Avis 1/72 Bf 109D-1 Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The Messerschmitt Bf 109D Dora was the standard fighter of the early Luftwaffe prior to World War II. Developed from the Caesar, the D-0 and D-1 were powered by the Jumo 210D and armed with two wing-mounted and two nose-mounted MG 17 7.92mm machine guns.

While the Dora would see combat as part of the Condor Legion in Spain, the type was withdrawn from frontline service in favor of the Bf 109E as the Polish campaign was started. Before its withdrawal, nearly 600 Doras were build and fielded in the early Luftwaffe. Many of these were sold to other countries as the Emil displaced them in squadron service.

Avis is a kit brand from the Ukraine that produces a nice series of subjects. One of these series covers the early Bf 109s in 1/72 scale including this one, the Bf 109D-1.

This kit is molded in light gray styrene and presented on three parts trees, plus a single clear tree for the canopy. The details are scribed into the surface and are not overdone.

The kit features a simple cockpit as the canopy and windscreen are molded as a single part. If you want to pose the hood open, you'll have to do careful surgery to the clear part or replace it with an aftermarket vac windscreen and hood.

The nose features the large chin radiator with a separately molded radiator flap. The ailerons and elevators are molded in-place in the neutral position, though the rudder is separately molded and positionable.

Markings are provided for two examples:

• Bf 109D-1, I/ZG 2, Lachen-Speyerdorf, Luftwaffe, 1939
• Bf 109D-1, 6-79, Legion Condor, Spain, 1938

This is a nice kit that should build up into a good model of the Bf 109D. While there are a few Doras that have been released in the past in 1/72, these don't appear to be readily available now.

Recommended!

My sincere thanks to HobbyTerra for this review sample!