HASEGAWA 1:72 MESSERSCHMITT BF 109G-6

 

Reviewer: Richard Stracey  (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted:  2 April 2003  (#67)

Kit Details:

MESSERSCHMITT  Me 109G6 -- HASAGAWA  #JS108 / A10  1/72

Aircraft History:

Developed from the very similar 109F, the G was powered by a Daimler Benz DB605 fuel injected engine and was armed with a 20mm engine mounted cannon and two fuselage mounted machine guns. Additional guns could be fitted below the wings along with a centre mounted drop tank.

The Kit:

This Hasagawa kit is dated 1987, however I think that it may pre date this. Consisting of thirty five crisp, flash free parts in grey plastic which includes a pilot, underwing guns and drop tank, this kit looks up to modern standards. The instructions are fine. Shock, Horror! The politically incorrect box art not only shows a swastika but also a burning Russian I-16 that Hauptmann Carcanico has just, unsportingly, shot down!

Construction:

The interior, although simple is adequate as not much can be seen through the heavily framed standard canopy. The dashboard is represented by a decal and all that I added were seatbelts. No much can be said concerning the construction as it is all very simple and as has come to be expected from Hasagawa, it is nearly a matter of “shaking the box”. I used just a smear of filler on the lower fuselage / wing joint. There was a confusing extra instruction sheet concerning the propeller assembly. I disregarded it and left the unit till all painting was completed. I found that the easiest way of fitting it was to slip the backing plate and propeller over the shaft and “rivet” them in place using the old “hot screwdriver” method before adding the spinner. Works well!

Decals:

The two decal options are for a G5 of JG5 and a G6 of JG27, look fine and do include swastikas. I am not sure about the drop tank and or mounting (G2-6) but it looks like the underwing cannons go with Wien’s G6 as does the tropical filter (G1-17) and both require the gun bulges (G2-7&8)

The colour guide provides reference numbers for which I have no idea as to the meaning unless Hasagawa have their own range of paints available only in Japan. Basically, the G5 is in standard RLM 70 / 71 over 65 and the G6 in RLM 74 / 75 over 76 that can be a problem as seen later.

As it was I did neither. I chose this kit from a modest pile of Gs as it best matched the aircraft that I wished to portray.

         On 27th.August 1944 after Rumania decided to change sides to the Allied cause POW Lt.Col. James A Gunn was given a lift from Bucharest to the US 15th. Air Force HQ at Foggia, Italy by Capt. Constantine Cantacuzino. The radio was removed to accommodate Gunn and the 109G6 decorated with large American flags on the fuselage sides and four pre war style stars on the wings. No one seemed to realise that a 109 had not only flown over Allied held territory but actually landed at a US bomber base without anyone noticing! The message was delivered and soon relief was being sent to the hungry allied prisoners in Rumania and transport provided to evacuate them to safety in Italy.


© Richard Stracey 2003

I had read accounts of this trip before but became interested in modelling the subject when Blue Rider produced a decal sheet BR303 (1995) “based on an article in Plastic Kit Constructor magazine of August 1989” that I haven’t seen. Fortunately, before I could start, I came across Propagteam decal sheet # 72037 for the same aircraft, on the same day. Something was wrong, as there wasn’t a single image on either sheet that matched! It didn’t take long to find out what was what as I was sent a Photostat (from an Airfix magazine?) of an article by Chris Etzel and G Knox Bishop that included some very useful photos. If you have the Blue Rider sheet, ask for your money back! There isn’t a single useable item on the sheet! The Propagteam sheet is nearly perfect even down to the extra stripe on one of the flags! Nearly, but not quite as the stars should be the same size but it is no problem to replace the two smaller, lower ones. The article claims that the aircraft was either a G6 or G14. As I have been reliably informed that the Rumanian’s didn’t have G14’s lets call it a G6. It also recommends red for the fuselage band and rudder top but it can’t be as the tone isn’t the same as the known red of the flag stripes. I put my money on RLM 25 Green. The only RLM 25 available to me is Testors WP5202 and that is suspect as is their RLM 23 Red (WP2732). I gather that it should be about FS 24115 or FS 24108, anyway I used Humbrol # 3 Emerald Green! It is obvious from the photos that there is a spiral on the spinner that I suspect to be yellow on black or black green. The general camouflage I, after talking to others who know more about the subject than I, decided on RLM 74 / 75 over RLM 76. RLM 76 is fine using Humbrol 175 / HG3, Testors 2086 / WP 7272 or Agama N3M.  The problem lies with RLM 74 Humbrol 27 / 32 / HG4, Testors 2084 / WP 9872 or Agama N4M and RLM 75 Humbrol HG11, Testors 2085 / WP 9582 or Agama N11M. It didn’t matter what combination that I tried. Unless under very strong sun light, I couldn’t see the difference between the colours! In the end I used a bit of “ artistic licence” but was satisfied with the result after adding some very heavy exhaust staining as per the photos. Other than adding an ariel under the left wing the only remaining problem was the Erla – Haube or Galland canopy. Blue Rider got that wrong too, claiming that the canopy had been removed. Although I had suitable vac form and plastic canopies they were all too wide for the Hasagawa kit. In the end I cut the windscreen away and glued it in place. I then sanded all the frame lines off the canopy, polished it back and painted on the Erla – Haube frames and glued it in place. Easy!


A copy of the decals used and discussed

Conclusion:

This Hasagawa kit proved to be simple and suitable for anyone to produce a satisfactory model from and thanks to Propagteam, an unusual and historically interesting variant.

Reference notes:

Much has been written about 109’s but, as usual, Profile # 113 is interesting and plans are available in Scale Aircraft Modelling of  Feb. and August ’96 and Scale Models International of August ’90 has plans and photos.

                                                                                                                                                                               RHS/67

 

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