Building the Bf 109G-6 First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

I don't know about you, but I enjoy watching the 'DYI' (Do It Yourself) shows on television and especially episodes of American Chopper to watch the creativity of building in metal and the occasional tid-bit that I can take away for my own modeling. What would happen if we had programs dedicated to our own hobby rather than looking at the techniques applied to other hobbies?

Master Class Model Building Videos has taken this approach (albeit without the personality dynamics used to 'liven up' other shows) to show us not only specific tools and techniques for model building, but how to use a variety of techniques together to turn out a project.

In this first video, master model builder Floyd S. Werner Jr. opens the box on a Hasegawa 1/32 Bf 109G-6 at the beginning of the video and over the next 5+ hours, completes the model right down to the weathering.

I was recently contacted to review this video and I honestly didn't know what to expect. When I popped in the first disc, I was impressed with the thoroughness of Floyd's presentation. He walks the viewer through the task at hand, the tools recommended for that step, and then executes the step before the camera sharing some insights to modeling in general and specifically to the Hasegawa 1/32 Bf 109G-6 kit. Each step in the process is marked on the menu should you want to see what to do, then go off and work on your bench. After watching the video completely once, you can step through the video in specific areas of interest to refresh yourself (or learn for the first time) how to tackle a specific step in the project.

As you watch the building and painting of the kit unfold, more experienced modelers will see some different ways to do the same thing. I found some of Floyd's techniques interesting and will apply some of these to my own modeling. Less experienced modelers will be able to follow Floyd's step-by-step instructions and demonstrations and achieve similar results with the right tools and a little practice.

While this video is specific to the Hasegawa 1/32 Bf 109G-6 kit, Luftwaffe and non-Luftwaffe modelers will learn quite a bit from this video. For instance, seeing Floyd's techniques for pre- and post-shading panel lines put into sequence with normal painting and camouflage will help anyone do it better the next time.

I definitely recommend this video to all aircraft modelers. I would also strongly recommend that IPMS chapters buy a copy for their club library to help educate new aircraft modelers. While the subject is the 1/32 Bf 109, you'll find extremely helpful tips and techniques for your next Mustang, Zero, or Spitfire!

My sincere thanks to Master Class Model Building Videos for this review sample! I hope you'll be doing more!