ITALERI 1:72 MESSERSCHMITT BF-109G-6
'INBOX Review'

 

Reviewer: Dave McDougall  (CrustyOldSeadog@aol.com)

Kit: Italeri 1/72nd scale Messerschmitt Bf-109G-6 (kit #063)

Parts:  47 medium grey injection molded parts on two sprues. One sprue with a three-piece cockpit molded in transparent plastic. All lying loose in the box. I’m please to see that there’s absolutely no flash anywhere on any of the parts.

Instructions: Five page, A5 size. Contents – Two sides have information on the aircraft in about a dozen languages and a sprue diagram. The next four sides comprise an eight step construction diagram. The last four sides give paint and decal instructions. Each colour callout is given as an FS number, Model Master paint number and a generic paint name (e.g. Flat Black).

Versions: You are given a choice of four paint schemes. These are: -

·        German airforce; 7/JG27, Greece, 1944

·        German airforce; Jagdfliegerschule Pilsen, 1945

·        Finnish airforce; Hlelv 31, 1948

·        Swiss airforce; 1944

Decals: Printed by a company called Zanchetti in Italy. They look good being crisply printed even down to the smallest stencilling marks.

Accuracy: Bf109s are not exactly my strong point so I’ll just say that it looks like a 109 to me. I didn’t spot anything drastically wrong but I can’t say whether or not there are any minor errors.

Detail: Excellent. For the cockpit you get the usual chair plus flightstick and pedals plus detailing molded onto each half of the cockpit fuselage. A nicely detialed instruments display is supplied for you to paint up. Panel lines are finely engraved and everything is crisply molded. The lower wings also have sidewalls to the wheel wells and a nice bit of interior detail is molded onto the inside of the corresponding upper wings. The detailing is superb throughout and even extends to tread marks on the tires! However one annoyance is the propeller; the blades of which are supplied as separate pieces and will no doubt be a pain to attach in the correct positions.

Options: Two underwing gun mounts or a small bomb can be fitted. You’ll need to drill holes for these, but the positions are clearly indicated.

Impressions: A superb looking kit. The detailing and quality of the molding is fantastic. Indeed I have no hesitation in saying that it surpasses Hasagawa and is easily the equal of Tamiya’s new 1/72nd scale releases. The fact that you get a choice of four paint schemes (of which two are unusual) just adds the icing to the cake. Finally, add the fact that this kit is amazingly cheap. In fact, it was the cheapest Bf109 I could find – I bought it from Hannants for only £2.99! The best value for money kit I’ve seen for a long time.

Other Comments: Well, everyone has surely heard of the Messerschmitt Bf109??

 

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