In late 1938, the "Emil" entered production. To improve on the performance afforded by the rather small 447-522 kW (600-700 hp) Jumo, the larger Daimler-Benz DB 601A engine was used, yielding an extra 223 kW (300 hp) at the cost of an additional 181 kg (400 lb). To test the new 1,100 PS (1,085 hp, 809 kW) DB601A engine, two more prototypes (V14 and V15) were built, each differing in their armament. While the V14 was armed with two 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17s above the engine and one 20 mm MG FF in each wing, the V15 was fitted with the two MG 17s mounted above the engine only. After test fights the V14 was considered more promising and a pre-production batch of 10 E-0 was ordered. Batches of both E-1 and E-3 variants were shipped to Spain for evaluation, and received their baptism of fire in the final phases of the Spanish Civil War.

The production version E-1 (and subject of this kit) kept two 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17s above the engine and two more in the wings. The E-1B was a small batch of E-1s becoming the first operational Bf 109 fighter bomber, or Jagdbomber (usually abbreviated to Jabo). These were fitted with either an ETC 250 bomb rack, carrying one 250 kg (550 lb) bomb, or two ETC 50 bomb racks, each carrying a 50 kg (110 lb) bomb under both wings. The E-1 was also fitted with the Reflexvisier "Revi" gunsight. Communications equipment was the FuG 7 Funkgerät 7 (radio set) short-range radio apparatus, effective to ranges of 48–56 km (30–35 mi). A total of 1,183 E-1 were built, 110 of them were E-1/B.

The E-1 version was built concurrently with the E-3 cannon armed version at a ratio of 2 E-1s for every 3 E-3s.

When the standard kit was released about a year or so back, it was quickly snapped up by enthusiastic builders. However, for some, the price of $75 retail was a bit much, despite all the additional goodies provided in that original, Profipak release. For a number of modelers, photo-etch, resin parts and extensive wheel and canopy masks are just additional bits that are not needed to build a model.

Fortunately, one only has to wait a while and Eduard ends up releasing a kit without all the extra bits as a Weekend Edition. This kit still has the full engine and all the cockpit detail of the earlier boxing, albeit in plastic without enhancements. One thing I miss is not having etched seat belts, but those should be easy enough to locate. It would have been nice to have at least a decal for the instrument panel as the kit's instrument faces are blank.

While the kit does come with a full engine, the builder has the option of not including it in the model, thus shortening build time. One does, however, have to make a choice rather early as the same individual exhaust stacks are used for both options. The kit provides separate flight control surfaces. Only the flaps seem to be able to be positioned in something other than the neutral position. Cutting the tabs on the other parts might allow them to be posed differently. The kit also has separate slats which can be posed extended and should be.

 I should mention that it seems Eduard did do the proper wings for an E-1 as there are no holes for cannon bulges under the wings as on the E-3/4/7 versions. The kit does come with a drop tank which isn't applicable for an E-1 as the planes were not plumbed for it, so leave it off. There is also canopy head armor included that isn't appropriate for the decals that come in the kit, so leave that off as well. Most 109s didn't start using it until around the middle of 1940.

Instructions are well done with Gunze, generic and RLM color references. The lone markings (one of the trademarks of the Weekend Editions), are for Hannes Trautloft's plane in September 1939 when with 2./JG 77. It is in the standard RLM 70/71/65 splinter camo with a low demarcation line. The decal and painting guide is somewhat indistinct between the two upper colors, but the same info is on the box. To me, the reds in the decal sheet are far too bright, but the sheet itself is well printed with full data markings and a well done placement guide in the instructions.

Bought by me and I paid retail!

October 2010