ITALERI 1:72 MESSERSCHMITT BF-109 G-6
'INBOX Review'

 

Reviewer: John Lacey  (elric1965@yahoo.com.au)

Italeri 72nd Scale Bf-109G-6

Kit:  Another Italeri Bf-109 following on from their earlier F-2/4. I would ask readers to read my separate INBOX review of the Italeri Bf-109-F2/4 for the meat of the review and will concern myself with those mark specific components in the kit.

Parts: The 'B' sprue is the same as the earlier 'Friedrich', requiring the wing mounted cannon to be removed and the landing gear bays to be trimmed square. The 'A' sprue has the 'Gustav' specific parts with MG151/20 Cannon Gondolas, bulged engine cowlings, broader propeller blades and other detail parts. Options include the Gondolas of the 'A' sprue and a bomb & rack on the 'B' sprue along with an open or closed canopy, tropical filter for the engine air inlet and lowered or raised undercarriage.

Versions & Decals:  The kits decals are my primary reason for this purchase with aircraft from the Luftwaffe's JG27 (7.Staffe in Greece, 1944), an unidentified Jagfliegerschule (Pilsen 1945), the Finnish AF's Hlelv 31 in 1948 and a Swiss aircraft in 1944. Both Luftwaffe machines lack swastikas as per current practice.

Unfortunately, Italeri present the painting callouts in generic, Model Master and FS numbers, making good references essential. The JG27 machine has two-tone grey splinter uppers over 'Light Ghost Grey!!!' lowers with white theatre markings on the rudder, tailband and lower wing tips along with a segmented black & white spinner. This aircraft is the gondola equipped 'Kanonenboot' and is the subject of the main box art. 

The second machine is the subject of the reverse box art with soft splinter in brown & green over 'Light Ghost' lowers with a yellow tailband and black spinner. This scheme is shown on the box art with a light grey mottle over the upper colours, these reaching to the lower edge of the fuselage sides, whereas the instructions dispense with the mottle but have the sides a more standard half upper and lower colour. 

The Finnish machine has the same airframe colours as the first Luftwaffe example but with a softer splinter pattern. It also has a red & white striped spinner and lacks the yellow theatre markings. The Swiss aircraft follows the Finnish example along with red rudder, fuselage & lower wing panels along with a segmented spinner as per the JG27 machine.

Overall:  In conclusion, a couple of gun pods, centreline bomb rack along with a nicely detailed kit make good value for money. Add to this a four aircraft decal sheet and it makes a comparative Hasegawa offering pale by comparison.

Once again, Bravo Italeri!

 

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