AZ Model 1/ 72 Messerschmitt Bf109Ga-2 "In Romanian Service"
By Jacob Russell
The Plane
The Messerschmitt Bf109G-2 (G for Gustav) preceded the earlier G-1 variant into Luftwaffe service. The G-2 had an enlarged SKF/Behr Fo oil cooler with a deeper fairing for its Daimler-Benz DB 601A inverted V-12 engine. The 601A had greater horsepower (approximately 150 bhp more) than the DB 601E of the earlier Bf109F (Friedrich) series. The G-1 had a pressurized cockpit which required heavier windscreen and canopy framing. Although the G-2 lacked the G-1's pressurized cockpit it retained the new windscreen and canopy. The G differed externally from the F series in that the cowling had 2 small air intakes on both sides to cool the spark plugs and ejector exhausts. Bf109G-2 production lasted from May to December of 1942. The Bf109G was also produced by Germany's allies. In Romania the Industria Aeronautica Romana (IAR) produced Bf109G-a2, G-a4 and G-a6 aircraft.
The Kit
The kit is packed in a sturdy end opening box with colorful profilemartwork featuring the Bf109Ga-2/R6, "Yellow 14", flown by Lt. Av. Stinghe Dragos. The kits consist of 84 parts, two of which are clear, mounted on three sprues. The surface detail is extremely well done. The cockpit is the best of any 1/72nd scale Bf109 kit that I have seen. AZ plans to produce an entire line of 109G and K kits (indeed they recently introduced a series of G-10 kits) and the large number of surplus parts cater to later variants. These parts include large main wheels and separate upper wing bulges, two different upper cowlings, three different tail wheels, short and tall tails, drop tank, etc. You'll be left with lots of spare parts for the parts box.
The holes in the landing gear bays are opened up (various hoses run through the bays) and the upper wing bulges are molded to the upper wings. These bulges provided clearance for the larger wheels and tires of later 109 variants, so you'll have to remove them for any 109G earlier than the G-3. You will also have to remove a spurious panel line if you opt for the tall tail, and fill panel lines on either side of the upper cowling after you attach it. On the real plane the entire cowling is split in halves and the upper cowl, which includes the gun troughs, is split in halves as well.
There are four decal options in the kit, all of which are in RLM 74/75/76 camouflage:
"Yellow 14", "Monicka", flown by Lt. Av. Stinghe Dragos, Czechoslovakia, Spring 1945. Additional colors include an black spinner, white fuselage band and wing tips, and a blue/yellow/red rudder.
"White A", flown by Capt. Av. Constantin "Bazu" Cantacuzino, Escradrila 57, Grupul 7, Romania, May 1944. The upper surfaces are overpainted with a heavy mottling of RLM 76, the spinner is half black/half white, and the lower cowl and lower wing tips are RLM 04 yellow. There is also a yellow fuselage band.
"White 8", flown by Adj. Av. Maga Ioan, Escadrila 53 of JG 4, Mizil airfield, Romania, July 1943. This plane has a black spinner with a white spiral, white rudder, and RLM 04 lower cowl, lower wing tips and fuselage band.
"White 3", Escadrila 53 Vanatoare, Home Defense, Romania 1943. The entire upper surfaces of this plane are overpainted (including the upper wings) with a heavy RLM 74 overspray with 76 mottles. The plane has a black spinner and a white spiral. There is also an RLM 04 yellow fuselage band, lower wing tips and lower cowl.
The decals are well printed, legible and in-register. There is a separate sheet of stencils and a separate placement sheet for them. The instructions are in clear picture format, a la Eduard, and are well illustrated with a logical construction sequence. The kit comes in a clear plastic bag with a self adhesive flap, which completes the impression of a first class presentation. Well done, AZ!
The AZ Bf109 kits enter a crowded field. The Hasegawa and Academy G kits are widely available but less accurate. The Fine Molds kits are the gold standard in accuracy and fit, but they are expensive and can be hard to find. The AZ kits have a MUCH better interior, and the level of detail is very close to that of the Fine Molds kits.
Conclusion
I like the AZ kits. They are well detailed, reasonably accurate, and I think you will be happy with the finished product. I would like to thank AZ Model for providing the review samples.
References
Messerschmitt Bf109 in action Part 2, by John Beaman, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1983
The Last of the Eagles, A Scale Modeler's Guide To The Messerschmitt Bf109G And K, by John Beaman, 1976
Messerschmitt Bf109G/K Vol.1, by Jakub Plewka, Kagero Publications, 2005
Messerschmitt Bf109G Walkaround, by Hans-Heiri-Stapfer, Squadron/Signal Publications, 2014