Late 1960s Monogram 1/48 Me 109E Messerschmitt

Late 1960s Monogram 1/48 Me 109E Messerschmitt “Top Luftwaffe Fighter”, Kit PA74
This plane was also featured in the Problems with Vintage Models video, although it was so dirty you might not have recognized it. The landing gear is not the sturdiest and the plane has a tendency to collapse. Dad said that the landing gear on the real plane was always a weak point so it’s historically accurate. :-)
Dad actually included the pilot figure in this build. That may be because the cockpit is very basic, only including a small decal for the instrument panel.
Sadly, we don’t have an extra kit of this model. Dad distinctly remembers that he built this model from the blue Monogram box. I have included a link so you can see a picture of the box if you like.
www.scalemates...

[@duncanstone8758]

A fine build. I did many of Monogram's 1/48 planes in the mid-60's. They were all brush painted but looked good to me and were fun.

[@vintagemilitarymodelkits]

Dad built quite a few, too. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@garfieldsmith332]

Nice build. These old kits were great.

[@vintagemilitarymodelkits]

Thanks. Gotta love the old kits!

[@modelermark172]

Your dad did a great job on this one! I built my share of these early Monogram kits when I was in grade school. What stands out to me is how they were almost designed to "double" as toys as well as displayable models. The non-scale, retractable landing gear, and the radio mast the thickness of a scale 2x4 are clearly designed to hold up to rough treatment. In many ways, it's too bad these kits are no longer available to serve as inexpensive kits for beginners, (and nostalgia builds for those of a "certain age.")
Our local hobby shop recently bought-out an extensive collection that included many of these old Monogram aircraft kits; including many examples of the Bf-109E shown here. Though it definitely shows its age, I picked one up - as well as a contemporary Monogram Mitsubishi Zero - for a future project I have in mind that will mainly involve swapping-out the decals and color schemes to make a "What-If?" Japanese Bf-109E, and a Luftwaffe A6M Zero. These kits will serve well for such a "pencil sketch" project. Using the latest kits from Eduard or Tamiya would be more like an "oil-on-canvas" project . . . .
Thanks for sharing!
6th Like.

[@vintagemilitarymodelkits]

Thanks. I love your build idea. I bet it would look really great!

[@chrispacer4231]

HOLY MACARONI ….
I built this kit in 1970, one of my first…
Loved the retractable landing gear…
It flew many a combat mission throughout my parents house
I must have painted it a few times, changed colors and markings…
Played with it so much, broke it one too many times…
In the garbage it went…………
NOW, I have this kit on the shelf…
Still in it’s original BBB box with the BOXART top
Still in the Shrink Wrap from the factory…
I’m never going to build it, it’s on the shelf just for SHOW….
Vintage Models on………
CHRIS 🇺🇸
( I’m still building the old stuff )

[@vintagemilitarymodelkits]

Thanks for sharing with us! So nice that you have the kit NIB in your collection.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

I remember this and Revells Bf 109f in 1/32

[@vintagemilitarymodelkits]

Thanks for watching and sharing with us. :-)

[@gsr4535]

Wow, that's an old kit. Not 100% accurate but darn close! Well done!

[@vintagemilitarymodelkits]

Thanks! Appreciate the feedback.