Eduard 1/48 Bf 109G-6 Late Kit First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

The Bf 109G-6 was a further development of the Bf 109G series that introduced the DB605A engine and a number of other changes to make the aircraft more capable not only as a fighter, but in the fighter-bomber role as well. The G-6 was nicknamed 'The Bulge' since it had overwing bulges to accommodate larger wheels and bulges on either side of the nose ahead of the windscreen to accommodate the 13mm MG 131 guns over the engine replacing the MG 17 7.92mm guns. The G-6 retained the MG 151 20mm cannon firing through the propeller spinner though one variant, the Bf 109G-6 Late/U4 replaced the MG 151 with the MK 108 30mm cannon.

As you may remember, Eduard released the Bf 109G-6 in 1/48 scale two years ago, and modelers looked forward to seeing Eduard's excellent detailing in that kit. While the detailing didn't disappoint, Eduard did have a glitch in their design process which created a kit that was more like 1/47 scale in size. Needless to say, there was some 'animated responses' to that release among the serious Bf 109 modelers and Eduard weathered the storm. Here we are with Eduard's mulligan (do-over) with a completely new-tooled Bf 109G-6 in 1/48 scale.

As usual, the kit is molded in gray styrene and presented on four parts trees plus one tree of clear parts. The kit also includes a set of color-printed photo-etched parts for the cockpit and a set of yellow-tape masks for the canopies and wheels. Among the kit's features and options:

• Nicely detailed cockpit
• Color photo-etch instrument panel
• Color photo-etch pilot restraints
• Fuel line w/sight glass molded in clear
• Choice of windscreens
• Choice of canopies
• Positionable canopy
• Choice of headrest armor
• Choice of gun hoods and starboard fuselage gun bulges
• Choice of short or long-tail versions
• Positionable rudder
• Positionable elevators
• Positionable ailerons
• Positionable leading edge slats
• Positionable flaps
• Positionable radiator flaps

External stores included for this version:

• Optional 20mm gun pods under the wings
• Optional centerline drop tank

This kit provides markings for five examples:

• Bf 109G-6, W.Nr. 160303, CO of III./JG 1, White 20, Volkel Afld, 1943, as flown by Hptm Friedrich Eberle
• Bf 109G-6, W.Nr. 15728, Stab./JG 11, Jever, 1944, as flown by Obstlt Hermann Graf
• Bf 109G-6, W.Nr. 411960, CO of III./JG 5, Gossen, Norway, 1945, as flown by Hptm Franz Doerr
• Bf 109G-6, 8./JG 300, Red 8, Jueterbog-Waldlager AB, 1944, as flown by Obstlt Kurt Gabler
• Bf 109G-6, W.Nr. 165350, CO of 8./JG 51, Tilsit-Ost, 1944, as flown by Lt Anton Hafner

The decals are provided on two sheets and provides the distinctive unit and airframe markings as well as very thorough set of maintenance stenciling for the airframe. Eduard made a point about how their updated decal process produces decals as good in quality as Cartograf and one advantage Cartograf has is the ability to print very fine and legible stencils. Looking at these two sheets printed by Eduard, if they aren't as sharp as Cartograf, they're really darned close.

According to Eduard, these kit parts are not interchangeable with their earlier Bf 109G-6 kit and as a result of the scaling error, their CAD tooling had rendered the previously released aftermarket sets in the same proportions (scale) as the kit so they're not supposed to work in this release. That is why Eduard has released an array of Brassin and photo-etch sets for this kit to detail the cockpit, radio compartment, exhaust stacks, gun pods, landing gear, and even additional armament options.

I'll leave it to the Bf 109 experts to given their verdict on scale and detail, but I am certain Eduard took their time to ensure that there would be no repeats of their first Bf 109G-6 kit scaling errors in their design processes with any subjects in the future (especially this one). As a general scale modeler, I am impressed with this release and think you'll enjoy tackling one of these yourself.

Update: Eduard sent out their release notes of what changed between their original Bf 109G-6 two years ago and this newly tooled release:

FUSELAGE:

• Completely new design. Besides overall dimensions, we also made significant shape changes
• Nose – Nose ring is reshaped to a truncated cone with straight sides, which is in keeping with the actual article. Drawings show this as having curved sides
• Bottom of the front end is thinner
• Radiator under the nose is completely new. This is actually a very complex piece not easily defined
• Compressor intake is new (parts I 54 and I 55). Leading flange bolts are new and the side welds as well
• The overall intake is new (part I 26), with the typical shape on the top rear part below the fairing on the engine cowling
• We changed the sheet metal cover of the top of the cowl, where it is differently separated, and in a modified spot to allow for its fairing at its rear, and there are two incarnations of this, one for Mtt. Regensburg machines, and one for Erla Leipzig. The gun troughs are different for different versions. The separation of this part no longer follows rivet lines
• The right bulge over the guns has two variants, a ‘clean’ one for Mtt. Regensburg, and with a nipple at the front of it for Erla Leipzig (mainly for the G-5). This was covered before, but the G-5 bulge was added later. Left and right bulges are not mirror images, in terms of shape and cross section
• The fuselage/wing joint is reshaped, the small connection bolt fairing is characteristically bent out of sheet metal
• The fuselage cross section is changed behind the cockpit at the former behind the canopy
• New flow to the fuselage sides. We removed a swell around the third former behind the canopy
• The fuselage below the canopy heading to the rear is built of truncated segments with straight sides that bind in an obtuse angle and not along a smooth curve. This is very difficult to see, but it is there
• Also changed was the asymmetry of the tail surfaces, which is now slightly more pronounced
• We added an alternative plywood fin for the tall tail version (there are in all three fin options)
• We added alternative tall tail versions (which become relevant in the G-10)
• We made an alternative G-4 tailwheel with a shape modification under the rudder

WING

• Shortened span
• Wingtips are now integral with the top wing halves with improved, relief detailed wingtip lights
• Wheel wells have new coverings, partly in canvas with a zipper, and part metal. Noted should be the alignment locks for the attachment of three part walls of the wells. This needs to be assembled as per the instructions, or the alignment lock is irrelevant. But, it can easily be removed
• The landing gear struts are made so that they attach at the correct angle with respect to the aircraft axis
• We modified the wing centresection so that when the flaps are in the down position, there is no perforation visible into the fuselage
• We changed the relief detail on the ailerons, done using a new method allowing greater finesse of this detail

PROPELLER

• There are new prop blades for the G-6/G-14. Their roots are modified
• We verified the shape of the airscrew. Both the original hub and a prop blade were lent to us during the design of these components

COCKPIT AND CANOPY

• We redesigned the front firewall and the central cover
• We added a pressurized canopy for the G-5, including the armor behind the pilot’s head
• We added another two variants on the Erlahaube/Vollsichtshaube canopy and modified the original
• Added was the REVI 16 gunsight
• The rear part of the canopy has an upper lengthwise frame molded on the inside
• Detail changes to the cockpit floor (three small boxes to the right of the seat)
• Added a cover to the 30mm MK 108 breach (for the U4 version) – part H43
• Modified the right side of the cockpit, besides the addition of some cabling, the front structural member was moved to a non-symmetrical location when compared to the left side, also changed the switch panel. The left sidewall is also changed, with a modified throttle, ventilation vents were added on both sides, and ribs are part of the fuselage halves, and the fuselage halves themselves were modified to better accept the cockpit
• We redesigned their attachment to the fuselage to ensure proper assembly
• We changed the placement of the rear cockpit deck (parts H41 and I57) into the assembled fuselage in order to minimize incorrect placement

OTHER DETAILS

• Added an alternative droptank
• Added a whip antenna below the right wing
• We changed the underwing cannon pod interface

And that could be enough, no? I would just add that we also paid a lot of attention to the shapes and sizes of the various intakes. I recommend a good, close look at them, as they are worth noting.

My sincere thanks to Eduard for this review sample!

References:

• Bf 109 Modelers' Online Reference