Messerschmitt model kits · Compare UK prices
Messerschmitt Model Kits
Choose a Messerschmitt kit by aircraft, scale and construction difficulty. Compare Airfix, Tamiya and Revell plastic model kits, from compact Bf 109 fighters to Me 262 jets and larger 1:32 or 1:24 projects.
The range includes starter sets, conventional glued kits and a pre-coloured QUICKBUILD option. Our history and variants guide explains the Bf 109 E, F and G families, and how the Me 262 versions differ.
Featured build · Tamiya Bf 109 E-4/7 Trop, 1:48
Featured Messerschmitt model kits
Three projects at different scales and difficulty levels: an Easy Bf 109 starter set, an Intermediate tropical fighter and an Expert experimental Me 262.
Best for a first glued Messerschmitt
Easy · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 30 parts · Basic supplies included
Best for a 1:48 tropical Bf 109
Intermediate · Plastic · 1:48
1:48 · Canopy options · Three marking choices
Best for an unusual large-scale jet
Expert · Plastic · 1:32
1:32 · Experimental cannon-armed subject · Expert
Messerschmitt Bf 109 models
Compare early E-series fighters with a later Gustav project. Tamiya’s two 1:48 examples are Intermediate, while Airfix’s 1:24 G-5/6 is Challenging. The F-4 and G-6 provide compact alternatives in the Easy section below.
Best for a 1:48 Emil build
Intermediate · Plastic · 1:48
1:48 · Intermediate · Pilot figure included
Tamiya’s E-3 offers an earlier Bf 109 variant in a middle display scale. The kit includes a pilot and canopy options, with careful cockpit, airframe and finishing work supporting its Intermediate rating. Check the E-3 designation when choosing the supplied markings.
Best for a 1:48 tropical Bf 109
Intermediate · Plastic · 1:48
1:48 · Canopy options · Three marking choices
Tamiya supplies E-7 drop-tank parts, sand-filter intakes and an open or closed canopy for this Intermediate kit. Choose the version and markings before assembly, matching the supplied equipment to the aircraft. Glue and paint are needed for the finished display.
Best for a large detailed Gustav
Challenging · Plastic · 1:24
1:24 · 405 parts · Challenging
Airfix’s large G-5/6 includes detailed engine and cockpit assemblies, alternative cowlings and display choices. The G-5’s pressurised-cockpit details make the chosen version important. Its Challenging rating and substantial 1:24 size suit a modeller ready for a longer project.
Messerschmitt Me 262 models
These three kits cover the standard A-1a fighter, Airfix’s A-1a/2a options and the experimental U4. The two 1:72 kits have different construction ratings; the larger Revell U4 is Expert. Choose the aircraft version and build demands separately.
Best for a compact jet-fighter subject
Challenging · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · Challenging · Conventional plastic kit
Revell’s A-1a depicts the Me 262 jet fighter in 1:72. Its Challenging rating calls for careful handling and alignment through the airframe, engine-nacelle and undercarriage work. Compare the exact kit’s assembly demands rather than treating every 1:72 jet as the same project.
Best for fighter and fighter-bomber options
Intermediate · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 65 parts · Two marking options
Airfix’s Intermediate-rated Me 262 includes 65 parts and options for A-1a and A-2a subjects. Decide on the aircraft and its supplied equipment before assembly. The two engine nacelles and tricycle undercarriage give it a different construction layout from a propeller-driven Bf 109.
Best for an unusual large-scale jet
Expert · Plastic · 1:32
1:32 · Experimental cannon-armed subject · Expert
Revell’s U4 depicts an experimental Me 262 installation with a prominent 50 mm cannon in the nose. It is a specialised subject rather than the standard A-1a fighter configuration. The larger plastic kit has an Expert construction rating and needs careful assembly and painting.
Easy Messerschmitt kits
Airfix covers E, F and G variants with these Easy-rated 1:72 plastic kits. The F-4 starter includes basic finishing supplies; the E-4 and G-6 need separate glue and paint. Each introduces a traditional build with preparation, careful alignment and finishing.
Best for a first glued Messerschmitt
Easy · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 30 parts · Basic supplies included
Airfix’s Easy-rated F-4 starter set includes paint, glue and a brush. Its 30-part aircraft introduces glued assembly and finishing in a compact scale. It represents the later, aerodynamically revised F series rather than the earlier E model.
Best for an early Bf 109 subject
Easy · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · Easy · Glue and paint required
This compact E-4 represents an early-war Bf 109 from the period associated with the Battle of Britain. Its Easy rating suits a straightforward traditional aircraft project. This is the basic kit, so arrange your own paint, adhesive and tools.
Best for a compact Gustav build
Easy · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 41 parts · Easy
Airfix’s G-6 provides a later Bf 109 subject with a 41-part build and an Easy rating. It needs glued assembly and painted finishing. Check the marking guide and supplied fittings for the chosen aircraft, rather than applying E-series details to this Gustav.
Choosing a Messerschmitt scale
The range spans 1:72, 1:48, 1:32 and 1:24, plus an unscaled QUICKBUILD model. Both the aircraft type and the particular kit affect the result: a jet and a propeller fighter at the same ratio are different projects.
| Scale | Subject | What to consider | Catalogue examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:72 | Compact Bf 109 fighters and Me 262 jets | A practical collection scale. Compare the chosen kit’s assembly demands: the smaller size does not give every aircraft the same difficulty. | Airfix Bf 109 F-4 / Airfix Me 262 |
| 1:48 | Tamiya Bf 109 E-series fighters | A middle display scale with more room for cockpit and canopy work. Both available examples are Intermediate conventional plastic kits. | Tamiya E-3 / Tamiya E-4/7 Trop |
| 1:32 | Detailed Revell Bf 109 and Me 262 subjects | Both examples here are Expert. Check the exact version, available display space and the smaller cockpit, undercarriage and exterior fittings. | Revell G-10 Erla / Revell Me 262 U4 |
| 1:24 | Large Airfix Bf 109 G-5/6 | A substantial 405-part project with engine, cockpit and airframe options. Choose the G-5 or G-6 configuration before starting. | Airfix A17003 |
| Not stated | Pre-coloured QUICKBUILD Bf 109 | Airfix J6001 is unscaled. Choose it for the push-fit process and finished dimensions rather than matching it to a numbered-scale collection. | Airfix QUICKBUILD J6001 |
Challenging and Expert Messerschmitt kits
These larger kits suit builders ready for more detailed assembly and finishing. Airfix’s 1:24 G-5/6 is Challenging; Revell’s 1:32 G-10 Erla and Me 262 U4 are Expert. Plan the cockpit, engine or armament presentation and the display space before starting.
Best for a large detailed Gustav
Challenging · Plastic · 1:24
1:24 · 405 parts · Challenging
Airfix’s large G-5/6 includes detailed engine and cockpit assemblies, alternative cowlings and display choices. The G-5’s pressurised-cockpit details make the chosen version important. Its Challenging rating and substantial 1:24 size suit a modeller ready for a longer project.
Best for a detailed 1:32 Bf 109
Expert · Plastic · 1:32
1:32 · 147 parts · Expert
The G-10 Erla provides a late Bf 109 subject with detailed cockpit work and selectable undercarriage presentation. Revell lists 147 parts for this boxing. Its Expert rating rewards planned assembly and finishing; check the exact version’s instructions for the correct parts and markings.
Best for an unusual large-scale jet
Expert · Plastic · 1:32
1:32 · Experimental cannon-armed subject · Expert
Revell’s U4 depicts an experimental Me 262 installation with a prominent 50 mm cannon in the nose. It is a specialised subject rather than the standard A-1a fighter configuration. The larger plastic kit has an Expert construction rating and needs careful assembly and painting.
1:72 Messerschmitt model kits
Build a compact collection spanning Bf 109 propeller fighters and the Me 262 jet. Airfix’s F-4 and G-6 are Easy, while the Me 262 is Intermediate. The common scale helps display consistency, but the subjects and construction layouts still differ.
Best for a first glued Messerschmitt
Easy · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 30 parts · Basic supplies included
Airfix’s Easy-rated F-4 starter set includes paint, glue and a brush. Its 30-part aircraft introduces glued assembly and finishing in a compact scale. It represents the later, aerodynamically revised F series rather than the earlier E model.
Best for a compact Gustav build
Easy · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 41 parts · Easy
Airfix’s G-6 provides a later Bf 109 subject with a 41-part build and an Easy rating. It needs glued assembly and painted finishing. Check the marking guide and supplied fittings for the chosen aircraft, rather than applying E-series details to this Gustav.
Best for fighter and fighter-bomber options
Intermediate · Plastic · 1:72
1:72 · 65 parts · Two marking options
Airfix’s Intermediate-rated Me 262 includes 65 parts and options for A-1a and A-2a subjects. Decide on the aircraft and its supplied equipment before assembly. The two engine nacelles and tricycle undercarriage give it a different construction layout from a propeller-driven Bf 109.
How to choose a Messerschmitt kit
Choose the aircraft and version first. A Bf 109 is a single-engined propeller fighter; the Me 262 is a twin-engined jet. Within the Bf 109 family, E, F and G identify different developments, with changes to the airframe, engine installation and equipment. Trop indicates tropical equipment, while the Me 262 U4 is a specialised experimental cannon-armed subject. Match the exact kit’s parts and markings to the aircraft you want.
Then compare construction and size. Airfix’s F-4 starter set is Easy and includes basic finishing supplies. QUICKBUILD is First Build and needs neither glue nor paint. The Tamiya 1:48 kits are Intermediate; the larger Revell examples are Expert. Airfix’s 1:24 G-5/6 is Challenging. Read our rating guide, check the supplied contents and measure the display space before choosing.
Compare the recommended Messerschmitt kits
Each recommended kit, including the QUICKBUILD alternative in the scale guide, appears once below. Prices and Buy Now buttons use the same stored offer; unscaled models are marked accordingly.
| Model / brand | Subject | Scale | Difficulty | Price | Buy now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airfix A55014 Bf 109 F-4 Starter Set | Bf 109 F-4 | 1:72 | Easy | £11.95 | |
| Tamiya 61063 Bf 109 E-4/7 Trop | Bf 109 E-4/7 Trop | 1:48 | Intermediate | £22.99 | |
| Revell 03749 Me 262 A-1a/U4 | Me 262 A-1a/U4 | 1:32 | Expert | £41.79 | |
| Tamiya 61050 Bf 109 E-3 | Bf 109 E-3 | 1:48 | Intermediate | £18.90 | |
| Airfix A17003 Bf 109 G-5/6 | Bf 109 G-5/6 | 1:24 | Challenging | £92.39 | |
| Revell 04166 Me 262 A-1a | Me 262 A-1a | 1:72 | Challenging | £9.99 | |
| Airfix A03090A Me 262 A-1a/2a | Me 262 A-1a/2a | 1:72 | Intermediate | £14.99 | |
| Airfix A01008B Bf 109 E-4 | Bf 109 E-4 | 1:72 | Easy | £8.99 | |
| Airfix A02029B Bf 109 G-6 | Bf 109 G-6 | 1:72 | Easy | £11.80 | |
| Revell 03752 Bf 109 G-10 Erla | Bf 109 G-10 Erla | 1:32 | Expert | £28.79 | |
| Airfix QUICKBUILD J6001 Bf 109 | Bf 109 subject | Not stated | First Build | £14.49 |
Messerschmitt history and aircraft variants
Work on the Bf 109 began at Bayerische Flugzeugwerke in Augsburg in 1934, and the prototype first flew in 1935. The company became Messerschmitt AG in 1938, explaining why both Bf 109 and Me 109 appear in descriptions. The Messerschmitt Museum of Flight traces the development through the E, F, G and later K series.
The Me 262 was a separate aircraft design using two jet engines. Its first flight on jet power alone took place in July 1942; it entered service during the closing part of the Second World War. The RAF Museum’s aircraft history explains that transition to jet flight. Its engine nacelles and tricycle undercarriage give it a different outline and model-building layout from the Bf 109.
What do the different versions mean?
The letters and suffixes identify aircraft versions and equipment, rather than scale or model-kit difficulty. Check the supplied canopy, cowling, armament and markings for the exact subject; a shared Messerschmitt name does not make the parts interchangeable.
| Version | Aircraft family | What to look for | Catalogue examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-3 / E-4 / E-7 Trop | Bf 109 propeller fighter | Early-war E-series subjects. The Tamiya E-4/7 kit includes E-7 drop-tank parts and tropical sand-filter intakes; choose the parts that match the markings. | Tamiya E-3 / Tamiya E-4/7 Trop |
| F-4 | Bf 109 propeller fighter | The F family introduced aerodynamic refinements. Choose an F-specific boxing rather than treating it as an E-series repaint. | Airfix F-4 starter |
| G-5 / G-6 | Bf 109 propeller fighter | Later Gustav subjects. The G-5 had a pressurised cockpit; Airfix supplies configuration-specific parts in its combined 1:24 kit. | Airfix G-6 / Airfix G-5/6 |
| G-10 Erla | Bf 109 propeller fighter | A late-war G-series subject tied to the Erla production version. Follow the exact kit’s airframe and marking options. | Revell G-10 Erla |
| A-1a / A-2a | Me 262 jet | Fighter and fighter-bomber versions. Airfix’s combined boxing offers both subjects; choose the correct supplied equipment for the selected scheme. | Revell A-1a / Airfix A-1a/2a |
| A-1a/U4 | Me 262 jet | An experimental version carrying a prominent 50 mm cannon, with a different nose installation from the standard fighter. | Revell U4 |
Browse all Messerschmitt model kits
Browse the current Bf 109 and Me 262 range, including QUICKBUILD and the Mustang/Bf 109 Dogfight Double set. Filter by Bf 109 subject, 1:72 scale or Easy construction. Numbered pages appear as the selection grows.
Airfix Quickbuild J6001 Messerschmitt Bf 109
Airfix A03090A Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a/2a — 1:72 Model Kit
Revell 03749 Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a/U4 — 1:32 Model Kit
Revell 03752 Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-10 Erla – 1:32 Scale Model Kit
Revell 04166 Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a — 1:72 Model Kit
Messerschmitt model kit FAQs
Which Messerschmitt kit is suitable for a first build?
For conventional glued assembly, the Easy-rated Airfix A55014 F-4 starter set includes paint, glue and a brush. For pre-coloured construction without glue or paint, choose the First Build QUICKBUILD J6001 Bf 109. These use different assembly methods; neither the aircraft’s reputation nor its scale determines the build rating.
Are Bf 109 and Me 109 the same aircraft?
What does Trop mean on a Messerschmitt model?
Trop identifies tropical equipment. The Tamiya 61063 E-4/7 Trop includes sand-filter intakes and E-7 drop-tank parts. Follow the instructions for the supplied marking option rather than fitting every optional part to every aircraft.
How does the Me 262 differ from the Bf 109?
The Bf 109 is a single-engined propeller fighter, while the Me 262 is a separate twin-engined jet design. Compare the Bf 109 F-4 and Me 262 A-1a/2a kits for the different airframe, engine-nacelle and undercarriage layouts.
Is the Me 262 U4 a standard fighter version?
The Revell A-1a/U4 depicts an experimental installation with a prominent 50 mm cannon in the nose. It differs from the standard A-1a fighter and the A-2a fighter-bomber option. Choose the exact designation for the aircraft you want to build.
Should I choose 1:72, 1:48 or a larger Messerschmitt?
1:72 suits compact collections, while 1:48 gives a larger Bf 109 without the footprint of a 1:24 kit. Compare Airfix’s 1:72 F-4, Tamiya’s 1:48 E-4/7 and Airfix’s 1:24 G-5/6. Check the finished dimensions and construction rating; the two 1:32 Revell examples here are Expert.
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