 109E? You have the Tamiya which is superb, and the ICM too which is cheaper.

Neither the Tamiya, nor ICM kits make Airfix any money. Presumably the old 109E which has been in the Airtfix catalogue for the last four decades has been highly profitable, which would justify replacement of a worn out mould to those who hold the purse strings.

As long as Airfix make money on bread and butter kits like this, there will be money available for the occasional more esoteric projects.

Agreed about the need for a 109F though,

Cheers,

Bill.

[thx6667]

That said, why make a new mold of an already super-saturated market which is the Bf 109E? You have the Tamiya which is superb, and the ICM too which is cheaper. Do we really need another considering we are in dire need of a cheap but modern Bf 109F? Stupid IMHO.

As Bill says, a Tamiya or ICM 109 makes no money for Airfix. 109s are core product for any kit company.

Airfix could also corner the market for modern French aircraft, which aside from the Rafale, there are no decent ones. If any Airfix execs are looking at this, pay heed

You'll get no argument from about the need for a decent 1/72 Mirage IIIC family, but I'd venture that a slice of the 109E market is still larger than cornering the market in French aircraft.

[FalkeEins]

I'm sure there much squinting at pics and firm opinions formed thereof, but the proof of the pudding will be what its like once its painted and decalled

thanks for the pics ! .. I'm sure it will look just fine when built and finished.....if perhaps a tad on the 'stalky' side ..( lay the gear leg down in the wheel well anyone ?). Personally, I think its just great that Airfix have decent 21st century replicas of all the old faves in their very smart catalogue.

Edited May 13, 2012 by FalkeEins

[Nick Millman]

That looks nice! I think it's great that Airfix are clearly responding to modelling reaction and visibly improving all the time. That says a lot about where they are headed as a company and more power to their elbow. I just wish circumstances allowed for manufacture in the UK so that they could be 100% British products too.

It's not that long ago that the idea of Airfix producing a completely new Gnat, a Tomahawk, a Zero and a superb Swordfish would have been the stuff of fantasy but I guess you can never please all the people all the time!

As to a new 109E, well its the obvious opponent to the BoB Spitfire and far more likely to attract casual attention in a hobby/toy shop than a Tamiya or ICM kit - even if you could find them there. If its quality satisfies the serious modellers too then so much the better.

[John]

It also means we can have a state of the art Battle of Britain Dogfight Double!

http://www.airfix.com/airfix-products/new-...-bf109e-a50135/

Hands up everyone who wonders why Humbrol/Airfix didn't do this with their older mouldings *years* ago??

John

[Mike M]

How old is the Airfix 1/72 Bf 109 E4/E7 AF02048a kit? I thought that was fairly recent? How is this different?

Mike

[Work In Progress]

How old is the Airfix 1/72 Bf 109 E4/E7 AF02048a kit? I thought that was fairly recent? How is this different?

No, that one is out of the ark. Well, 1977.

This one is all new and different in every way.

Edited May 13, 2012 by Work In Progress

[thx6667]

The 02048A 109E was mid(ish) 1970s, always was a bit of an oddity. By then the tooling had moved on, we'd had the excellent Spitfire Vb and Maruader and then the 109 turned up, heavy rivets and undersized canopy and all - it felt (literally) more like the old Revell 109E kit.

I might dig out a Matchbox 109E for a tandem build with the new Airfix one as I've fancied a crack at one of those for years.

Edited May 13, 2012 by Jonathan Mock

[Don Flynn]

I'm happy to see that Airfix panel lines are getting much thinner. If they added some more rivet detail, they'd be close to ideal.

That said, why make a new mold of an already super-saturated market which is the Bf 109E? You have the Tamiya which is superb, and the ICM too which is cheaper. Do we really need another considering we are in dire need of a cheap but modern Bf 109F? Stupid IMHO.

Airfix could also corner the market for modern French aircraft, which aside from the Rafale, there are no decent ones. If any Airfix execs are looking at this, pay heed

As much as I like the Tamiya kit it has its share of problems, fuselage length being a biggie. That issue comes into play when you go to decal the cross, you either have to use the "normal" scale 1/72nd stickers that are made for the scale or find some slightly undersized ones...I've done both.

The ICM kit suffers from poor QC issues, I've bought 3 over the years and never had one were I got 2 decent fuselage 1/2's.

Uber109 guys like me have kitbashed the Tamiya/ICM molds but that can get expensive, a new tool this scale would sell VERY well. Don't even mention Academy or Hasegawa Emil's this scale...they have problems greater than the Tamiya kits.

Zvezda is due to scale down their Bf 109F line to 1/72nd scale. I do agree if Airfix did a new tool 1/72nd Bf 109F series it would sell well also. They totally missed a opportunity a few years ago when they released the Bf 109G-6 this scale, which looked like a cartoon G-6 to anyone who knows anything about the subject

[Nick Millman]

The 02048A 109E was mid(ish) 1970s, always was a bit of an oddity. By then the tooling had moved on, we'd had the excellent Spitfire Vb and Maruader and then the 109 turned up, heavy rivets and undersized canopy and all - it felt (literally) more like the old Revell 109E kit.

I might dig out a Matchbox 109E for a tandem build with the new Airfix one as I've fancied a crack at one of those for years.

I always had a soft spot for the old Revell 109E from 1963. For quite a long time, more than 10 years, it was the only 72nd 109E out there for anyone doing BoB. Matchbox was 1974 and Heller's 109E didn't appear until 1975. Airfix was 1976. The Hasegawa was also early 70's.

[Dave Fleming]

do agree if Airfix did a new tool 1/72nd Bf 109F series it would sell well also. They totally missed a opportunity a few years ago when they released the Bf 109G-6 this scale, which looked like a cartoon G-6 to anyone who knows anything about the subject

Or even those that don't - cannon bulges replaced with a saddle?

That said, the 109E is designed and produced by a completely different team, whose attitudes are very different (especially with regard to 1/72)

[Don Flynn]

I always had a soft spot for the old Revell 109E from 1963. For quite a long time, more than 10 years, it was the only 72nd 109E out there for anyone doing BoB. Matchbox was 1974 and Heller's 109E didn't appear until 1975. Airfix was 1976. The Hasegawa was also early 70's.

My 1st models were the Revell Battle of Britain boxing of that, the Hurri and Spitfire Even got them at the movie

I found a box for that a couple weeks ago semi decent shape, had the 109 in it but needs a Hurri and the canopy for the Spit...I find that I'll set it on my display shelf

[Harry Lime]

Thank you for posting those sprue shots Mr Mock. Is that an engine you can build exposed? If it is, I feel a diorama coming on....

Mark.

[John]

The original Airfix Bf109E certainly caught my attention when it came out, with the desert scheme markings and the optional bomb and tank loads. The biggest issue I had with it, apart from the canopy, was the fit of the wings, which had the dihedral of a Stuka if you weren't careful.

Having said that, it has fairly recently been reboxed and has a really nice decal sheet.

John

[Vulcanicity]

This kit may well make me break my British subject rule. It's oh-so-very tempting (although I'd pretty much have to start from scratch with learning about paint shades etc). Hmm.... *checks wallet*