1:32 Bf 109G-2

The Gustav in its still smooth form

The G version brought the Messerschmitt a Daimler-Benz engine of higher output and a pressurized cockpit for flying at great altitude. The Bf 109G-2 belongs to the first batches and is the form that most modelers associate with the word smooth. The cowling above the engine is continuous, without protrusions, the main wheels do not yet call for large bulges on the upper wing surface and the tailwheel is small. That is exactly why the G-2 looks more slender than the later machines of the same type.

Where those bulges came from

The most conspicuous change came with the G-6 version. Heavy 13 mm machine guns went into the fuselage and their breeches would not fit under a smooth cowling, so a pair of prominent covers was added above them, which modelers' slang calls the bulges. The wheels grew larger, covers were added in the wing and on the late machines the vertical tail surface grew into a taller wooden form. The G-6 was also the first to receive a one-piece hinged hood without a transverse brace, whereas the G-2 still carries a heavily framed cockpit with fixed bulletproof front glass and flat side panes. That difference matters more for the choice of masks than anything else, because the number of pieces differs markedly between the two solutions.

About the set

The manufacturer states glazing treated from two faces, two cross pieces and decals. The vinyl is laid on a dry surface free of grease. Neither a kit nor paints are here.

The white border around the crosses can be handled by spraying twice through the same mask, first a light coat over the wider area and then a dark one over the narrowed shape. Patience pays off; a decal never has a transition like that.