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It's funny, I'm not really a "109 guy" but suddenly
I find I have more than a dozen of various scales in
my hangar. I write this off to two things: I'm a
sucker for sales, and I'm a sucker for a model with
a good pilot history. And pilot histories simply do
not get more interesting than Von Werra's!
Enter this Carousel 1 109E, which I picked up at
the end of 2006 in a big online clearance sale for
$40 (less than the Corgi 1:72 version will cost ya
on ebay!) -- along with the Galland and Schroer
models. I've always thought C1 models were a bit
over-priced for what you get, but at this price this
model is a fair deal. I really like the paint scheme,
and the model is well put together -- the fit and
finish are excellent and there were no production
blemishes to be found.
The model comes with a display base that's
about 12x12-inches and has a faux grass sticker
on the surface. I don't care for this base, and I'd
much rather have an in-flight display stand,
particularly as the model comes with raised-gear
display parts (huh?). Apparently C1's thought was
that we'd hang them from the ceiling or something
-- not! (In my hangar at least.)
It also comes with an optional external fuel tank,
which attaches securely via magnets. The pilot
figure is also optional, and the hinged canopy
opens and closes. This latter feature is great,
though it does come with a slight trade-off of a
small visible gap when in the closed position. The
gear is also attached magnetically, and it should be
noted that the down gear use "plugs" more or less
to fit in the gear wells, which may not look realistic
but it is effective -- the gear has the proper cant
and the models sits nice and firm on its "feet".
The swazis on the stab come as optional decals,
which I don't like at all -- but at least C1 gives you
the decals. They are traditional water-slide decals
and are relatively easy to affix, but come on!
These are historical models, the real deals had
these markings, so just put 'em on there! (Newer
C1 releases, such as the Yellow 10 Dora, come
with the swazis applied.)
I'm also not a big fan of the rubber parts --
virtually all the small detail parts (guns, antenna,
pitots, etc., on C1 models are rubber). This may
reduce shipping breakage and breakage removing
and packing the models for display. However, the
parts simply look better and have more detail
when they are metal or plastic. The lack of moving
parts is also a bummer in this scale and MSRP
($70).
Still, like the Schroer, this is a sharp-looking 109
in 1:48 that really stands out in a crowd of 109s.
(Be forewarned: Werra will try to escape!)
Recommended!
I find I have more than a dozen of various scales in
my hangar. I write this off to two things: I'm a
sucker for sales, and I'm a sucker for a model with
a good pilot history. And pilot histories simply do
not get more interesting than Von Werra's!
Enter this Carousel 1 109E, which I picked up at
the end of 2006 in a big online clearance sale for
$40 (less than the Corgi 1:72 version will cost ya
on ebay!) -- along with the Galland and Schroer
models. I've always thought C1 models were a bit
over-priced for what you get, but at this price this
model is a fair deal. I really like the paint scheme,
and the model is well put together -- the fit and
finish are excellent and there were no production
blemishes to be found.
The model comes with a display base that's
about 12x12-inches and has a faux grass sticker
on the surface. I don't care for this base, and I'd
much rather have an in-flight display stand,
particularly as the model comes with raised-gear
display parts (huh?). Apparently C1's thought was
that we'd hang them from the ceiling or something
-- not! (In my hangar at least.)
It also comes with an optional external fuel tank,
which attaches securely via magnets. The pilot
figure is also optional, and the hinged canopy
opens and closes. This latter feature is great,
though it does come with a slight trade-off of a
small visible gap when in the closed position. The
gear is also attached magnetically, and it should be
noted that the down gear use "plugs" more or less
to fit in the gear wells, which may not look realistic
but it is effective -- the gear has the proper cant
and the models sits nice and firm on its "feet".
The swazis on the stab come as optional decals,
which I don't like at all -- but at least C1 gives you
the decals. They are traditional water-slide decals
and are relatively easy to affix, but come on!
These are historical models, the real deals had
these markings, so just put 'em on there! (Newer
C1 releases, such as the Yellow 10 Dora, come
with the swazis applied.)
I'm also not a big fan of the rubber parts --
virtually all the small detail parts (guns, antenna,
pitots, etc., on C1 models are rubber). This may
reduce shipping breakage and breakage removing
and packing the models for display. However, the
parts simply look better and have more detail
when they are metal or plastic. The lack of moving
parts is also a bummer in this scale and MSRP
($70).
Still, like the Schroer, this is a sharp-looking 109
in 1:48 that really stands out in a crowd of 109s.
(Be forewarned: Werra will try to escape!)
Recommended!
Carousel 1, 1:48
| Bf 109E Luftwaffe JG 3 Udet Franz von Werra, BOB, 1940 |
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