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Messerschmitt
Bf 109G-6/14
Adeco (via Model Design
Construction)
Reviewed by Brett Green
Luftwaffe modellers have been fortunate in recent years with a number of excellent kit and accessory releases. One of the highlights has been Hasegawa's 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 and G-14 kits. They combine state-of-the-art surface detail, simple construction breakdown, highly accurate outline and some nice options including the choice of standard or Erla Haube canopy, G-5 or G-6 style starboard cowl and multi-position flaps and leading edge slats. In typical Hasegawa fashion, cockpit detail is competent but basic. This area could do with some extra detailing. The after-market has not been slow to captalise on this single shortcoming. Aires, Hi-Tech and Eduard have produced brass and/or resin detail sets specifically for the Hasegawa 109G kits, and other sets including Cooper Details and KMC will probably fit too. All of these products are very good. So what distinguishes this newest entrant to the Bf 109 cockpit market? Quality!
Adeco's Bf 109G-6/14 cockpit comprises of replacement parts for Hasegawa cockpit items. This means that there is little or no surgery required to the kit. The twelve resin parts include sidewalls, integrated floor/rear bulkhead/seat, forward firewall with MG 151 breech moulded on, instrument panel, control column, handwheel mount, REVI gunsight and rudder pedal assemblies. These delicate parts are in a zip-lock bag and packed in a small, stout cardboard box. All parts are moulded in a light grey resin. The casting is exquisite. Detail is as crisp as anything I have ever seen. There are no pinholes or casting flaws on my sample, but one side of my gunsight was softer in detail than the rest of the parts. Cleanup of all parts will be minimal. The cockpit sidewalls are wafer thin. The small casting blocks and connecting flash on these parts will be quickly removed with a new knife blade. Small details are cast onto small pegs that, likewise, will simply require one swipe of a knife. Research has been thorough. The detail is not only superbly executed, but is also
highly accurate. The sidewalls are particularly convincing. Wires, conduits and hoses
snake their way around these parts. The subtle but distinctive shape of the pressed metal
circuit-breaker panel is well captured on the starboard sidewall. Rudder pedals are very
delicate - almost a work of art on their own! I have a natural preference for brass and
acetate instrument panels, but the quality of Adeco's resin item might just change my
opinion for this project.
The seat is depicted, in typical Bf 109 fashion, without the backrest. My sample set (MD-A48001) supplies the seat minus the harness, but I understand that another set includes a seat with a moulded-on resin seat belt. For such a small detail set, instructions are impressive. Construction is described in four illustrated steps, and painting is called out in full detail over six separate steps. It is simple for modellers to check Adeco's 109 cockpit against the stated references - Bf 109G-6 WNr. 163824 is right here on HyperScale; and the restored Finnish Bf 109G-6 WNr. 167271 is illustrated in detail on the IPMS Houston web site. The IPMS Houston pictures were taken by Adeco's Vincent Kermorgant himself. These picture essays will be a great resource for exact colours and finishing details. This set is distributed by
Hannants will be retailing this set along with MDC's other products. I understand that
the next release will be a cockpit for the Fw 190.
Bravo Adeco! Review Copyright © 1998 by Brett
Green
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