Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6

by Anthony Manzoli

The Messerschmitt Bf 109G-5 and G-6 were produced in parallel and were pressurized and non pressurized versions respectively. Of the two, the G-6 was the most widely produced and remained in the first line service until the end of the war. 

The only external differences between the Bf 109G-5 and the Bf 109G-6 were the small fresh air intakes found on either side of the wind screen, the dessicant capsules embedded in the canopy and the extra bulge on the cowling that covered the pressurisation gear of the non pressurized G-6. 

More than 10,000 Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 aircraft were produced during the war, making it the most widely produced of all Bf 109 variants. 

Due to the many different versions of the Bf109G, there was much confusion during production. A special Fighter Production Committee was formed to deal with the bottlenecks that plagued it's production. The Bf 109G-14 followed the the G-6 in production and was the first result of the Fighter Committee's initial attempt to rationalize the many variants of the 109G, inhibiting maximum production. The G-14 was standardized with the larger, taller wooden fin and rudder, the Erla Haube canopy and the DB605A engine. The vast majority of the G-14's produced had the drop tank rack and were designated the Bf109G14/R-3. Some received the DB605AM engine and (with MW50), and the Galland -type cockpit canopy.

This is Hobbycraft's kit. The detail in the kit is satisfactory and the fit is pretty good. The kit offers variations, such as a tropical G-6 with air filter or you can choose from the 20 mm under wing cannons or the rocket launchers. 

The kit is basically "out of the box" for the exception of the underwing guns, which were made from drawing up needles. 

I chose to paint my plane in Hermann Graf's colorful 109 G-6 of JG. 50. Graf's Bf 109G-6 featured an interesting camouflage pattern on the wings, it had a Christmas tree splinter pattern. I achieved this by cutting out stencils from post-it note. I then proceeded to do the mottling with my airbrush set on the fine setting with RLM 74 and RLM 75. The cowling was painted RLM 04 yellow and the rudder flat white.  The instructions called for the entire tail being painted white, but from the reference photo I was using only the rudder was white.  Once finished with the overall paint scheme, I carefully ran a sharpened pencil down all of the panel lines. This is a clean method of detailing the panel lines, without the worry of using thinners and possibly ruining the paint job you just finished. For the finish I applied two coats of "Shine Magic" which is Australia's version of "Future". This allowed a smooth surface for the decals.

All the decals went on smoothly except for the tulip on the nose. Unfortunately, even with the use of setting solution, it still had some trouble completely relaxing around some of the raised details. The tulip does provide an overall great effect and really makes the model. Once all the decals were applied, I gave it another coat of the Shine Magic, and allowed it to dry over night. 

Finally the matte coat which was a combination of Magic Shine and Tamiya Flat Base with an 8:1 mixture. I borrowed a piece of hair from my fiancé and glued it in place, adding a couple of drops of super glue for the insulators and the kit was finished. 

Not a bad looking plane. It was my first Bf 109 in 1/48 scale.

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2001 by Anthony Manzoli
Page Created 05 January, 2001
Last Updated 26 July, 2007

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