Externally visible differences between Bf 109E-3 and E-7?

[Dénes Bernád]

The whole story started with the cover of a model kit's box:


I argued that based on ARR documents I have copies of, No. 64 was not an E-3 (despite the appearance), but rather an E-7.

Somebody else argued that since it has the early type cockpit canopy, truncated spinner and no underbelly rack, it's an E-3.

I replied that these don't have any significance when identifying the proper sub-type, as there were older models (like the E-3) refurbished/upgraded to E-7 standards, even with the early type cockpit canopy and truncated spinner.

The other guy - a modeller - keeps insisting that to him it's an E-3, not an E-7, which must have newer style squared canopy and full spinner.

So I offered him a compromise solution: it's an E-7, which looks like and E-3. He did not accept it, either...

Here is a rather indifferent quality reproduction of the famous colour photo of the same airplane (bottom) , also featured on the rear cover of my book on the Rumanian air force, published by Squadron/Signal (photo by S. Tulea):