ACADEMY 1:72 MESSERSCHMITT BF-109 G6
'INBOX Review'

 

Reviewer: Mark B  (SMAKR WEBMASTER)
A Fully built review of this kit exists on SMAKR, refer to the 1/72 Review Index

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

Aircraft:  The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is one of the most (in)famous aircraft of the Luftwaffe in the second world war and needs know specific introduction, as I am sure if you are modelling aircraft you will know about this particular aircraft design!

During the war the Bf-109 was continually upgraded and essentially concluded with the G (or "Gustav" as it was known by German pilots) base variant.  The Gustav was introduced in service in 1942 and was built in larger numbers than any other variant.  The G6 was essentially the definitive version of this range with better armament and much improved performance over previous versions.

Parts: Two plastic bags are provided, one with two sprues and the other with a single sprue containing propeller, hood, fuselage and tail section plus the clear sprue of three parts making up the canopy.  Decals and instructions are otherwise loose in the box.

Instructions:  A fold out sheet about the size of a typical Hasegawan one. A brief history provided on the front page, 11 assembly steps which are straight forward and easy to follow, a sprue diagram and markings for one aircraft.  A separate sheet is also included for separate aircraft markings.  The generic names of colours are provided and where possible this includes RLM codes.  The assembly steps are very easy to follow and not much ambiguity to worry about and includes a couple of small 'precision sketches' showing exact placement or angle for certain parts (eg: sidewall cockpit, sand filter, open canopy placement etc).  Four view diagrams are provided for each version the kit provides for and the instructions also point out what optional parts are for which version.

Versions:  Three examples are provided for in the kit, all wearing the standard RLM 76 (Light Blue) undersides with various applications of RLM 74 (Dark Gray) and RLM 75 (Gray Violet) camouflage schemes on the upperside.  Each version appears below including a brief description of camouflage scheme thus:
1) Bf-109G6/R6 Trop, 7/JG, flown by Uffz. Georg Amon, Sicily, June 1943 - splinter and mottled camouflage
2) Bf-109G6 Kdr.II./JG52, flown by Hptm. Gerhard Barkhorn - random "RAF spread" and mottled camouflage
3) Bf-109G6/Trop, 7/JG27, flown by Oblt. Emil Klade, Greece, Jan 1944 - splinter and mottled camouflage

Decals:  A medium sized decal sheet provides a very reasonable amount of stencilling plus various German 'roundels' for each version covered.  They have a semi gloss sheen and are in excellent register with clear unit badges.  Overall looks excellent, hopefully will be the same when applied to the aircraft.

Accuracy:  Dimensions are just slightly undersized by my reference but still very acceptable (bearing in mind it is taken from still being attached to the sprue). I am not the expert that many modellers appear to be on this fantastic WW2 fighter so others who are able to spot immediate discrepancies may wish to fill me in.  I am not satisfied that the canopy has been fully captured and is yet again another kit that fails to get this right.

Detail:  Panel lines are recessed and the surface detail is very good.  But it falls down in the wheel detail department with nothing provided, which was both disappointing and unusual for a new tooling effort from these guys. The cockpit is well fitted out with a cockpit floor containing foot rests/pedals molding, an instrument panel with raised console detail (and a decal if preferred), a basic bucket seat and control stick.  There is also some detail molded on the sidewalls and you attach a couple of circle components which I am not sure what they are.  The sand filter isn't simply just a tube duct sticking out from the fuselage, it even includes the filter workings to place inside. The tyres include tread detail but are not weighted.  The machine guns are well defined in the separate hoods.

Options:  The kit allows the cockpit to be displayed open, a moveable propeller and wheels up/down convenience.  Other optional parts are provided depending on the version you wish to build including the standard or Galland Hoods, sand filters on the nose and underwing/underfuselage gun pods, drop tanks or bombs.

Impressions:  The box top (just under the title - illegible in the boxart above) states that the kit has: Optional position of canopy & Landing Gear Door; Highly Detailed Cockpit Interior; and Fully engraved panel lines and rivet detail.  This was enough to get me very interested in purchasing the kit and there is no false advertising here - it really does look like a gem of a kit in the box.  Test fitting of the parts makes it appear that this will go together very well - perhaps give the box a good shake and it might fall out completed?

In terms of the kit breakdown, the fuselage halves are split vertically and contains a 'molded on' propeller shaft. The whole tail section just in front of where the fin starts in completely separated from the fuselage but unlike the Intech kit reviewed elsewhere, it does have locating tabs that indicate an easier join. The wings consist of a single underwing piece and two upper halves.  The kit is finely detailed and providing it does fit the mold in terms of being an accurate G6 variant depiction then this will be well worth the money spent on it! Highly recommended, in spite of the inaccurate but acceptable canopy set.

 

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Photo Credit: USAF Museum
Definitely a 'Gustav' and from my fairly reasonable knowledge of Bf-109's this does look like a G-6 example for your reference.