From the Manufacturer
The twin-engine Messerschmitt Bf110 heavy fighter served in the Luftwaffe throughout WWII, despite pilots bemoaning its lack of agility in the air. Later in the war, however, it found a niche when it was developed into a successful night fighter. Indeed, it served as the backbone of Germany’s Nachtjagdgeschwader, with the first night-fighting units operating as early as 1940. Bf110 aircraft had a sizable hand in claiming 2751 RAF bombers shot down in 1943 alone. In a single dramatic night in August/September 1943, night fighters destroyed no less than 123 RAF bombers. This shows the effectiveness of the Nachtjagdgeschwader, which seriously blunted Allied bomber raids over Germany. However, it came at a cost – for example, 15% of crews were killed within the space of three months in 1944. The top night-fighting ace was Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, who claimed 121 victories while flying Bf110s. The Bf110D was a long-range heavy fighter or fighter bomber, while the improved and up-armored Bf110E was designed primarily as a fighter bomber. The appearance of these dedicated night fighters is quite different from the Bf110C, with distinctive radar antennae fitted on Bf110D's nose. In this kit the antenna array is offered as photo-etched parts should modelers so wish to use them, although the standard plastic option is already highly detailed and finely molded. Special parts are further provided for the Bf110E, including new nose and rear wheels, a newly tooled machinegun and nose antenna. Modelers can also elect to depict a camera-equipped Bf110E aircraft. Whichever version of the aircraft that fans select to build, they can be assured of the best quality and highest level of detail, as is the norm in Dragon’s Wing Tech series. This is a plastic model kits that requires paint and glue (not included).
Product Description
The twin-engine Messerschmitt Bf110 heavy fighter served in the Luftwaffe throughout WWII, despite pilots bemoaning its lack of agility in the air. Later in the war, however, it found a niche when it was developed into a successful night fighter. Indeed, it served as the backbone of Germany?s Nachtjagdgeschwader, with the first night-fighting units operating as early as 1940. Bf110 aircraft had a sizable hand in claiming 2751 RAF bombers shot down in 1943 alone. In a single dramatic night in August/September 1943, night fighters destroyed no less than 123 RAF bombers. This shows the effectiveness of the Nachtjagdgeschwader, which seriously blunted Allied bomber raids over Germany. However, it came at a cost ? for example, 15% of crews were killed within the space of three months in 1944. The top night-fighting ace was Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, who claimed 121 victories while flying Bf110s. The Bf110D was a long-range heavy fighter or fighter bomber, while the improved and up-armored Bf110E was designed primarily as a fighter bomber. Dragon has previously released a Bf110C in its 1/32 scale Wing Tech series. Following on from this popular model is a 2-in-1 kit of the Bf110D/E configured as a night fighter. Modelers thus have the choice of building a 1/32 scale Bf110D or E aircraft equipped for night flying. The appearance of these dedicated night fighters is quite different from the Bf110C, with distinctive radar antennae fitted on Bf110D's nose. In this kit the antenna