Eduard Bf.109G-5 Profipak 1:48

[Mike]

Bf.109G-5 Profipak
1:48 Eduard

The G series 109s were arguably the definitive version of the aircraft, incorporating all the improvements from the many previous versions before. Known collectively as the Gustavs, there were numerous sub versions before and after the G-5, improving the design incrementally with things such as better radio performance, rack fittings for bombs and fuel tanks as they went along. The G-5 was developed alongside the G-6 as the pressurised cockpit version of the 6, so both airframes were broadly identical except for the canopy and some cockpit fittings.

Both versions also had the same armament, with two 13mm MG131s fitted in the nose instead of the smaller MG17s, which necessitated blisters over the gun bay to accommodate the larger breeches and ammo feeds. Two 15mm MG151 cannons were mounted in the wings giving it formidable fire power for the time. Production of the G line finished in late '44 to be replaced by the simplified K series that was required due to the deteriorating situation at that stage.


The Kit
This is a reboxing of the G-6 kit we reviewed here, with identical sprues as you'd expect, but amended Photo-Etch (PE) and decals to portray the differences. Inside the usual Profipak box you get four sprues in grey styrene, a sprue in clear, a sheet of PE, two sheets of decals, a sheet of pre-cut masks (not pictured), and of course the usual well-laid-out instruction manual in colour with the paint and markings options at the back.

The first differences are in the instrument panel, but you could be forgiven for not noticing once it's built up. Positioning of the aerials is subtly different too, and there's no Erla-Haube clear-view canopy option (although it is still on the sprue with others) for this model, as the pressurised canopy needed to be strong. Some decal options use the altered head-armour panel, which is no-longer curved over the pilot's head, but blocks the whole rear canopy off, with two small view-ports in the top corners and is supplied as one clear part for ease. The final differences as far as construction go are a choice of underwing antennae, and omission of the un-sloped fuel tank from the build. More parts for your spares box!

Markings
As seems traditional with Eduard Profipak releases, there are five options in the box with a fair amount of variation in colours and schemes to suit most folks. The decals are printed anonymously and have a strange vibrant blue background and slightly lumpy texture of the adhesive coat under the printing, although that won't make a jot of difference to the finish once the adhesive melts in water. From the box you can build one of the following:

• W.Nr. 27 119, Flown by Fw. Hecker, 9./JG 54, Ludwigslust Air Base, February, 1944 – grey mottled wings and grey undersides
• W.Nr. 27112, Flown by Maj. Walther Dahl, the CO of III./JG 3, Bad Wörishofen, December, 1943 – RLM76 wings and underside
• W.Nr. 26 082, Flown by Flg. Victor Widmayer, 7./JG 11, Oldenburg Air Base, October, 1943 – Stepped splinter pattern RLM74/75 wings, RLM76 underside with one wing painted black
• 1./JG 300, Flown by Fw. Hans-Werner Gross, Bonn – Hangelar Air Base, March, 1944 – wiggly RLM70 wings over RLM76, with a black underside
• Flown by Uffz. Hermann Berdelmann, 1./JG 300, Herzogenaurach Air Base, July, 1944 – RLM74/75 splinter pattern on wings over RLM76

Register, sharpness and colour density are good, and you are supplied with instrument decals should you wish to use them instead of the PE, and you'll be relieved to hear that the spinner spirals are provided as decals. The smaller sheet contains all the stencils that brings the model to life, and everything has a thin glossy carrier film cut close to the edges of the printing.

Conclusion
Winner, winner, chicken dinner as Bri4n would say. Superb detail, simple to use PE parts to improve on the styrene, and everything engineered to give you maximum detail while making the build as simple as possible. The kit will sell well, and this was evidenced by the scarcity of samples when our review sample was being dispatched.

Watch out for upcoming reviews of the extras from Eduard aimed that those that want to push the detail to the max!

Very highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of

[Antoine]

Some very interesting and well researched colour options.

Thanks Mike.