Messerschmitt Bf 109G 'Mersu' in Finland
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Kit Review
This Dual Combo kit combines the new-tooled Bf 109G-2 and G-6 kits to depict those aircraft operated by the Finnish Air Force during and after WWII.
Inside the box you will find twelve sprues of a dark grey-coloured plastic, two of clear plastic, two pre-coloured photo-etched frets and a double set of self-adhesive masks. Many of the parts are not required in either version, so you get a lot of very useful parts to add to your spares box. The full-colour instructions take you though assembly over eight pages for each variant with all colours highlighted throughout via the Gunze-Sangyo Mr Aqueous Hobby Color and Mr Color ranges. There is no need to go into detail about the breakdown, as the G-2 and G-6 kits are well known and nothing has changed for either in comparison with their ProfiPACK editions, you do however get two styles of upper wing half (with and without the small bulge - one of the former and two of the latter). The only ordnance option you have is the MG 151 gondolas for the G-6, there is nothing, not even a drop tank, for the G-2.
Colour Options
The kit offers ten decal options:
• G-2, MT-219, flown by W/O Yrjö Turkka, 1/LeLv 34, Utti AB, Finland, June 1943
• G-2, MT-222, flown by W/O Ilmari Juutilainen, 1/LeLv 34, Malmi AB, Finland, May 1943
• G-2, MT-225, flown by Lt Lauri Nissinen, 1/LeLv 24, Suulajärvi AB, Finland, April 1944
• G-2, MT-230, flown by Capt. Jaakko Puolakkainen, 2/LeLv 28, Värtsilä AB, Finland, August 1944
• G-2, MT-423, flown by Staff Sgt Hemmo Leino, 1/HLeLv 34, Kymi AB, Finland, June 1944
• G-6, MT-437, flown by Staff Sgt Leo Ahokas, 3/HLeLv 24, Lappeenranta, Finland, June 1944
• G-6, MT-449, flown by Lt Olavi Puro, 2/HLeLv 24, Lappeenranta AB, Finland, June 1944
• G-6, MT-477, flown by Lt Mikko Pasila, 1/HLeLv 24, Utti AB, Finland, September 1944
• G-6, MT-477, HLeLv 31, Utti AB, Finland, summer 1948
• G-6, MT-508, flown by Lt Arvo Arima, HLeLv 31, Utti AB for an air race in June 1950
The decal sheet, which is printed by Cartograf, is excellent and has perfect register and colour density. Even though the Finnish swastika is not banned (only the 'crocked cross' of Nazi Germany is banned), Eduard had opted to include such markings as basic blue crosses on a white or grey disc or as a complete unit in each colour, the latter placed along the top of the sheet for they can be clipped off in those countries where the swastika symbol is banned. There is also a separate sheet containing two complete sets of airframe stencils.
Conclusion
This is a superb product and one that allows you to make a superb selection of Finnish machines in a variety of schemes. your only problem therefore will be deciding on which ones to build, probably just best to get a few 'Weekend Edition' G-2 and G-6 in stock as well, so you can build say six of the ten schemes! Highly recommended to all.
UK modellers can obtain this kit from Hannants (here), or you can visit the Eduard website (www.eduard.com)
This Dual Combo kit combines the new-tooled Bf 109G-2 and G-6 kits to depict those aircraft operated by the Finnish Air Force during and after WWII.
Inside the box you will find twelve sprues of a dark grey-coloured plastic, two of clear plastic, two pre-coloured photo-etched frets and a double set of self-adhesive masks. Many of the parts are not required in either version, so you get a lot of very useful parts to add to your spares box. The full-colour instructions take you though assembly over eight pages for each variant with all colours highlighted throughout via the Gunze-Sangyo Mr Aqueous Hobby Color and Mr Color ranges. There is no need to go into detail about the breakdown, as the G-2 and G-6 kits are well known and nothing has changed for either in comparison with their ProfiPACK editions, you do however get two styles of upper wing half (with and without the small bulge - one of the former and two of the latter). The only ordnance option you have is the MG 151 gondolas for the G-6, there is nothing, not even a drop tank, for the G-2.
Colour Options
The kit offers ten decal options:
• G-2, MT-219, flown by W/O Yrjö Turkka, 1/LeLv 34, Utti AB, Finland, June 1943
• G-2, MT-222, flown by W/O Ilmari Juutilainen, 1/LeLv 34, Malmi AB, Finland, May 1943
• G-2, MT-225, flown by Lt Lauri Nissinen, 1/LeLv 24, Suulajärvi AB, Finland, April 1944
• G-2, MT-230, flown by Capt. Jaakko Puolakkainen, 2/LeLv 28, Värtsilä AB, Finland, August 1944
• G-2, MT-423, flown by Staff Sgt Hemmo Leino, 1/HLeLv 34, Kymi AB, Finland, June 1944
• G-6, MT-437, flown by Staff Sgt Leo Ahokas, 3/HLeLv 24, Lappeenranta, Finland, June 1944
• G-6, MT-449, flown by Lt Olavi Puro, 2/HLeLv 24, Lappeenranta AB, Finland, June 1944
• G-6, MT-477, flown by Lt Mikko Pasila, 1/HLeLv 24, Utti AB, Finland, September 1944
• G-6, MT-477, HLeLv 31, Utti AB, Finland, summer 1948
• G-6, MT-508, flown by Lt Arvo Arima, HLeLv 31, Utti AB for an air race in June 1950
The decal sheet, which is printed by Cartograf, is excellent and has perfect register and colour density. Even though the Finnish swastika is not banned (only the 'crocked cross' of Nazi Germany is banned), Eduard had opted to include such markings as basic blue crosses on a white or grey disc or as a complete unit in each colour, the latter placed along the top of the sheet for they can be clipped off in those countries where the swastika symbol is banned. There is also a separate sheet containing two complete sets of airframe stencils.
Conclusion
This is a superb product and one that allows you to make a superb selection of Finnish machines in a variety of schemes. your only problem therefore will be deciding on which ones to build, probably just best to get a few 'Weekend Edition' G-2 and G-6 in stock as well, so you can build say six of the ten schemes! Highly recommended to all.
UK modellers can obtain this kit from Hannants (here), or you can visit the Eduard website (www.eduard.com)
