Dragon Aircraft - Bf110-D1/R1 Dackelbauch - D5556

The Messerschmitt Bf 110 was the Luftwaffe's principal heavy "Zerstörer" fighter of the early war years, and the D-1/R1 sub-variant was developed specifically to extend its combat radius. Fitted beneath the fuselage with an enormous drop-shaped auxiliary fuel tank, the aircraft earned the nickname "Dackelbauch" ("dachshund belly") from its crews, and this extra fuel let D-1/R1s fly extended-range escort and anti-shipping sorties over Norway and the North Sea, including missions in support of the raids on Scapa Flow, during the spring and summer of 1940.

Dragon's 1/48 rendition captures the ungainly, distinctive silhouette created by that oversized ventral tank, moulded as accurately shaped components using Dragon's slide-mould technology to avoid the heavy seam lines that plagued earlier tooling of this shape. Engraved panel lines, delicate radiator intakes and a detailed twin Daimler-Benz DB 601 powerplant carry through the crisp surface detail Dragon aircraft kits are known for.

The kit includes a detailed cockpit and gunner's position, positionable canopy sections, and a decal sheet covering authentic Luftwaffe unit markings for the type.

A distinctive and lesser-kitted variant of the already-popular Bf 110 family, this release will appeal to Luftwaffe modellers looking to add an unusual long-range Zerstörer to their 1/48 collection.