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Eduard 1/4 Bf 110 Instrument Panel

By Chris Banyai-Riepl

Overview

Sometimes it's good to step outside the box and build something completely out of character. Often, though, it can be tough for an aviation modeler to do that, as ultimately the inspiration needs to be there to see the project through to the end. In the past, we have seen large-scale components capture the attention of the modeler (such as a 1/12 F-104 cockpit). Eduard has stepped up into that realm with this latest release, focusing on just the instrument panel of the famous Messerschmitt Bf 110.

The Kit

Eduard released a very nice 1/48 Bf 110 family, so undoubtedly they had plenty of reference material lying around. What better way to utilize that than by making a 1/4 instrument panel kit, right? This kit comes in a sturdy box that protects the five sprues, two photoetch frets, and one sheet of stickers. There are two clear sprues, two detail part sprues, and the one-piece instrument panel provided in injection plastic. Instrument faces are provided in sticker form, while the photoetch provides other details.

While this is a model kit in the basest form, it does not have typical construction to deal with. There are few, if any seams to work out, and for the most part, even the photoetch parts remain flat with no bending. Still, it is a complex assembly as each instrument has a separate bezel and separate instrument glass, not counting the sticker dial face and various photoetch detailing. To keep things organized, Eduard has separated the instructions according to region on the instrument panel. This helps greatly in keeping the various details straight.

Looking in detail at one of these sections, the first step is selecting the right instrument face from the sticker sheet. This fits into a recess on the instrument panel, and is keyed so there is only one way to apply it. On top of the instrument face goes a photoetch arm. This can be positioned anywhere, so if you want your Bf 110 flying at altitude, you can set the instruments that way. Over this goes the clear instrument glass and all of that is trapped under the separate instrument bezel. Finally, some of the instruments have knobs, labels, or extra screws to finish them off. Multiply that by the eleven separate zones and you have quite a bit of assembly to work through.

There are a couple small issues with some of the instruments, and that has to do with the depth provided. The turn and bank indicator consists of a ball held in a tube, and the complete assembly has some noticeable depth to it. The kit represents this as the other instruments, with a simple flat sticker. Likewise, the artificial horizon is a sphere inside the instrument, so it has very visible shading around its edges. Again, the kit represents this as a flat sticker. Both of these instruments could be modified to be more realistic, and doing so could actually be quite fun.

There are no painting diagrams included in the instructions, but the boxtop does provide a color photo, and the plastic parts are cast in their intended final colors. In essence, the main panel should be painted in RLM 66, while the instrument bezels are finished in black. The biggest challenge will be the finishing, as few are familiar with building at such a large size. Basically, it is better to go with less in terms of washes and dry brushing, as it is quite easy to overdo it in this large scale.

Conclusion

This is an interesting diversion from typical model subjects, and could make for a great display background for a Bf 110 model. I'm not sure if I'll do that (although I could set three 1/144 Bf 110s on this panel, easily), but I am looking forward to the actual build, as it should definitely be a fun diversion. Maybe it will form the starting point for a scratchbuilt 1/4 Bf 110 model! My thanks to Eduard for the review sample.