Print Scale 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf 109D
By Chris Banyai-Riepl
Overview
Few aircraft are as popular as the Messerschmitt Bf 109. Produced in huge numbers, and spanning a wide range of variants, the Bf 109 saw extensive service from the 1930s, through the Second World War, and into post-war operations, with the final example retiring from Spanish service in the mid-1960s. This latest sheet from Print Scale provides markings for the early Bf 109D, which saw combat in the Spanish Civil War and the early stages of the Second World War.
The Decals
This decal sheet is extensive, providing markings for fifteen different aircraft. Five are from the Spanish Civil War, one is from the Second World War, and the remaining options are all from 1938/39. Starting with the Spanish Civil War options, these include:
Bf 109D, 6-56, flown by Hauptmann Gotthard Handrick
Bf 109D, 6-56, flown by Hauptmann Walter Grabmann
Bf 109D, 6-79, flown by Hauptmann Werner Molder
Bf 109D, 6-75, flown by Oberleutnant Rudolf Goy
Bf 109D, 6-56, flown by Hauptmann Gotthard Handrick
The first three examples are finished in RLM 62 over RLM 65, while the last two are described as RLM 77 over RLM 65. Unfortunately that information is incorrect, and the actual color should be RLM 63. To further muddle things, there are two variants of RLM 63, and these aircraft should be finished in the earlier, more greenish gray version.
For the pre-war options, these are all camouflaged in either RLM 70 over RLM 65 or RLM 70/71 over RLM 65. These include:
Bf 109D, Black - + -, from JG 132
Bf 109D, Yellow 12 + -, from II./JG 234
Bf 109D, White 11 + N, from 10N./JG 2
Bf 109D, Yellow 1, from 3./JG 21
Bf 109D, White 3, from 1./JG 131
Bf 109D, S2 + M53, unknown unit
Bf 109D, Yellow 5, from 2./JG 176
Bf 109D, White 10, from 1..JG 131
Bf 109D, White 2, from 1./ZG 2
Some of these aircraft have interesting markings, such as Yellow 5 from 2./JG 176, which has a large sharkmouth on the nose, and White 3 from 1./JG 131, which has a large white X on the rear fuselage. For the most part, these decals are pretty good, although the unit emblem for White 2 from 1./ZG 2 has not been printed correctly. It should have a blue background (as see in the instructions), but it is printed black, effectively hiding much of the design.
The final option is GA + MK, a Bf 109D from a flight school in Zagreb, Croatia in 1942. This aircraft is labeled as camouflaged in RLM 80/82 over RLM 65, but this is grossly inaccurate. The colors most likely worn by this aircraft would be RLM 71/02 on the upper surfaces and RLM 65 on the undersurfaces, with fuselage mottling in both RLM 71 and 02.
The decals include a full set of stenciling markings, and for the most part appear to be well printed, aside from the aforementioned problems. The only alignment issue seen is with the black over the white. This is most noticeable on the swastikas on the red tail bands, but can also be seen on the black roundels of the Spanish Civil War options. For those that have a white emblem on the fuselage roundels, the alignment issue results in a thin white crescent on one side. Some very careful work with a pair of small scissors could take care of that, though.
Conclusion
Even with the removal of the schemes screwed up by either bad research or mis-aligned decals, this sheet still has quite a few useful options. Now if we only had a good, mainstream model of the early Bf 109. My thanks to Print Scale for the review sample.