Bf 109 G-6
ProfiPACK

Eduard,1/72 scale

Reviewed by Graham Carter

Eduard began their love affair with Willy Messerschmitt’s masterful 109 series back in 2021 with the E-series, then the Fs last year and now the G variants earlier this year. Including the Weekend , Profipack, Royal, Overtrees and Aero S-99/199 kits twenty six different releases have been produced to thrill the Luftwaffe fan in the ‘One True Scale’ with the K variant being available later this year - an embarrassment of riches! 

The first two G kits appeared a bit earlier in 2024 and were in Dual Combo kits of one each of the G5 and G6 in Gustav Part 1 and a G-6 and G-14 in Gustav Part 2, neither of which I have seen but apparently there are some differences with the latest kit I have to review here. This I believe is the first single kit of the G6 version in the familiar large, strong top-opening box with an excellent illustration on the lid showing a JG 50 Gruppe led by Major Hermann Graf in a red tulip-nosed aircraft attacking B-17s over Europe in September 1943, one of the six decal choices. 

Inside we find the familiar clear resealable sleeve containing two large mid-grey sprues, a smaller one with the detail parts specific to the G6 airframes, a clear sprue of a variety of transparencies, two PE frets, a set of masks for wheels and canopy, a square 130mm main decal sheet and a 130x60mm sheet of stencils, and a 20-page A4 colour instruction booklet.

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Thumbnail panels:

The parts are just wonderful with exceptional surface detail, beautiful interior to the cockpit and undercarriage bays. As usual, Eduard makes the best use of their moulds and a number of parts are destined for other variants, in this case the parts map on page two indicates that 74 (!) parts will go into the spares box.

I would suggest a careful search of the copious instruction and the removal of any parts you will not be using to save later confusion or embarrassment! There is no flash and minimal seam clean-up will be required.

The kit contains new fuselage parts with the bulges for the larger nose machine-guns that characterise the G-6 fuselage.

Wings with upper wing bulges also help identify the variant.

In addition there are a set of unused upper wings with no bulges for an earlier variant.

Sprue gates are very narrow and well-located for minimal clean-up. Provision is made for an open/ closed canopy and for open/closed flaps, leading-edge slats and dropped elevators. The fin and rudder come as separate parts to allow for variants in these areas

The parts are just wonderful with exceptional surface detail, beautiful interior to the cockpit and undercarriage bays.

As usual, Eduard make the best use of their moulds and a number of parts are destined for other variants, in this case the parts map on page two indicates that 41 parts will go into the spares box. I would suggest a careful search of the copious instructions and to remove any parts you will not be using to save later confusion or embarrassment! There is no flash and minimal seam clean-up will be required.

Sprue gates are very narrow and well-located for minimal clean-up. Provision is made for an open/ closed canopy and for open/closed flaps, leading-edge slats  and dropped elevators. The fin and rudder come as separate parts to allow for variants in these areas

The first page gives a brief overview of the Bf 109’s development up to the G model and is followed by  the parts map and colour guide only for paints by name and number from Gunze Aqueous and Mr Color. Each assembly stage is well-illustrated with colour call-outs all along the way.

The instrument panel can be either in coloured PE, or decal and a number of PE parts will embellish the interior to a very high standard including panels, instruments and seat belts.

The last part of the instruction manual includes an explanation of where the masks are used, a four-part plan of stencil locations and then four-view colour drawings for the six decal choices as follows:

Clear Parts

26 clear parts are supplied on a single sprue.

Most of these are not referred to in the instructions, but with the inclusion of the tall tail and allternative rudders, the tall tail wheel and the three styles of Erla canopies on the sprue, you'll be able to build a late G-6 or a G-14 straight from the box. All you need is decals!

Clear parts include the three-part canopy, the clear cockpit fuel line, gunsight and wing tip navigation lights.

The parts are thin and clear.

Markings

A four-part plan of stencil locations and then four-view colour drawings for the six decal choices as follows:

1. Bf 109G-6 of of Hermann Graf from JG 50 over Germany in September 1943 in RLM 70 / 75 over 76 and faint mottles on the fuselage with yellow under nose and white rear fuselage and fin with a red tulip pattern on the nose,

2. Bf 109 G-6 of Theodor Weissenberger from 6/JG 5 over the Soviet Union in January 1944 in the standard scheme but almost completely covered with white distemper with a worn tracery showing through, with yellow under the nose and wingtips, 

3. Bf 109 G-6/R-6 of Anton Hackl of Stab III/JG 11 in Germany, January 1944 in RLM 70 /75 over 76 and heavy mottles on the fuselage with yellow under nose and rear fuselage band and a white rudder with his scores marked on it,

4. Bf 109 G-6/R-6 of  Ludvwig Franzisket of I/JG 27 in Austria  in January 1944, in RLM 70 /75 over 76 and heavy mottles on the fuselage with yellow under nose and a green rear fuselage band  with the African marking in the nose and white rudder,

5. Bf 109 G-6/R-6 of  Alfred Hammer  from 6/JG 53 in Austria in February 1944  in the same scheme as above but with red rear fuselage band and white rudder, and

6. Bf 109 G-6/R-6 of Friedrich Brock from 8/JG 54 in Germany January 1944 in the same colours but a peculiar zig-zag demarcation lines on the wings, blue rear fuselage band and yellow rudder.

Decals are beautifully printed with great density, colour and register and minimal carrier film and altogether a lovely set of choices. The rear page of the booklet contains a number of additional accessories to enhance an already wonderful kit, such as engines, 3D printed radio compartment details  wheels and elevator balances.

This kit carries on the wonderful quality that we have come to expect from Eduard and comes highly recommended to any of you whose interest lies in this iconic aeroplane and the theatres it fought in.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2024 by Graham Carter
Page Created 1 October, 2024
Last updated 1 October, 2024

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