MPM 1:72 MESSERSCHMITT ME 109G-12

 

Reviewer: Richard Stracey  (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted:  May 2001

Aircraft:
 The 109 G-12 was a two seat conversion of the 109 G-2,G-4 or G-6.The students position was exactly as he was to experience later in a 109 fighter. The instructor sat behind him and had full controls and instruments. G-12’s nearly always carried a 300ltr. drop tank as a result of the loss of the main fuel tank to the instructor's position resulting in a reduction in fuel capacity from 400l. to 240l. In every other respect the G-12 was standard with a span of 9.92m. and a length of 9.02m.

The Kit & Instructions:
 MPM 72031 - 1/72 Me-109G-12
We modelers have a great deal to thank MPM for: Ju. 87 A, Spitfire PR X1X, Me 262 A-2a / U2, Mitsubishi J8 M1 and many more. As with most MPM kits this is a limited run, injection molded kit with vacform canopy and photoetch parts. As such it needs care removing the parts from the sprue and every part needs tidying up…..no big deal. All mating surfaces require a light sanding to achieve a good fit. This is easy as there are no locating pins to get in the way. The photoetch / photo negative dashboards are works of art as are the seatbelts and although I used all the other cockpit items, really, they can’t be seen. The MPM instruction sheet is, as usual, very good as is the box art.

Construction:
 If you have prepared the parts properly, assembly is no problem and no filler is required  but pins are needed for the fin and horizontal tail surfaces. There is a strange error that I have never come across before. I can only presume that whoever made the mould for the canopy had his mind on other things because it is too long, infact it has one extra set of “windows” . It is no problem to remove the offending 4 mm. and anyway, if you were going to have the canopy open, much of the cutting would have to be done. The only addition needed is a pitot tube on the starboard wingtip although there seems to be a small whip ariel on the belly, just aft of the wing.

Versions & Decals:
The decals, by Propagteam, are first rate with the usual problem of transferring them from the backing paper to the model. The swastika comes in two halves and needs trimming right back at each mating surface so that the halves match up .The stencil detail is very comprehensive and most can actually be read! The decal option is for “black 514” or “yellow 242” both RLM 75 grey violet & RLM 82 dark green over RLM 76 light grey with mottle sides & RLM 04 yellow nose.

Overall:
Scale Aircraft Modelling of Jan ’99 has a review of the 1/72 Inetch G-12 (A review of the Intech G-14 can be found on this site - Ed) and 1/48 Falcon vacform & Feb. ’96 has plans for early G’s on which  the G-12 is based. MPM also make a 109 T (Naval) (72066), 109 V1 (Prototype) (72029) & 109 H (High altitude) (72069), so this goes a long way towards a collection of 109’s. I can recommend them all.


© Richard Stracey 2001

 

Note: the following related reviews links have not been updated since early 2000's - more kit reviews of this aircraft may now be on SMAKR, not reflected below.  Refer to the Index for other kits of this type.

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