1:32 Messerschmitt Bf-109G-2

The Gustav with Finnish MT codes

Finland received Bf 109G-2 fighters in 1943 as a replacement for worn out American and Dutch equipment, and the machines were given domestic designations beginning with the letters MT. They flew with flights that had several years of hard fighting in the east behind them, and their pilots kept a high tally of victories on the type until the end of the war. The sheet captures two such machines, MT-222 with a white two and MT-213 marked with a white three, and along with them one aircraft in factory delivery finish with the codes DL and IC.

The scope of the sheet

Besides the national insignia and personal numbers you also get the small lettering and markings that were part of the characteristic equipment of Finnish Gustavs. The delivery finish is interesting in that it shows the aircraft before handover, with a test code across the whole fuselage. From one package a modeler can therefore choose either a frontline machine or the less usual transitional appearance. Anyone building Finnish equipment systematically will appreciate that the numbers and insignia follow photographs of the period and do not have to be tracked down through individual monographs.

Masks as added value

The package also holds self-adhesive masks for the canopy glazing and for the propeller spinner. That does away with the most tedious part of the build, namely laying frames out in tape. The mask only has to be lifted off the backing, laid on the glass, pressed down and sprayed. For the decals the usual order then applies: a glossy base, the decal, a softener on broken areas and matte varnish at the end. The aircraft model, paints and glue are not in the package. Wipe off any glue residue left after a decal with a damp cloth before varnishing, otherwise it will print through into the final coat.