hey fellow modellers!
besides the spinner and canopy differences between the bf109e3 and e4, what else is there? i have an older 1 48 hasegawa 109e-4 “Galland” kit. Unfortunately, i want to built it as an e3 from the battle of britain. i have a nice aeromaster decal sheet for it. Can the model guru and gods help with this please?
any differences between the two would be great
thanks evreyone
william
externally not much difference but I think there might have been an engine upgrade.
Per Marco Fernández-Sommerau’s
Messerschmitt Bf-109 Recognition manual
The major difference between the E-3 and E-4 was the canopy , of course, and 50 KG of armor plate and the installation of the improved MG FF “M” cannon.
Re: Engine differences in either variant:
If an aircraft is categorized as either an E-3 / N or E-4 / N then it used the DB 601 N engine.
No mention was made of any visible differences between the DB-601 or DB-601N aircraft.
The author notes that the E-4 / B ( fighter-bomber ) may have been fitted with the DB-601 N engine.
The author also mentions that many earlier E-1 thru E-3 models were upgraded to E-4s during overhauls but would retain the original werknummer.
Hope that helps.
So pretty much stick a E-3 canopy on it and call it done right? And I do believe the changes in the MG FF cannons were internal.
Yes, really just need the E-3 type canopy. The gun change was internal - modification of the recoil mechanism to fire the newly designed explosive shell. Most E-4’s appear to have kept the opened nose spinner (so can keep the kit’s provided item), but your particular decals should have the profile indicating specifically which shape. Experiences in France brought the need for improved pilot armour and this would be retrofitted to all E-3 units in time for BoB.
regards,
Jack
awesome answers guys! thank you, just one more thing, im confused if the e3 had a spinner mounted cannon? or should the spinner be the one shaped like a cone with no cannon hole/ barrel?
thanks!
william
ps, i posted in aircraft and decals regarding finding hard to find decals for a p-47 named Natalie Ann II.
if anyone knows where to find please help me!
This site has lots of good info on most things related to the 109
Deliveries of the E-3 began in the early fall of 1939 and, although designed to carry the cannon in it’s nose/engine, only a few of the intial production aircraft had it installed. Constant jamming made it useless so they were removed.
Use the open ended spinner for the E-3. The spinner cap was introduced with the E-7 model (according to Squadron publication no. 44)
regards,
Jack
ok Jack! thanks for the help!
best,
william
Just the information I was looking for!