bf109 e3 versus e4 differences?

ok Jack! thanks for the help!

best,

william

Deliveries of the E-3 began in the early fall of 1939 and, although designed to carry the cannon in it's nose/engine, only a few of the intial production aircraft had it installed.  Constant jamming made it useless so they were removed.  
Use the open ended spinner for the E-3.  The spinner cap was introduced with the E-7 model (according to Squadron publication no. 44)

regards,
Jack

This site has lots of good info on most things related to the 109

http://109lair.hobbyvista.com/index1024.htm

awesome answers guys! thank you, just one more thing, im confused if the e3 had a spinner mounted cannon? or should the spinner be the one shaped like a cone with no cannon hole/ barrel?

thanks!

william

ps, i posted in aircraft and decals regarding finding hard to find decals for a p-47 named Natalie Ann II.

if anyone knows where to find please help me!

Yes, really just need the E-3 type canopy.  The gun change was internal -  modification of the recoil mechanism to fire the newly designed explosive shell.  Most E-4's appear to have kept the opened nose spinner (so can keep the kit's provided item), but your particular decals should have the profile indicating specifically which shape.  Experiences in France brought the need for improved pilot armour and this would be retrofitted to all E-3 units in time for BoB.

regards,

Jack

So pretty much stick a E-3 canopy on it and call it done right? And I do believe the changes in the MG FF cannons were internal.

Sprue-ce Goose

Per Marco Fernández-Sommerau's

Messerschmitt Bf-109 Recognition manual

The major difference between the E-3 and E-4 was the canopy , of course, and  50 KG of armor plate and the installation of the improved MG FF "M" cannon.

Re: Engine differences in either variant:

If an aircraft is categorized as either an E-3 / N or E-4 / N then it used the DB 601 N engine.

No mention was made of any visible differences between the DB-601 or DB-601N aircraft.

The author notes that the E-4 / B ( fighter-bomber ) may have been fitted with the DB-601 N engine.

The author also mentions that many earlier E-1 thru E-3 models were upgraded to E-4s during overhauls but would retain the original werknummer.

Hope that helps.

Per Marco Fernández-Sommerau's

Messerschmitt Bf-109 Recognition manual

The major difference between the E-3 and E-4 was the canopy , of course, and  50 KG of armor plate and the installation of the improved MG FF "M" cannon.

Re: Engine differences in either variant:

If an aircraft is categorized as either an E-3 / N or E-4 / N then it used the DB 601 N engine.

No mention was made of any visible differences between the DB-601 or DB-601N aircraft.

The author notes that the E-4 / B ( fighter-bomber ) may have been fitted with the DB-601 N engine.

The author also mentions that many earlier E-1 thru E-3 models were upgraded to E-4s during overhauls but would retain the original werknummer.

Hope that helps.

externally not much difference but I think there might have been an engine upgrade.