Eduard 1/48 Bf 109G-6 Early 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 Early/U4 replaced the MG 151 with the MK 108 30mm cannon.

Eduard has followed their updated Bf 109G-6 Late release with this kit of the G-6 in its early configuration. 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
• Positionable canopy
• Choice of headrest armor
• Choice of starboard fuselage gun bulges
• 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. 15919, CO of JGr 50, Green 1, Wiesbaden-Erbenheim Afld, 1943, as flown by Major Hermann Graf
• Bf 109G-6, W.Nr. 20499, CO of 9./JG 52, Yellow 1, Nove Zaprozhye, 1943, as flown by Lt. Erich Hartmann
• Bf 109G-6, W.Nr. 18107, 7./JG 53, White 9, Torazzo Afld, Sicily, 1943, as flown by Uffz. Georg Amon
• Bf 109G-6, W.Nr. 440190, CO of 6./JG 53, Yellow 1, Wien-Seyring Afld, 1944, as flown by Lt. Alfred Hammer
• Bf 109G-6, W.Nr. 160756, I./JG 4, Yellow 4, Santa Maria, 1944, as flown by Uffz. Rene Darbois

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.

As a general scale modeler, I am impressed with this release and think you'll enjoy tackling one of these yourself.

My sincere thanks to Eduard for this review sample!

References:

• Bf 109 Modelers' Online Reference