HASAGAWA 1:48 MESSERSCHMITT BF-109G-6

Reviewer: Gavin Reed  (rec.models.scale)

This Hasagawa kit is one of the latest offering in their band of 1/48 replications of the infamous Messerschmitt fighter from World War 2, the other being the G-14 model.   The box contains five sprues of medium grey styrene plastic with two sprues extracted from their previous Bf-109F & G kits.  The sprue containing the clear parts are also from the previous kit (I suspect the G version) but there is also included a gunsight and headrest armoured glass.  Some of the parts are also labelled "Bf109G6/G14" showing that these two new kits obviously share many plastic parts. "Bf109G/K" is scribed on the sprue that contains the rear tailplanes suggesting perhaps a further version is in the wings? 

Further examination of the parts in the box reveals a few small ejector pin marks marring the the rear wheel, hubs on the mainwheels and main gear doors.  Other marks are evident on many pieces but thankfully these are on inner sides of parts that cannot be seen on completion of the model. 

You start work on the cockpit which is the usual offering from Hasagawa, a bit sparse in detail. Several aftermarket sets can be found to spice it up a bit.  I went along with Hasagawa's kit but when I make the G-14 someday I will be sure to get hold of the Hi-Tech detail set from France that includes a fully detailed cockpit, weighted wheels, separate control surfaces and best of all, a fully detailed engine set!

Assembling the model is pretty straightforward and you are not disappointed with Hasagawa's reputation for ease of fit, everything fits snuggly into place where it's supposed to.  Minor amounts of filling are required in some areas but nothing major to be concerned about.  The engine cowling is in separate pieces and option for subvariants with and without the compressor fairing and small scoop is provided, as well as a tropical air filter.

The wings fit snuggly against the fuselage and features separate slats and flaps for positional choices. The small bulges for the upper wing placed to accommodate the wider undercarriage of the later G models are separate pieces and you need to drill out the alignment holes in the upper wing to attach the bulge.  Underwing MG151 20-mm gun packs are provided as stores plus a centreline drop tank. 

The parts went together pretty well thereafter and the completed model looked good before painting and decalling. The most common problem that I have found when making any Bf109 is that the canopy shape seems to give kit manufacturers a complete headache since it is to be reproduced correctly.  The Hasagawa kit seems to get it as close as you can get without being 100% spot on but the flaw (too curved) is hardly noticeable without being the most discernible of Bf109 critiques.  The vertical tail looks a touch shallow and the nose has a slight upward angle, again it would take a serious Bf109 buff to be too critical.  Finally, according to one source, the model is not actually a G6 but a G5 because it lacks the air scoops below the windshield - a very minor oversight but it does break that accuracy bond. But other than that the dimensions of the aircraft look pretty spot on and it doesn't look anything other than a Bf109!

The instructions provide descriptions for two sets of markings but the decal sheet seems to have three sets of markings. One is for "White 10" armed with MG151 gunpacks of J.Gr.50 finished in three-grey tone with an all white tailfin and a black-green spinner.  The second aircraft is "Yellow 13" with a scrawled 11 gruppe bar from 11/JG27 and this is where the G5 & G6 opinions were spotted since my references show this aircraft to be a Bf109G5 version. It also has three-grey war tone with a white spiral spinner and fuselage band.  The apparent third set of decals appears to be one called "White 7" which I assume will be finished in the same colour scheme as "White 10".

Overall this is a pretty decent kit that captures the unique lines of the Bf109 really well and comes highly recommended as a project for anyone interested in this replication.   I'd be very surprised if there are any better kits on the market.

Related Reviews:  Revell 1/48 Bf109G-10   :   Italeri 1/72 Mistel 1

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