YOU Pick the Marking

Transcript*

Intro

Hello all. This is David from Sunward Hobbies and in today’s video, we’re going to be doing a quick unboxing [music] of this new release from Tamiya. Here is their 1/48 Scale BF 109 G6 Late Production and that detail is critical. Late production. So, let’s pop this sucker open and see just how good it is. Spoiler alert, it will be good.

Aircraft History

Well, what hasn’t already been said about this legendary war plane [music]? It is the first aircraft that comes to anybody’s mind when you say German World War II fighter. It was one of only two aircraft in the Second World War that remained in active front-line service from the very beginning to the very end. Some of the highest scoring aces of all time got most of their kills in this plane.

It was very easy to fly and not so easy to land, but [music] no plane is perfect and it was incredibly versatile being manufactured in several different variants. So, here we have the G variant or as they like to nickname it, Gustav.

Just to Nit Pick

Now, I really don’t want to start this unboxing off with a complaint. It’s a minor one, but I can’t help myself. I was a little disappointed when Tamiya released this as they had already released a few years prior another G6. So, I felt they missed the opportunity to make either an F variant or a K variant, you know, something different, but they decided to just make yet another G6. But, despite all that, from what I have heard, this is one of the best [music] kits that Tamiya has ever produced. But, we will confirm that for ourselves in just [music] a moment. So, let’s lift the top off. So, we got a few sprues.

Unboxing

A bag of polycaps, as well as some magnets, and I will explain what those are for in just a moment. We’ve got full-color illustrations of [music] each marking scheme that is available in this kit. We’ve got a little pamphlet [music] giving you some history on to the Bf 109 G-6. And, say it with me, useless tech tips. And, the instruction manual.

Clear Sprues & Sprue B

I’m going to start this time with the clear sprue. That’s very nice, completely see-through. I notice that this kit comes with both the classic [music] Bf 109 canopy the one with all the frames on it but it also comes with the late-war variant with the Erla-Haube canopy, which was a higher visibility canopy, almost like a bubble top. which means that this kit must include marking options for both versions. Now, we’ve got sprue B, which has the fuselage halves, some cockpit parts, the propeller, the spinner, looks like a few engine parts as well, and the [music] pilot.

I’ve already expressed my love for Tamiya many times before, but I truly admire that they are one of the few plastic model manufacturers out there that still include pilots in every one of their aircraft kits. Surface detail is incredible, though Tamiya doesn’t tend to put as much surface detail onto their kits as companies like Eduard might, but if you’ve got a riveting tool, that’s no issue at all.

Sprue D & G & H (Engine Parts)

All right, next we’ve got sprue D, which has more engine parts. It’s got the chin air intake. The framing which holds the engine together. And now sprue G and H has the engine nacelles, which they give you the option for separate nacelles on their own, as well as completely open if you want to display the engine.

Sprue F & A (Wings)

Now sprue F, which has the top halves of the wings, the tail wheel. You have two different options for that. Uh the main wheels. And you’ve got some more engine nacelles. Now, if you look closely, there are subtle differences, which means that these must be for different variants again. So, they’re pretty generous with how many options they give you here.

And here we have the last sprue, which should be A, which has fuel tanks, the wing tips, the bottom half of the wings, landing gear, wing slats, ailerons, air brakes, radiators, all molded to Tamiya’s quality control. Looks like I had dropped this part. It’s uh basically the front end of the nose, uh [music] just behind the propeller spinner and in front of the engine. All right, next we have the decals. Um Hm. Let’s see, how can I show you these? Here we

Decals & Canopy Masks

go. Never mind what’s behind here. You’ll find out soon enough. So, you’ve got lots of stenciling. You’ve got some colorful options for nose art and squadron identification numbers. You’ve got the Balken Kreuzes, too. And here looks like more stenciling, as well as a seat belt decal, which I’m not a fan of. I’d rather place the pilot in there or get some photo-etch belts. And we’ve also got some canopy masks. Now, they’re not die-cut, so you’ll have to cut them yourself by [music] just tracing the lines, but still a very nice addition.

Instructions

And last thing we’ll take a look at, as always, the instructions. So, first page you get the color call-outs, which are all Tamiya brand [music] paints. And thanks to my video from not too long ago, you can brush on these paints or just use Vallejo or AK, whatever you want. So, construction starts in the cockpit and [music] the one of the fuselage halves has like this jig here where you can attach all the engine parts. That way it’ll be nice and sturdy. So, once the cockpit is all [music] built up, you can place your pilot in there and then the cockpit [music] will slide into the fuselage from the bottom.

And then let’s let you start working on the engines with the exhaust stacks, the BMW engine block itself, and then that just sits right onto that platform mentioned jig. And then you construct the [music] dorsal fin, the elevators, the tail wheel. Although, they don’t really mention that you have a second wheel to choose from. So, I guess that’s entirely up to you. And this here, it looks like, depending on which [music] marking scheme you choose, there are several panel lines that you may have to fill in with putty. So, be mindful of that. Also, depending on [music] which marking scheme you choose, you may have to drill holes as well.

So, after all that, the inner structure of the landing gear, the the landing [music] gear bay, I should say, then the wings go together and then you start working on the underwing radiators. And you have the option of the radiator flaps down or up. You may have to trim a few things depending on which one you choose. Your flaps go on next. Then the leading edge wing slats. Again, you have the option of lowered [music] or raised. And then the wing attaches to the fuselage. They even show you exactly how to do [music] it. Uh Tamiya kits truly are idiot-proof. And that’s just the landing gear. A kind of unorthodox design to it, but uh it does look quite stable. Now, hold on a minute.

Inaccurate Instructions?

I don’t usually call attention to this, but I mean, I rarely ever point out an inaccuracy with a Tamiya kit, but uh I am pretty certain that the G variant did not have these landing gear on the ends. [music] I’m very positive that only the K variant had that. If you know for certain and I’m wrong, I’m sure you will let me know, but I’m [music] pretty confident that they did not have those. Okay, let’s not dwell on that too much. So,

Instructions Continued

next you have the drop tank as well as uh this is neat, these little rocket tubes, uh which are only used on the A variant. [music] Then, if you want to try something else for the E variant only, you’ve got these underwing cannon gondolas. I mean, as if the uh 20 mm cannon and the MG 131 machine guns in the nose didn’t already pack a deadly [music] punch, there’s a little more. Uh then, you’ve got the canopy here. And [music] as I mentioned when looking at the parts, you have the option of the classic canopy or the Erla tube one. So for markings A and B, you get the original and C, D and E are the Erla tube.

Then you’ve got the [music] instrument panel and then you attach whichever canopy you chose. Well, you get a lot of different uh outcomes and variants in this kit. I dig it. Now we have the propeller. Uh if you want it to spin, you can add this little plastic poly cap in between the [music] the spinner back. So in between those and then the spinner goes over that. And now here is where you have the option whether to fully display the engine or just close it all up. If you want to be adventurous [music] and show everything, bare all, then from here on you would continue. So you’ve got lots of little engine [music] parts to add on to the top of it and then you’ve got those [music] 13 mm MG 131 guns and the belt that feeds the ammunition to [music] it. And if you’re wondering, these are why the G 650 and had those [music] little bulges in the nose. As I alluded to earlier, what these little metal discs [music] were are magnets.

Magnet Use

See? And these you can add to the [music] engine nacelle coverings. So that way you can have the option to have both open and closed engines. So if you went with the open, you don’t have to fully commit [music] to it. You can just add the magnets and they can just slip on and off whenever you want. That is a really cool kit. In conclusion, woah.

Which Marking Scheme Should David Do?

They are not kidding what they say about this kit. I can tell just by looking at it that not only when it’s fully built will it be structurally sound, but the fit is just going to be like a glove. I really wish I could build one of these. Wait a minute. I will build one of these. Check out the Sunward Hobbies website and look out for our blog post section as I will be doing a full build article for Tamiya’s Bf 109 G-6. However, I’m having a tough time deciding which marking scheme to do. So, I would like to ask you for your opinion, the fine viewers on YouTube. Which of the three marking schemes should I do? And yes, I said three marking schemes. There are five of them, but two are Finnish and I can’t do that for reasons. So, please let me know.

Scheme A

Should I do scheme A,

Scheme B

B

Scheme C

or C?

David’s Conclusion

Feel free to let me know in the comments what your vote is and which colour scheme should I do. Well, that about wraps this up. Thank you very much for watching this video. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, follow us on our socials, watch out for the blog post, and until the next one. Adios.

About the Author:

David Peckam has built scale models since he was 12, specializing largely on military aircraft. He is a makeup artist and background actor for films and TV. He enjoys watching hockey and of course, movies. He has an excellent knowledge of hobby products and if you have questions concerning scale model airplanes.

*Video by David Peckham
Video Edited by
Daniela Castellano and Leo Nguyen
Transcript generated by youtube
Edited by Angelo Castellano