Heroes Models 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf109 Regia Aeronautica Part 1 Painting Masks
By Jacob Russell
This new mask set from Heroes Models is for Messerschmitt Bf109F and G aircraft in service with the Italian Regia Aeronautica during World War Two. The masks themselves consist of a single set of national insignias, and individual aircraft markings for 3 different aircraft:
1) Bf109F-4, 363° Squadriglia 150° Gruppo Caccia Terrestre. This aircraft was painted in the Luftwaffe desert colors of RLM 78 and 79 with a white spinner, fuselage band and wing tips. The lower cowl was painted RLM 04 yellow. The original Luftwaffe markings were over painted with Grigio Azzurro Chiaro (light bluish gray), with a dense mottle of this same color on the upper fuselage and wings.
2) Bf109G-2/R6 Trop, 365° Squadriglia 150° Gruppo Autonomo Caccia Terrestre. This aircraft was painted in the Luftwaffe desert colors of RLM 78 and 79 with a white spinner, fuselage band and wing tips. The lower cowl was painted RLM 04 yellow. The Luftwaffe markings were over painted with Grigio Azzurro Chiaro on the upper and lower wings only. This plane had a fixed tail wheel, tropical filter, and empty under wing gondola pods.
3) Bf109G-6 Trop, 365° Squadriglia 150° Gruppo Caccia Terrestre. This plane was painted in the mid War Luftwaffe colors of RLM 74/75/76 with an RLM 70 spinner, white fuselage band and RLM 04 yellow lower cowl. The rear fuselage is over painted with a dense application of Grigio Mimetico (medium gray) with mottling in Grigio Azzurro Chiaro. There is also a heavy application of RLM 74 on the rear of the cowling, over the cowling "Beules" (bumps), and on the windscreen and canopy. The rear canopy was painted in RLM 79. The national insignias on the upper and lower wings were over painted with Grigio Azzurro Chiaro.
These colorful aircraft are depicted in very nice profile illustrations, along with a black and white diagram showing the individual masks on their backing sheet.
This is a first class product of 3 very colorful Italian Messerschmitts. The planes are very exciting to look at. I can't remember the last time I saw an Italian Bf109 on a contest table. I think that this is unfortunate, because Regia Aeronautica planes represent a welcome alternative to the rather boring mid War 109s, in their drab European Theatre RLM 74/75/76 camouflage.
I recommend this mask set and I would like to thank Heroes Models for the review sample.