Eduard 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf 110C Zerstörer Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The twin-engined Messerschmitt design was a result of an RLM requirement for a strategic fighter. Three bids were submitted, Focke Wulf, Henschel, and Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (where Willy Messerschmitt worked at that time). Many folks get confused about the proper designations of these early Messerschmitt designs. During the development of the Bf 108 Taifun, Bf 109 series, and Bf 110 Zerstorer, Willy Messerschmitt was still a staff member at Bayerische Flugzeugwerke, hence the prefix Bf on the design numbers. It was due to his significant contributions to the RLM that Bayerische Flugzeugwerke was renamed Messerschmitt AG in 1938 and Willy Messerschmitt appointed chairman and managing director of his namesake company. Development of the Zerstorer design predated the birth of Messerschmitt AG.

Interestingly enough, the original submission for the strategic fighter was rejected by the RLM and funding was given to Henschel and Focke Wulf. It wasn't until the intervention of WWI ace Ernst Udet that the Messerschmitt design was reconsidered, the requirements reworked, and the two competitors' contracts terminated.

In initial flight testing, the Bf 110 was faster than the early Bf 109, though not as maneuverable. Engine development problems with the Daimler Benz model 600 engines would force the intial batches of Bf 110s to be powered by the less-capable Jumo 210 engines. When the DB601 engines became available, the Bf 110 would become the long-range fighter, night fighter, and fighter-bomber that made it lengendary.

Eduard has returned with their second installment in their superdetailed Messerschmit Bf 110 series. In their first release (look here), Eduard put out an awesome kit with the Bf 110E and now we have the earlier Bf 110C available for flight operations.

This release represents the first major production version, powered by the Daimler Benz DB601B series engines. This kit is presented on six parts trees molded in RLM02 colored styrene plus two trees of clear parts. Also included in this kit are one fret of color photo-etch, one set of paint masks, and a magnificent set of decals.

The cockpit is the usual outstanding job from Eduard with the instrument panel and side consoles made up from color photo-etch with all of the instruments and placards pre-printed in place. The crew seats are complimented with color seatbelts and shoulder harnesses to really set off the visual detail in the cockpit.

As with the Emil kit, Eduard has replicated rear cockpit detailing including the twin 20mm gun tray that sits right behind (and under) the front cockpit. These guns fire through extender tubes and out the nose. The space between the pilot and rear operator are taken up with the guns, the 20mm ammo clips that mount into the breech, and the spare ammo clips that can be changed out in flight.

Behind the front cockpit bulkhead are mounted a variety of radio equipment which took up lots of space in those days. To the rear of the back seater are racks of spare ammo cans for the flex-mounted rearward firing 7.92mm machine gun.

A nicely detailed gun tray in the nose mounts four more 7.92mm machine guns. You have the option of leaving the cover off the guns.

The ailerons are separately molded which the rudders, elevators and flaps are molded in position.

You'll note all of the canopy parts provided in this kit. You have the option of posing the front and rear cockpits closed up, either (or both) open, and two different types of rear canopy for whether the aircraft is armed with the rearward firing gun or not.

When you see the instructions, up front there are diagrams of the parts trees to show which parts are not used in this version. There are number of spares you'll be getting out of here, including the ventral external tank, indicating that many more versions are on the horizon.

Perhaps the major difference between this release and the earlier Emil release is the external stores. The Emil carried a variety of bombs and stores as the aircraft had transitioned out of the day fighter role, but this variant had not started carrying externals yet, so no weapons tree and associated detail photo-etch are required (nor provided) in this kit.

Markings are provided for five aircraft:

• Bf 110C, W.Nr..2831, 2N+GN, 5./ZG 1
• Bf 110C, W.Nr..3601, MB+AC, Stab II/ZG 76
• Bf 110C, 2N+AP, 9./ZG 76
• Bf 110C, W.Nr..3102, U8+BB, Stab I/ZG 26
• Bf 110C, L1+DH, 1./NJG 3, North Africa 1941

The sheet also includes a nice set of maintenance stencils for the airframe.

Eduard has another hit on its hands and like its earlier Emil release, this kit will also be a big seller.

My sincere thanks to Eduard for this review sample!