Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-14

Eduard ProfiPACK, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard's 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-14 is available online from Squadron.com

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-14 represented an attempt to create a standard type, incorporating many changes that had been introduced during production of the G-6, and which led to a plethora of variants, plaguing decentralized mass production.

The standardization attempt proved to be a failure - in fact there wwere more variations than ever - but overall the type offered improved combat performance, as MW 50 power boosting water injection (increasing output to 1,800 PS (1,775 hp, 1,324 kW), the clear-view Erla Haube was now standard installation.

Top speed was 568 km/h (353 mph) at sea level, and 665 km/h (413 mph) at 5 km (16,400 ft) altitude.

A high-altitude fighter, designated G-14/AS was also produced with the DB 605ASM high-altitude engine. The ASM engine was built with a larger capacity supercharger, and had a higher rated altitude, and correspondingly the top speed of the G-14/AS was 560 km/h (348 mph) at sea level, and 680 km/h (422 mph) at 7.5 km (24,600 ft) altitude.

There was increasing tendency to use plywood on some less vital parts e.g. on a taller tailfin/rudder unit, pilot seat or instrument panel. A cautious estimate based on the available records suggest that about 5,500 G-14s and G-14/AS were built.

The G-14 arrived in July 1944 at the invasion front over France.*

* adapted from Wikipedia

This is a reissue of Eduard's 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-14 released last year. Somehow I seem to have missed that release, so it is nice to finally have a chance to examine the kit now.

Eduard's Bf 109 G-14 ProfiPACK comprises 186 parts in grey plastic, 14 parts in clear, a coloured photo-etch fret, self-adhesive canopy masks and markings for five aircraft. More than 70 of the parts are marked “not for use”, and there are a few optional parts too, so the actual number of parts used is quite modest.

As far as I can tell, the plastic parts in this kit are identical to those in the re-tooled Bf 109 G-6 kit. This is a good thing!

For more detail on the differences between these re-tooled kits and the original releases from 2014, please see my comprehensive review of the Bf 109 G-6, Kit No. 82111.

This kit may be built as a standard Bf 109 G-14 with the DB 605AM engine with MW50 boost. The fuselage of this version looks essentially the same as the Bf 109 G-6.

The Bf 109 G-14/AS featured a totally different arrangement of nose and cowl panels (closer in appearance to the G-10), which is not covered in this release. However, with the Eduard 1/48 scale Bf 109 G-10 just around the corner, we can always hope that we will eventually see a dedicated Bf 109 G-6/AS and G-14/AS kit. This would be a first in 1/48 scale.

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Thumbnail panels:

In 2013, Eduard’s Spitfire family set a new benchmark for 1/48 scale surface detail, and this re-tooled G-14 kit is equally impressive in this regard. Panel lines are very crisp, fine and even. Lines of rivets are present, but they are incredibly subtle. The rivet lines seem to accurately follow the pattern applied to the full-sized aircraft too.

I was impressed to see that the small scoops on the nose are actually hollowed out - nice! Other raised surface features include the sealing strip between the mid-fuselage and the rear of the engine cowling.

The raised umbrella mounts are moulded under the port side of the cockpit. These should be sliced off for the G-14.

Fabric matches this high standard, with strip and stitching texture beautifully presented on the control surfaces. If you look closely enough, you will even see the zig-zag pinking edges on the fabric strips.

Eduard combines plastic and colour photo-etched parts in their ProfiPACK, delivering a very high level of detail straight from the box. The cockpit benefits most from the dedicated Bf 109 G-14 photo-etch with a nice multi-layered instrument panel, coloured harness straps and other coloured details. The colour detail looks even better on this 2018-production photo-etched fret than earlier releases.

The inclusion of the clear fuel line is a nice touch too. The inspection tube may be masked so that it remains clear after painting.

The standard steel pilot’s head armour, the armoured glass “Galland Panzer” and a third pilot's armour plate for the pressurised cockpit with small triangular windows are provided as options for the canopy. Another nice detail touch is the inclusion of handholds on the inside corners of the windscreen.

The wheel wells are nicely detailed and are correctly concave thanks to the bulges moulded to the top of the wings.

Eduard depicts the wheel well sidewalls with the zippered canvas covers at the rear. The fabric texture looks good, and the zipper is represented by a raised line.

The exhausts are supplied in one piece for each side. The centreline weld beads are present, and each of the stacks are hollowed out at the end.

Propeller blades look to be a good shape, with nice pitch collar and hub detail. Two other styles are included. These appear to be for the Bf 109 F and early G versions.

Engineering and Options

The kit is broken down conventionally. The fuselage is full-length with the only inserts being the gun cowl deck and the top of the tail, allowing either the standard or the tall fin to be fitted. The lower cowl is moulded as part of the fuselage sides.

The cowling gun bulges and the supercharger intake fit into precisely recessed areas on the nose.

The mount for the DF loop (on the fuselage spine behind the canopy) is moulded to the port fuselage half. This is relevant to all five marking options.

The wings have been designed with the wheel bulges moulded in place, and correctly angled away from the chord (see reference photo below). The wing tips are moulded as part of the upper wing halves with solid navigation lights and the pitot tube moulded in place. Lower fuselage ejector chutes are moulded open on the bottom wing.

All control surfaces are separate, including leading edge slats, ailerons, flaps, elevators and rudder. The ramps at the leading edges of the radiator housings and the cooling flap at the back of the oil cooler are moulded shut. All the radiator faces are supplied as photo-etched parts.

Many options are offered on the sprues. Some of these relate to earlier and later Bf 109 G or F versions and do not apply, but others – even though they are marked “not for use” – might come in handy for the enterprising modeller.

Everything you need to build a standard Bf 109 G-14 is also included in the box. The tall tail and rudder, the small compressor bump under the starboard side gun bulge, Erla canopy, long tail wheel strut and the rear canopy bulkhead with the battery box housing are all there.

Check your references to see which of these features is present on your preferred subject – many different combinations are possible.

Other options include an ETC rack and two styles of 300 litre drop tank and various antennae.

The alternative propeller blades, oil cooler housing and wheels are for earlier versions.

Markings

Markings are supplied for five Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-14s:

• Bf 109G-14/U4, flown by Hptm. E. Hartmann, 4./ JG 52, Csór, Hungary, October 1944

• Bf 109G-14/U4, W. Nr. 512382, flown by Lt. H. Schlick, 4./ JG 77, Schönwalde, Germany, November 1944

• Bf 109G-14, W. Nr. 464380, flown by Magg. M. Bellagambi, CO of 5a Squadriglia, 2o Gruppo Caccia, Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, Osoppo, Italy, March 1945

• Bf109G-14, flown by Oblt. R. Schlegel, CO of 10./ JG 4, Jüterbog – Damm, Germany, March 1945

• Bf 109G-14, W. Nr. 464534, EJG 2, Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, May 1945

The two decal sheets are perfectly printed in the Czech Republic. One sheet carries he national markings and unique numbers, chevrons, Gruppe markings, unit insignia and kill markings; while the other has a wide selection of generic stencil markings that will be suitable for mid-war to late-war subjects.

Printing, colours and registration is perfect on my sample.

Eduard's 1/48 scale Messerchmitt Bf 109 G-14 is a logical addition to their re-tooled Gustav family. This is another great kit that adds five attractive new marking options specific for this version.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2018 by Brett Green
Page Created 9 July, 2018
Last updated 10 July, 2018

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