Yugoslav G-6s

Delta One, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

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Like their earlier 'American G-6s' release, Delta One's 'Yugoslav G-6s' focuses on Bf 109 use by non-Axis forces. Yugoslav partisans captured a number of Bf 109 Gs during the final months of fighting in 1945 – the total number varies according to source, but was likely fewer than 20. Wherever possible these were repaired and pressed into service alongside a miscellany of other aircraft. After the war, survivors were joined by a further 50-60 ex-Bulgarian Gustavs and the type remained on charge until 1953-54, making Yugoslavia – along with Spain – one of the last Bf 109 users in the world.

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Most Yugoslavian Bf 109s were G-6s, and the six presented here by Delta One highlight the variety of schemes worn by these machines across their service. These range from colourful ex-Luftwaffe finishes to more dour communist-era examples, as follows:

1. Bf 109 G-6, 'White 3', Liaison Squadron, Supreme Headquarters of the Yugoslav

Peoples' Liberation Army (YPLA), Zemun 1945. This ex-13/SG 151 Gustav was camouflaged in RLM 75 Grey Violet over RLM 76 Light Blue, with a red spinner and red, white and blue Yugoslav insignia in eight locations.

2. Bf 109 G-6, 'White 15', Liaison Squadron, YPLA, Zemun 1945.

Another Liaison Squadron Gustav, 'White 15' wore standard Luftwaffe RLM 74 Grey Green/RLM 75/RLM 76 camouflage with Yugoslav insignia applied on overpainted German crosses. The latter aren't supplied as decals so will need to be carefully masked and painted in light grey before you apply the Yugoslavian markings.

3. Bf 109 G-6, 9622/'White 22', 83rd Fighter Regiment, Cerklje, 1951.

By the early 1950s most Yugoslav Gustavs were more plainly camouflaged in Medium Grey over Light Blue. 'White 22' is an ex-Bulgarian Bf 109 that, like the remaining subjects on the sheet, carried no national markings on the upper wing surfaces.

4. Bf 109 G-6, 9655/'White 55', 83rd Fighter Regiment, Pula 1952.

'White 55' was a hybrid machine constructed from G-10 wings (with large wheel bulges) and a G-6 fuselage with late-style fin and rudder. The Medium Grey upper surfaces were further camouflaged with brown blotches; Delta One suggests two possible colour combinations for the spiral-painted spinner.

5. UMe-109, 9942/'White 42', 172nd Fighter Regiment, Zemunik 1952.

This and the following Gustav are described in the instructions as 'upgraded G-12 two-seaters with late (Erla or "Galland" haube) rear canopies and without armament". Both were camouflaged in Medium Grey over Light Blue. So far as I'm aware no mainstream kit producer has released an injection-moulded Bf 109 G-12, so if you want to do this or the next aircraft you'll need to use one of the several conversion sets that has been released over the years.

6. UMe-109, 9945/'White 45', 172nd Fighter Regiment, Zemunik, 1952.

The decals are printed on a single sheet with red, white and blue rudder stripes and individual aircraft numbers on the top half and five versions of national insignia on the bottom. Print quality is generally very good:  I noticed small areas of colour bleeding on two national insignia, but demarcations are otherwise crisp and well defined. To my eye the white decal film looks slightly translucent, but this could be a trick of the light so perhaps test a decal you won't be using to confirm this one way or the other.

The instructions are excellent. They are printed as a 10 page loose-leaf booklet and begin with a brief history of the Bf 109 G-6 and UMe-109 in Yugoslav service, before going on to describe and illustrate the featured aircraft. The illustrations include an overhead plan and port and starboard profiles of each aircraft, with a scrap drawing of the lower port wing showing the correct insignia location. Decals are clearly indicated by number while paints are identified by coloured swatch.

The instructions conclude with a short but welcome list of references for anyone interested in doing further research.

This is another interesting decal release from Delta One. Its focus on Bf 109s in unusual livery will appeal to many modellers, and the subject choice is backed up with high quality decals and instructions.

Highly recommended.

Text and Images Copyright © 2016 by Brad Fallen
This Page Created on 20 July, 2016
Last updated 20 July, 2016

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