This is #34 in their mini Top Colors series and covers eight aircraft, all Bf-109s of different variants.  Like earlier books in the series, it is a bit difficult to categorize. Is it a book with a huge decal sheet or a huge decal sheet that has the world's largest color and markings guide? The sheet offers only the unique markings for each subject as the modeler can use the kit sheet for the common stuff.

The art work is superb, with the right and left side profiles filling one page. The other has upper plan view with the underside of the wings alone to show paint and markings. Each one of these subjects is based on photos and Kagero provide the references for the origin of these markings. Naturally, there is some conjecture involved, especially where the images are not complete, but they are based on the norms of the unit in question and are as accurate as they can be. In this set are:

- Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7/N; probably W.Nr. 4139, 'White 11', flown by Lt. Theo Lindemann of 7./JG 26, Ain-el-Gazala, Libya, summer 1941, 

- Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 trop; flown by Ofw. Karl-Heinz Bendert of Stab II./JG 27, Derna, Libya, December 1941, 

- Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 trop; W.Nr. 8665, flown by Lt. Gustav Frielinghaus of Stab II./JG 3, Sicily, Italy, early 1942, 

- Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4/Z; W.Nr. 13060, 'Yellow 2', flown by Uffz. Karl-Heinz Witschke of 3./JG 77, Comiso, Italy, early July 1942, 

- Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 trop; 'Black 7' of 2./JG 77, Tunisia, early 1943, 

- Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2/R2 trop; 'Black 19' of 2.(H)/14, La Marsa, Tunisia, March 1943, 

- Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6; 'Yellow 13', flown by Uffz. Hans Jegg of 9./JG 53, Italy, summer 1943, 

- Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 trop; 'Black 8' of 5./JG 27, Trapani, Italy, summer 1943.

To modelers, a highlight of the book is a superbly printed decal sheet that offers the unique markings for each subject in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scales. Fortunately for us all, at this time in the hobby's development, there are quality kits of nearly all these planes available.   The sheet itself is printed by Cartograf so you know that you are getting one of the best around.

In all, it is a great offering and one that Luftwaffe fans should not pass up.

May 2013

Review book courtesy of the fine folks at Kagero. Visit them for more books.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.