Academy 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6

ACADEMY 1:72 MESSERSCHMITT BF-109G-6

Reviewer: Mark B (SMAKR Webmaster) (smakr1@optusnet.com.au)
Kit Built + Review Submitted: February 2009

Kit Details:

Academy No. 1670 - 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf-109 G6

Aircraft History:

Destined to become numerically (with more than 30,000 produced) the most important of all models of the Bf 109 fighter, the Bf 109G was evolved to use a more powerful Daimler Benz engine and to make provision for pressurisation in the cockpit. A pre-series batch of Bf 109G-0 fighters occurred in late 1941 and the series Bf 109G-1 appearing in spring 1942. The nickname for the Bf 109G series of aircraft was "Gustav" as they became known.

Through the different series of aircraft various improvements were made to the G model, including removal of pressurised cabins in G2, wider mainwheel tyres, radios, photo-recce equipment (G4), trop fitted variants and bigger guns (G1 Trop) which then subsequently were standardised in later models, and finally higher rated engines and super chargers up to the G5 variant.

The Bf 109G6 was the first "standard" model capable of accepting different field conversion sets (or as we know with today's jets, different ordnance under the wings) and was also enhanced with engine modifications. Underwing stores options included 250 kg bomb (Bf 109G-6/R1 variant), pair of 21cm mortars (G-6/R2), additional 30mm underwing cannons (G-6/R4) ore these replaced by 20 mm MG-151s (G-6/R6). A Bf 109G-6/N variant was equipped for nightfighting duties while the Bf 109G-8 was basically a reconnaissance version of the G-6.

The Kit:

The box contains two cellophane type bags housing three light grey spures and a clear sprue. The two main sprues together make up common components for most of Gustav's and the separate sprue containing the fuselage hood and tail section which are more unique to the G6. Engraved panel lines are on the parts and they ooze crisp quality with virtually no flash. There are just under 60 parts in the kit including the 3 clear parts for the canopy.

Instructions:

These are in a fold out format providing all the necessary information to put the kit together. This includes a sprue diagram, brief aircraft overview, eleven exploded view assembly steps and markings for the three aircraft, two of which are on a separate sheet. Generic names of colours are used throughout but some RLM quotes are also provided for the external schemes. Small sketches are included to aid in positioning for some areas and overall the format is quite easy to follow.

Construction:

The fitout of the cockpit is a little disappointing but not much is going to be seen with a closed canopy later. A bucket seat and control stick are affixed to a floor which has a central box console and triangle rudder pedals molded onto it. The instrument panel has generic dial info on it which is affixed against the dashboard, and the fuselage halves have small detail molded on the sidewalls along with the wheels. Painting was done with RLM 66 (Humbrol 32 as I had run out of 92).

Everything fits snugly inside the fuselage halves which are affixed together without any problems at all. The separate hood, oil filter and tailfin unit are all affixed onto the fuselage. At the same time I put together the main wings, which are made up of the standard upper halves onto one lower wing piece. Holes need to be drilled out to hold the wing mounted cannons and centre line fuselage tank, which are all adequately shown in the instructions.

While everything goes together quite nicely, this is one of the few newer tooling type kits that I have had to set up a jig for correct drying position of tailplanes. The main wing to fuselage assembly fits nicely but initially was at the wrong angle and a small step at the fuselage join needed to be sanded down. But otherwise the tube of filler was still firmly out of sight.

Normally kits of this subject go together very very fast, and while the construction process was a breeze, the engineering and a bit extra detail slowed things down a little. A lot of Bf 109 kits have a parts count of around 30 whereas this kit has double that amount, but I stress that is in favour of detail and the modeller! Some of these include the hooded exhaust stack and blister packs on the forward fuselage, with two options for the starboard side.

The propeller assembly was one of the easiest I have done for a long time. The kit has a shaft molded integrally with the fuselage and the idea is you slide on (ie: not cement) the backing plate and propeller onto this shaft, then you glue the "stopper" to the front of the shaft. Push it back far enough so that it keeps the propeller and backing plate firm but still easy to move - then glue the spinner to the backing plate, trapping the propeller in between. It can take a lot of punishment from spinning fingers!

The wheel bays are devoid of detail and are not even boxed in. Even though I am a wheels up modeller, the retractable undercarriage will have half the wheel visible in the underwing, which means painting the underside of the upper wings RLM 66. The gear doors fit very nicely, but sadly, the wheels, which have nice tread pattern on them and nice hub detail, are too thick to slide or glue under the gear doors. Annoyingly Academy have forgotten about wheels up modellers and not supplied "half wheels" to put in these wells. Your options are to file the interior side of the wheel to a thickness to fit into the well, cut the wheel in half so it fits in the exposed section of the wheel bay (which is not easy because the shape of the bay is not squared off if you know what I mean) or of course a combination of both. I got out the file and really rubbed the wheel down but even after a couple of sessions was not able to get anywhere near a thickness to fit under the door, so I cut the wheel in half and put it in the exposed part of the wheel well (actually about a third of the wheel should exposed - best method is to do a dry run first). Since this meant it didn't quite match the shape of the gear door, I also had to very delicately put in a little bit of filler to cover the gap, wipe away all and any excess with damp cloth and then paint it up so it passed off as being part of a wheel. Not overly fantastic but convincing enough for a cursory glance.

The canopy section is split into three parts, presumably allowing the middle part to be hinged open but nothing in the instructions provide advice for this. There is also an armour plate headrest which goes at the back of the main canopy. I hate glueing canopies because of the risk of botching it up, so the armour plate was only glued at the bottom, where it fits into the groove of the canopy. Of course you need your wits about you to make sure you place the canopy parts in the right order, and orientated the right way! I found working from the back the easiest, and everything fitted beautifully.

All that was left to do now was to add the various antennae and pitot probes above and under the wing etc and also the underwing cannon packs. Test fit these first, they do fit very nicely, but the packs are left and right made, so they only really fit on one wing. The drop tank was added underneath to conclude construction and here you still get an option of the earlier or later ribbed style.

Colour Schemes:

There are three options to depict, all of which are standard RLM 74/75/76, although the upper side schemes differ in slight variations of camouflage application. They are a Bf-109G6/R6 Trop, 7/JG, flown by Uffz. Georg Amon, Sicily, June 1943; Bf-109G6 Kdr.II./JG52, flown by Hptm. Gerhard Barkhorn and Bf-109G6/Trop, 7/JG27, flown by Oblt. Emil Klade, Greece, Jan 1944.

Decals:

The decal sheet comes in its own small cellophane pack, is well printed and contains enough stencilling and other bits and pieces to keep the regulars happy. The white decals can be seen against the pale blue backing sheet and the unit badges are clear, and also a couple of different Luftwaffe cross types are provided, depending on the colour scheme you want to replicate. Annoyingly though, there are no swastikas, so these had to be sourced from the spares bin.

The decal sheet looked good and I had no problems with them on the model, they were excellent. If there is any real criticism about the decals it is that the white decals are too thin meaning the mottle can easily be seen bleeding through, so it might pay to add some mottling around the decals, after they are applied. I sourced a swastika with white edging from my spares.

Accuracy:

A highly acceptable and convincing replica, with dimensions almost spot on to the tee. The tailplanes are wrongly shaped (they squared off at the ends too much) and so is the main canopy (which appears impossible to get right in this scale) and you could be picky about the underwing intakes and radiator cooler but overall, it stacks up extremely well.

Overall Recommendation:

This kit went together like a breeze and is for this scale and mainstream, quite well detailed. Add to it that it is quite an accurate replica and not hugely priced and you really can't see why you would look at the likes of Frog and Airfix molds. I also prefer this kit to the Italeri. Highly recommended.

web hosting • domain names
web design • online games