Messerschmitt’s legendary Bf 109 is a perennial favourite, and Eduard’s latest boxing (kit 82165) – depicting the unpressurised G-2 version ‒ will certainly please modellers who favour World War Two Luftwaffe subjects. The company’s popular ProfiPACK format applies here so, besides the re-release of Eduard’s excellent styrene parts, also provided are plain and pre-coloured photo-etched (PE) metal details, tape masks (for the cockpit glazing and wingtip light covers) and decals for five highly attractive machines employed across the North African and Eastern Fronts.
One of the quintet has G-2 standard armament… two MG 17 7.92mm machine guns in the upper forward fuselage, and an MG 151/20 20mm cannon firing through the propeller spinner. However, the other four represent what was known as Kanonenboot (gunboat) airframes in R6 (R – Rüstsätze, field conversion kit) format, in that they were equipped with an extra single MG 151/20 in a gondola under each wing.
The styrene components are sharply moulded, and feature very fine panel lines and rivet runs, and the cockpit, although already convincing in its basic format, will be enlivened greatly with the coloured PE instrument panel, switch boxes and seatbelts. Rudder pedals a…
