Reviewed by Rob Baumgartner
 

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Meteor Productions

 

FirstLook

This latest release from Cutting Edge concentrates on those Bf 109s that flew with JG 27 in North Africa. The chosen aircraft are colourful and varied with both the E and F models represented.

The aircraft depicted are:

“White 11”, Bf 109 F-2/Z Trop, II/JG 27, North Africa, 1941.

Although the reference source used by Cutting Edge claims this as a F-2/Z, it is believed that no F-2 machines were fitted with the GM-1 nitrous oxide boosting.

The aircraft displays the usual desert paints of RLM 79 Tan upper surfaces over the RLM 78 Blue fuselage sides. The lower engine cowl is given as yellow and a white theatre band surrounds the fuselage.

The engine cowl wears the Berlin bear shield of II./JG 27 with the “winged lion” emblem of 4./JG 27 below the cockpit.

“Black 3”, Bf 109 E-4 Trop, JG 27, Libya 1941.

This is a very popular Emil due to its rather patchy colour scheme.

A “front on” photo seen in another publication shows what looks like a centerline rack and hence they named this a Bf 109 E-7 Trop from 2./JG27. The same pic also reveals a white painted segment to the spinner.

The original caouflage was upper surfaces of RLM 71 Dark Green and RLM 02 Green-Grey over RLM 65 Light Blue under surfaces. A previous fuselage number has been over painted in RLM 02 and a stripped pattern in RLM 71 was applied.

The badge of I./JG27 appeared in the usual position on the engine cowl and the fuselage number was black outlined in red. The ever-present white fuselage band is also seen.

“< II”, Bf 109 F-4 Trop, Stab II./JG 27, Libya, March 1941.

Flown by Ofw. Otto Schultz.

At this time, Otto Schultz was not a member of the Gruppenstab so this was not his aircraft. In March he was flying “White 2” and it was only when he was promoted to Oberleutnant in May that he joined the Gruppenstab. The captioning mistake coming about due to Schultz posing for the photographer in this machine.

The aircraft carries the badge of II./JG 27 on the nose and the Stab II./JG27 lion under the cockpit. Normal camouflage of RLM 79 Tan on the upper surfaces over RLM 78 Blue are seen with a yellow nose and white wing tips.

“White 10”, Bf 109 E-7 Trop, 1./JG 27, Libya, August 1941.

Flown by Fw. Günther Steinhausen.

Upper surfaces are finished in RLM 79 over RLM 78 under surfaces. Large patches of RLM 80 Olive Green are seen on the fuselage sides. The aircraft features a completely painted yellow nose and rudder with the white theatre band around the fuselage.

A fine in flight shot of “white 10” in the reference below, reveals that this same aircraft can be finished in a different scheme from that portrayed by Cutting Edge. Here we see the aircraft with 3 white victory bars on the tail. Although not shown on the instruction sheet, Cutting Edge supplies four of these markings. It should also be noted that the Unit badge is positioned a lot further forward than usual and the RLM 80 mottle goes further down the fuselage side.

"Yellow 1”, Bf 109 F-4 Trop, 3./JG 27, Libya, 1942

Flown by Oberleutnant Gerhard Homuth.

Standard RLM 79 Tan upper surfaces are featured over RLM 78 Blue undersurfaces. The spinner is white with that colour extending back to form a band around the forward cowl. Naturally white is also used for the wingtips and fuselage theatre marking. The rudder makes an interesting contrast and is interpreted as being finished in red oxide primer.

The usual bonus of stencil data is provided and this is printed legibly and in perfect register. Diagrams are provided for the location of the stencil data but this is drawn for a G-6. Considering we are dealing with the E and F types here, one has to wonder about its inclusion. Placement, and the data itself, was different in many cases.

 

Conclusion

This is another good sheet from Cutting Edge and the varied schemes should find favour with those modelers wishing to build aircraft from this theatre.

Recommended

References: Luftwaffe Colours Vol 3 Section 3 – Classic Publications 2003
Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean – Osprey Publishing 1994

Thanks to Meteor Productions for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2003 by Robert Baumgartner
Page Created 17 November, 2003
Last updated 17 November, 2003

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