Hobby Boss 1/18 Bf109E Fighter, September 1940 Kit

Messerschmitt's Bf109 fighter was Germany's main fighter in World War II, designed by Dr. Messerschmitt, whose design was completed in the early 1930s. It was one of the first truly modern fighters, featuring an all-metal fuselage, lower wing, enclosed cockpit, and retractable landing gear. Up into the end of World War II, the Bf109 was still the mainstay of the Luftwaffe fighter force.

The E-4 did away with the cannon that passed through the engine shaft. MG FF/M machine guns were mounted on the wings for increased firepower, and the shape of the cockpit cover was modified. It first appeared in July 1940 and played a major role in the Battle of Britain air battles. Statistics of fighter pilot losses show that in the first half of 1940 alone, 249 E-1s, 32 E-3s, and 344 E-4s were lost. It is relatively easier to upgrade the Bf109E-3 to the E-4 standard, so many older aircraft have undergone similar upgrades.