Eduard 1/48 Bf 109G-5 Kit First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | June 2016 | Manufacturer | Eduard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Bf 109G-5 | Scale | 1/48 |
| Kit Number | 82112 | Primary Media | Styrene, Photo-Etch |
| Pros | Beautiful detailing | Cons | Nothing noted |
| Skill Level | Experienced | MSRP (USD) | $49.95 |
First Look
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Eduard is back with this Bf 109G-5 release. Externally, the Bf 109G-5 looks identical to a Bf 109G-6 as it is a G-6 with a pressurized cockpit. This is not to be confused with the Bf 109G-5/AS with the DB 605AS engine or the Bf 109G-5/U2 that has the aerodynamically clean cowling (no blisters). According to Wikipedia, 475 of these G-5s were produced and Eduard provides some distinctive markings to showcase some of these aircraft.
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-5, W.Nr. 27199, 9./JG 54, Yellow 11, Ludwigslust AB, 1944, as flown by Fw Hecker
- Bf 109G-5, W.Nr. 27112, III./JG 3, Bad Woerishofen, 1943, as flown by Major Walther Dahl
- Bf 109G-5, W.Nr. 26082, 7./JG 11, White 12, Oldenburg AB, 1943, as flown by Flg Victor Widmayer
- Bf 109G-5, 1./JG 300, White 1, Bonn-Hanglar AB, 1944, as flown by Fw Hans-Werner Gross
- Bf 109G-5, 1./JG 300, Black 18, Herzogenaurach AB, 1944, as flown by Uffz Herman Berdelmann
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.
This is another nice release from Eduard with some distinctive subjects right out of the box.
My sincere thanks to Eduard for this review sample!