Kit: 1/32 Scale Bf 109G-6 Early or Late Version
Manufacturer: Revell Germany
Stock Number: 3471-4665
Price: $29.99
Status: Available at King's Hobby Shop Now!
Status: Available at King's Hobby Shop Now!
Revell Germany now has the best 1/32 scale Bf 109G on the market. Overall accuracy combined with its low price, makes this new Messerschmitt a particularly good value. The kit includes 14 parts trees, one sheet of water slide decals, and instructions for building and painting. Optional parts will allow the builder to complete one of almost any non DB 605AS engined Bf 109G-6 variant.
Kit cockpit interior detail is very good. Purists will want to add sidewall wiring and control stick detail. These tasks will be simple for any modeler with intermediate skills and good picture references. Kit instrument panel has good detail and correctly represents the bi-level panel on the real aircraft. Instrument bezels are sharply defined and instrument faces are provided on the decal sheet. Seat-belts are molded on seat components, but have fairly good definition. They should paint well if proper wash and dry brush techniques are used. The prominent fuel line with fuel flow sight glass easily seen on the right cockpit sidewall is provided as a separate clear part. When painted properly, it will correctly represent the fuel line with clear glass tube and hose clamps. Also, early and late gun sight options are included.
Fuselage components have recessed panel lines and access hatches. Revell provided all access hatches for all sub-variants. You'll want to pay attention to your references because some will need to be removed depending on the version you choose. I'd rather do this than try to scribe one which isn't there. The kit provides parts for early angled rudder tail as well as late wood straight rudder tail. Separate rudder (3 types) and elevator control surfaces will allow the builder to show them deflected as desired. Clear parts for early heavy frame and late "Erla" canopies are included along with rear armored glass piece. Engine cowl parts are for original DB 605 engine variants and feature the prominent and separately molded bulges which covered the back end of the cowl mounted MG 131 machine guns. The kit bulges appear to be somewhat shallow. If this is the case, I'm sure there will be an aftermarket resin correction. On the positive side, the kit's propeller spinner appears to have the most correct shape in scale when compared to other kits and photos of the real one.
The kit's wings also have recessed panel detail as well as separate control surfaces. Ailerons, flaps, and leading edge slats can be positioned as desired. Landing gear and landing gear bays are the best to date for a "Gustav". Main gear bays assemble with multiple parts and include structural detail as well as open lightening holes. Wheel bay detail in other Bf 109 kits has been very abbreviated. Main gear struts are also multi part and appear to have more detail than other kits including separate torque link forks and retraction actuator rods. Kit tires are outstanding. The instructions have you use the classic German cross tread tires, but an optional set of no tread tires are included. The kit also includes optional styles of wheel covers. Revell also provides separate center-line drop tank and drop tank rack.
Kit decals include markings for two aircraft. The first was flown by Hauptmann Franz Dorr who was the Gruppenkommandeur of III JG.5. The aircraft's werknummer was 411960. The second aircraft, werknummer 160717, was flown by Hauptmann Karl Rammelt who was Kommandeur of II JG.51. Technical stencils common to any Bf 109G are also included. The decals are well researched by AirDOC and appear to be accurate and in register.
This is a very nice kit out of the box. There are tons of aftermarket options made for other 109s in both photo etch and resin which can probably be used in this kit. Wait a few weeks, and there will probably be numerous options specifically for this kit if you wish to increase the level of detail already present.
I like this kit. Overall, it appears to be the most accurate in dimension and contour. At $29.99, it is less than half the price of prior top dog. Current list price for the 2001 release Hasegawa Bf 109G-6 is $74.00. While no kit is perfect including this one, it provides more options, it is overall more accurate than the still very nice Hasegawa offering, and it is considerably less expensive. I think it would look great sitting next to your Tamiya P-51D of Spitfire Mk.IX!
Brad Perry
Stop the press! This just in!
Title: How To Build Revell's 1/32 Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6
Stock Number: 6292-ADH32
Price: $29.95 
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