Scale Aviation Modeller International – April 2019

O

riginally designated

the M37, the aircraft

which became

known as the Bf 108

was designed as a two-seat

sports/recreation aircraft

for competition in the 4th

Challenge International de

Tourisme Air Race of 1934.

The prototype and -A variants

were powered by Hirth

engines, irst lying in 1934,

and were followed by the Bf

108B four-seater in 1935 which

used the Argus As 10C or E

air-cooled inverted V8 engine.

Although lacking the outright

performance of its competitors,

the Bf108 remained popular for

record-breaking lights, not

least because of its excellent

fuel economy. The Luftwafe

adopted the aircraft at the

outbreak of World War 2 and

used the aircraft extensively

in liaison and communication

roles. Around 885 airframes

were built (626 of them

military); predominantly the

-B and were used in small

numbers by most European

countries including the

UK, who coniscated four

airframes at the start of the

war and designated them

‘Messerschmitt Aldon’. The

nickname ‘Taifun’ was given

to her personal aircraft by

Elly Beinhorn, a well-known

record-breaking German

pilot, and was subsequently

adopted as a name for the type.

THE KIT

This is standard ProiPACK fare

with excellent plastic having

ine detail and recessed panel

lines, with pre-coloured etched

brass at just the right level of

detail to enhance the cockpit

and some exterior details

without being overwhelming.

Slightly disappointing given

such interior detail is that the

large canopy is a single piece,

although masks are provided.

Opening up the forward-

hinging doors shouldn’t

be too diicult, although

MESSERSCHMITT BF108

PROFIPACK

MANUFACTURER: Eduard

SCALE: 1/48

PRODUCT CODE: 8078

PANEL LINES: Recessed

NO OF PARTS: 88 plastic (6 not for

use) plus 2 clear, plus pre-coloured

etched brass and masks

TYPE: Injection moulded Plastic

STATUS: New Tool

DECAL OPTIONS: 5

KIT DETAILS

Huw Morgan builds the 1/48 Eduard Messerschmitt Bf 108 ProfiPACK

A LIGHTWEIGHT

RACER

APRIL 2019 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

1/48

22

FE ATURE

BY HUW MORGAN

MESSERSCHMITT BF108

1/48