Preview: Dragon's new 48th scale Bf-109E-4 - a decade in the making?

Dragon have apparently been working for ten years on this, their latest aircraft kit in the form of the 48th scale Bf-109E-4. We look at the images of the new kite in our preview...

Preview: Dragon's new 48th scale Bf-109E-4 - a decade in the making?

Air Superiority – Dragon’s Ultimate Bf-109E-4 "Adolf Galland JG26"

From Dragon Models

1/48th scale

Kit No #5500

Dragon has given the world something that we all really need - a bf-109 in 48th scale - seriously, you know we don't mind a new kit of a well covered kit, as long as they bring something new to the table, and it looks like dragon have in their new design.

They are using words like "A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Warplane Design!" and "a revolutionary new project that’s 10 years in the making!" Let's see...

They are calling it  the "Wing Tech 2 series" which is a part of Dragon’s "Engineering Revolution 2.0"  (again, lots of words here). These items are developed with the modellers in mind. For many years, Dragon has provided highly detailed model kits. However, the higher level of detail comes at a cost, which is more parts, more assembly, and longer build times. This kit tries to cut down on the parts &  the risk when making a kit, and why not?

The sprues & parts of this kit...

Features of this design: One-Piece Fuselage

Traditionally on aircraft kits, the fuselage is presented in two halves which are glued together. Then, additional puttying and sanding are needed to eliminate the gap lines. However, this process can be time consuming and can produce negative results such as sanding off the details on the fuselage.  The engineering on this kit (which we also saw on HK Model's mosquito a few years ago) eliminates this problem by using multi-direction slide-moulds to produce the fuselage in one single piece.

The wings of this Emil are interesting in that the wing joints are hidden beneath the curved leading edge of the upper wing for a hassle-free construction with apparently no sanding.

The Dragon "DS" plastic part (love it or hate it) is supplied to replicate the canvas boot for the gear bay.

This photo shows the construction of the wing, with the posable flying surfaces and leading edge. 

The cockpit tub is laid out in an easy process to connect the cockpit to the fuselage & the bottom of the kite. The rest of the aircraft is almost anchored by this process.

The main parts of the kit shown together lend to a simple and easy build process...

The process shown a little better here...

The DB 601 is seen assembled. There aren't really that many parts to his and the end result is pretty decent. We know that the machine gun barrels are also hollowed out at the muzzle, and that the slide moulded exhausts are too.

You can see the nicely detailed instrument panel in this expanded view...

This "expanded view" of the kit shows how it all goes together pretty well.

We do know that this kit is labelled "Adolf Galland JG26" - so at least one of the markings will be his. but that is all the information we have on this kit so far, price, date and other details will have to come later, so save those questions for then..

Until then check the Dragon Models Facebook page for the latest info from them...