Reviewed by Max Williams
Model dimensions: 260mm long 338mm wingspan
Price: £38.90
Total no. of kit parts 345, though many are not required for the G-4 version
Sprues: 10 pale brown plastic, 2 clear plastic, 2 photo etch (mainly cockpit, seat belts etc), 1 canopy mask
Decals: 1 sheet giving 4 options of finish
Background and references…
This is my third Bf110G-4 to this scale, but my first Eduard build. The previous models were the Revell/Monogram kit produced some years ago which although very detailed, had engine nacelles and spinners with inaccurate profiles. It will be interesting to see how the kits compare as the build progresses, but already I can see improvements with Eduard’s offering.
My main reference book is Brett Green’s excellent “Modelling the Messerschmitt Bf110” published by Osprey, supplemented by Alfred Price’s Profile 207 “Messerschmitt Bf110 Night Fighters” and Jerry Scutts’ “German Night Fighter Aces of World War 2”, also by Osprey.
First impressions…
The box seems crammed full of sprues when first opened, but on reading the 16 page instruction book, which includes 4 colour pages of finishes, it’s clear that most of the parts from at least 2 of the sprues will go into the spares box. The inclusion of some photo-etch sheets is a bonus, as is the paint mask for the canopy; a definite “must” for the expanse of glasswork on the Bf110. [I will echo that Max, when I did my own build of an earlier release of the Eduard kit it saved hours of painful masking with tiny pieces of Tamiya tape! – Geoff]
Mouldings…
The plastic mouldings are clean and mostly flash-free, with finely engraved panel lines and rivet detail. The canopy, always a challenge especially if modelled in the open position, is crystal-clear with the metal framework slightly raised in profile. The 
cockpit area is well-detailed and includes the “Schrage-musik” upward firing cannons, the radar-operator’s panel and the seat that he shares with the rear gunner, as well of course as the pilot’s seat and controls.
Forward-firing cannons and gun bay detail are provided which appears to give the option of having the nose removed though this isn’t clearly demonstrated. The “stag’s antler” radar array on the nose of the aircraft is finely moulded.
Most of the control surfaces are fixed, the exception being the ailerons which are provided as separate items. The version of the Bf110G-4 that I’m making features Eberspacher exhausts/flame-dampers, an option in this kit along with the usual “over/under” exhausts.
Careful reading of the instruction booklet prior to starting is needed since assembly instructions are entirely through line drawings. A special point to watch out for is the need to pre-drill the 4 holes for the drop-tank supports BEFORE gluing the wing halves together. Painting instructions are by reference to either “Aqueous” or “Mr. Color” colour codes, but RLM numbers are also given for many areas so that you can match with other company’s paints.
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Decals…
The final page of the instruction booklet shows the positions of the plethora of stencils on the aircraft, although oddly the red-dashed wing walkway areas are not included. The decals look crisp with good register throughout and give a choice of aircraft from NJG6, NJG101, NJG1 and NJG3, all colour schemes as used in 1945.
Conclusion…
Writing this initial review and inspecting the parts closely has whetted my appetite to get on with construction. [check out Build Now and later Finished Now for Max’s full build review – Ed] I’m impressed with the overall quality of the kit and the thought that appears to have gone into its production. I hope this early promise and optimism is translated into an assembly which is trouble-free, culminating in a model of quality. Only time will tell!
Max W.