Darren Baker looks at Trumpeter's latest largescale Gustav.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

The reviewer forgot to mention that the engine is one centimeter too short in length and negligibly narrower, the fact that the cowlings to be historically accurate require pieces to be cut off the fuselage and glued to them(the pieces right behind the exhaust stacks), the cockpit floor sits about three millimeters too high details a bit undernourished, landing gear details are spartan at best, all these problems being inherited from the 1:24th scale kit that is this release's originator. Good thing that it is accurate in general outline. The engine problem could be sorted out only by replacing it with a resin one. All the other issues are trivial to fix, fit of parts is excellent.
You don't care about accuracy that much, fine, it will build like a dream. If you do, it has issues that shouldn't put you off.

Florin thank you for pointing that out as it is not so much a case of I did not mention it, it is a case of I did not know and judged the model against pictorial reference which looked right to me. I do still believe it will make for a good looking model and while not 100% accurate what kit is.

Like I said, the issues are trivial if built closed up, very little to no filler required, an easy build. And if you want to go crazy, it is a good base to start with. I'll try to illustrate the fuselage cuts for those that might find it useful.

Thanks for the review, Darren. I am fine with the kit if it goes together well. I look forward to seeing the build.

Florin, I do enjoy seeing what can be done with a kit for those who have the skill and intent, and look forward to your post as well.

If you want to display the cowlings open you need to carefully cut this sort of triangular piece from the fuselage...



... and then glue it to the cowling so it looks like this:



This applies to all Trumpeter Bf 109s from F to K in both 1:32nd and 1:24th scales.

Florin thank you for the information and clear image showing what needs to be done

The model sounds satisfactory to me; I had some trouble with their ME 262 but overall was impressed. Florin, thanks for the info about the cowl. Any info about who the markings are for other than JG 53?