Hobby Boss 80261 1/72 Messerschmitt ME BF109E-4 Tropical

On 14 April 1941, Bf109E/TROP arrived at Ain el Gazala Airrield in North Africa. While in transit to Sicily, where their aircraft had been tropicalized, JG 27 had briefiy carried out missions in the Balkans. Tropicalization involved fitting a dust filter over the super-charger air intake and provision being made for emergency desert survival equipment including a carbine.

The Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 was a key variant of the German Luftwaffe’s primary single-engine fighter, introduced during the summer of 1940 in time for the Battle of Britain. It improved on earlier "Emil" variants by featuring a squared-off, heavier-framed canopy for better pilot protection and upgraded MG FF/M wing cannons capable of firing high-explosive Minengescho shells.