Royal Class
Bf 109 G-10

Eduard Dual Combo, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Referred to as the "bastard aircraft of the Erla factory" in the Luftwaffe's Aircraft Variants Book of December 1944, the G-10 was a Bf 109 G airframe combined with the new DB 605 D-2 engine, created to maintain production levels with minimal disruption of the assembly lines until production of K-series airframes would reach sufficient levels.

Despite what the designation would suggest, it appeared in service after the G-14 in November 1944, largely replacing previous G-series aircraft on the production lines of Erla, WNF and Messerschmitt Regensburg factories.

Contrary to popular belief the G-10 were not rebuilt older airframes but new production.

Early production G-10 may have had two data plates (one stamped G-14) as these airframes were originally intended for G-14 assembly but were diverted to G-10 assembly. Bf 109 G-10 - note swept-forward radio antenna mast, under port wing's leading edge.

The most recognizable external change was the use of the three-panel Erla-Haube clear-view canopy, which filled the entire canopy length behind the four-panel windscreen unit, which eliminated the older, rear fixed canopy section.

Internal changes included inheriting the new 2,000 W generator and the DB 605 D-2 engine of the 109K.

Apart from the standardised streamlined engine cowlings, G-10s with the DB605 D-2 were equipped as standard with the MW-50 booster system (DB 605DM, later 605DB) and had a larger Fo 987 oil cooler housed in a deeper fairing.

Also, because of the engine's enlarged crankcase and the oil return lines which ran in front of it, these G-10s had small blister fairings incorporated into the lower engine cowlings, forward of and below the exhaust stacks, except for Erla-built aircraft, which had modified cowlings without the little bulges in front of the exhaust stacks. This became a distinguishing feature between Erla-built G-10s and those of other factories.

The radio antenna mast was also removed from atop the rear fuselage turtledeck, and replaced with a standard late-war Luftwaffe ventral whip aerial antenna under the wing.

Eduard's GUSTAV Pt. 1 package supplied Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-5 / 6.

GUSTAV Pt. 2 packages the 1/72 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 late & Bf 109 G-14.

Now Eduard has entered the realm of the Bf 109 G-10 with a Dual Combo, Royal Class Edition.

The kit includes parts for two complete models. You can build one of each or two of the same variants - ultimate flexibility.

Eduard's 1/72 scale Bf 109 G-10 Royal Class package comprises 319 parts in grey plastic (many marked not for use), 26 parts in clear plastic, four parts in white resin, eight parts in grey resin, 2 x colour photo-etched frets with 28 parts on each, 2 x brass coated photo-etched fret with 34 parts each, die-cut self-adhesive masking sheet, two red foam plugs for main wheel wells, one full-sized metal data plate, 3 x decal sheets with 10 marking options and stencils plus a 40 page instruction book.

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Thumbnail panels:

The contents of the box will allow the modeller to build Bf 109 G-10 Mtt, Bf 109 G-10 Erla or a Bf 109 G-14/AS.

The wing and fuselage sprues, O and P, are all new.

Both of these sprues have two sets of upper wing halves - one with the small bumps and one with the large.

The rooves of the wheel wells are moulded in relief on the inside of the upper wing halves.

The fuselage halves on Sprue O represent the revised G-10 / Erla versions while Sprue P carries the Bf 109 G-10 Mtt factory. This also doubles as the G-14/AS.

These sprues also add the deep Fo 987 oil cooler housing that was typically seen on the Bf 109 G-10 and K-4, plus late-style gun troughs, tyres and an alternative tall fabric covered rudder with fixed trim tabs and Flettner tab.

Eduard has included some new bonus goodies in this kit. These include white resin tail wheels. There are four in the kit - two late versions with the tall strut and larger wheel, and two of the smaller tail wheels with a canvas boot.

Four main wheels are also supplied in grey resin. Raised and recessed details are beautifully rendered. One of the pairs is the early narrow style and the other two will be suitable for the later wide wheel wells.

The final resin parts are two sets of exhaust stacks. These are crisply cast and feature hollow stacks - very nice!

Eduard has also supplied two red coloured foam plugs for the main landing gear. This is a great idea that will speed masking.

Finally, there is a full -sized data plate in the box.. This will be a nice piece to display on Surface detail is truly gorgeous. The mid-dark grey plastic colour really shows off the crisp recessed panel lines and rows of rivets. The recessed rivets are some of the best I have ever seen in this scale.

Stitching and fabric tape are depicted on fabric control surfaces.

Partial raised cockpit sidewall detail is moulded onto the inside of each fuselage half. This is supplemented with additional plastic parts and colour photo-etch.

The plastic floor part has rudder pedals moulded in place. The kit supplies the conventional bucket seat and pressed metal backrest.

Four photo-etched frets are supplied. The first two are colour photo-etched fret that mainly focuses on the cockpit. They are very subtly different. This photo-etched fret is pre-coloured and offers a layered instrument panel, half-tone harness straps, rudder pedals and other cockpit details.

I particularly like the red and white segmented trim wheel - that will save some tricky painting!

The halftone shading on the harness straps look great, even in this small scale.

The second photo-etched set is brass plated and features a myriad of parts for the exterior and the cockpit.

Alternative plastic parts are provided in case you don't like working with photo-etch. Two instrument panel decal overlays are also offered as an option to painting the plastic panel.

In common with its 1/48 scale cousin, this kit also features a clear fuel line for the starboard cockpit sidewall.

External details are included too, including mesh radiator faces.

The fuselage halves are full length. The vertical tail is a separate part. It features a long locating tab that should ensure robust fit.

Horizontal talplanes are moulded as a single part including the elevators.

Wings are conventional and will look familiar to anyone who has built Eduard's 1/48 scale Bf 109 G kits. The lower half is full span, while the uppers are split into port and starboard. Wheel well structural detail is moulded onto the inside of the upper wing. Wheel well and gear leg sidewalls are a simple single piece for each side.

Pay attention to the instructions here as you may need to drill out holes for the version that you are building.

Landing flaps, ailerons and leading edge slats are all separate parts. The flaps are designed to be displayed dropped, but it will be a simple matter to cut off the locating tabs and reposition them. it looks like the slats are designed to be dropped too, but once again if you'd prefer them retracted you can cut off the tabs.

The radiator flaps are moulded shut.

The pitot tube is moulded to the wing leading edge. This is inevitably delicate and Eduard has provided insurance in the form of a separate pitot tube on the sprues. I'll be cutting off the moulded-on parts and using this separate pitot tube for my build. Thanks Eduard!

Other options include bomb and centreline rack; two styles of centreline drop tank, tropical filter, under wing cannon gondolas, alternative propellers and exhausts, several versions of wheels and hubs and various styles of long or short tail wheel. Some of these are marked "not for use" but will be relevant to alternative markings.

Unlike Eduard's 1/48 scale Bf 109 kits, the undercarriage legs of these 1/72 scale Gustavs are moulded with deep locating pegs that should guarantee a robust join plus accurate splay and rake. I'd like to see this nice design feature upscaled for future Eduard Bf 109 releases in all scales.

26 clear parts are supplied on a single sprue. The parts are thin and clear.

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

Markings

Markings are supplied for ten colour schemes and markings.

The unique and national markings are supplied on one large decal sheet.

The ten subjects are:

• Bf 109 G-10/U4, WNr. 613165, 101. Puma vadiszrepulo osztily, Neubiberg, Germany, May 1945

• Bf 109 G-10/U4, II./JG 52, Brno, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, April 1945

• Avia S-99, Police Air Patrol Unit, Czechoslovak Police Air Force, Prague-Kbely, 1947

• Bf 109 G-10, 1./KG(J) 6, Prague-Kbely, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, March/April 1945

• Bf 109 G-10, 13./JG 27, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, March 1945

• Bf 109 G-10, Hptm. Erich Hartmann, CO of I./JG 52, Gorlitz, Germany, April 1945

• Bf 109 G-10, WNr. 491407, Capt. Cesare Marchesi, 3a Squadriglia, 1o Gruppo Caccia, ANR, Lonate Pozzolo, Italy, March 1945

• Bf 109 G-10, WNr. 152xx6, 11./JG 300, Prague-Kbely, Czechoslovakia, May 1945

• Bf 109 G-14/AS, WNr. 784938, III./JG 6, Bissel, Germany, January 1945

• Bf 109 G-14/AS, WNr. 782xxx, str. Vladimir Sandtner, 2.ZLJ, Lu?ko, Croatia, April 1945

Two smaller sheets provide the stencil markings.

Eduard expands their gorgeous family of small scale Bf 109s with this new Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-10 / G-14/AS release.

With its incredibly fine surface textures, an impressive level of detail with no compromise considering its small scale and many useful options, this little gem will be hard to keep in the box.

This is the ultimate 1/72 scale Bf 109 G-10 toolbox.

USD$55.96 really is outstanding value too

Thanks to Eduard for the sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2024 by Brett Green
Page Created 26 September, 2024
Last updated 26 September, 2024

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