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World War II
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REVIEW
Messerschmitt Bf109 G-6
SgtRam
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#197
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Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Monday, February 26, 2018 - 07:27 PM UTC
Tamiya has released a newly tooled Bf109G-6 and here Kevin Brant reviews and builds this new kit.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
brekinapez
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Georgia, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 - 06:51 AM UTC
So, is this a rebox of the one they recently released, or is it in fact the one from last fall?
SgtRam
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#197
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Posted: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 - 07:23 AM UTC
This is new tooled, while announced last fall, I do believe it is just starting to reach store shelves now.

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/1102954-tamiya-61117-messerschmitt-bf-109g-6
Merlin
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#017
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United Kingdom
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Posted: Thursday, March 01, 2018 - 02:02 AM UTC
Hi Kevin

Nice job! I've treated myself to one of these to include in my looming Luftwaffe book-project.

Thanks for the heads-up on the decals. I did wonder about them, because they are often the Achilles' heel in Tamiya kits. Strangely, Valiant Wings' new book on the mid/late-series Gustav's mentions that they worked really well in their build, but I'll definitely treat them with extra caution after your experience.

All the best

Rowan
GastonMarty
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Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Friday, March 02, 2018 - 10:31 PM UTC

If the option with magnets is offered to allow an alternate display showing the nose closed up, at least SOME photos (especially in a review, or here "product feature") should show the nose closed up, because all photos everywhere so far, including from Tamiya, practically ALL only show the nose completely open, and at this increasingly late stage this is getting extremely, extremely, tiresome, to say nothing more.

I know modellers like to rush headlong exactly where the manufacturer is pointing them, but please let's start to show some more informative photos, especially at this time when most have not yet spent their money: There are several competing brands, some a lot cheaper, so the slightest issue could be a deciding factor.

Since other brands have a lot of builds finished, a side by side of different brands of finished kits would be most welcome.

Gaston
drabslab
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Posted: Saturday, March 03, 2018 - 02:14 PM UTC

Quoted Text


If the option with magnets is offered to allow an alternate display showing the nose closed up, at least SOME photos (especially in a review, or here "product feature") should show the nose closed up, because all photos everywhere so far, including from Tamiya, practically ALL only show the nose completely open, and at this increasingly late stage this is getting extremely, extremely, tiresome, to say nothing more.

I know modellers like to rush headlong exactly where the manufacturer is pointing them, but please let's start to show some more informative photos, especially at this time when most have not yet spent their money: There are several competing brands, some a lot cheaper, so the slightest issue could be a deciding factor.

Since other brands have a lot of builds finished, a side by side of different brands of finished kits would be most welcome.

Gaston



Steam ahead Gaston, be a hero and make such feature, I am looking forward to seeing it

rochaped
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Lisboa, Portugal
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Posted: Saturday, March 03, 2018 - 05:22 PM UTC
Well, given the price asked I think this will be the first time I won’t buy Tamiya. After reading Kevin’s review I guess the only thing this kit excels the competition is the open engine gimmicks. For half the price there are better options to get the Gustav
SgtRam
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#197
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Posted: Saturday, March 03, 2018 - 06:54 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Well, given the price asked I think this will be the first time I won’t buy Tamiya. After reading Kevin’s review I guess the only thing this kit excels the competition is the open engine gimmicks. For half the price there are better options to get the Gustav



You also have an excellent fit in this kit, which I have not seen from other manufactures. The level of detail in this kit, surpasses any other Gustav I have seen on the mark so far.
rochaped
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Posted: Saturday, March 03, 2018 - 09:15 PM UTC
Kevin,

Tamiya always has good fit of parts
But Eduard’s 109 G is also very good in that area. In fact having built 2 I had no fuss whatsoever regarding the fit of various parts, like wings, fuselage and radiators.
As to level of detail, since I have not seen Tamiya’s in my own hands, I cannot comment which is better, so I’ll take your word on that
BlackWidow
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Posted: Sunday, March 04, 2018 - 12:49 AM UTC
Nice review and a great build, Kevin! Thanks for it!

Pedro, I just come home from an expo near my home and there I saw the Tamiya G-6 offered for 44 Euros. That is 10 Euros more than Eduard's Profi-Pack. And if you can also enjoy their Weekend-Edition of the G-6, that comes for 20 Euros.

My very subjective opinion about the prices of plastic kits in general is, that the money I spend for the kit must be left over. That means, can I afford it or do I need the money for something more important? Okay, everything is more important than plastic kits ....

I have so many 109 kits in my stash, that I surely won't buy this one for a looong time. Btw., at the moment there are 2 Eduard 109 Weekend kits on my workbench, a E-1 and a G-6. And it's fun to build them ....

Torsten

Btw, Zvezda offers also a very good 109 G-6 kit for around 25 Euros
rochaped
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Lisboa, Portugal
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Posted: Monday, March 05, 2018 - 02:00 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Nice review and a great build, Kevin! Thanks for it!

Pedro, I just come home from an expo near my home and there I saw the Tamiya G-6 offered for 44 Euros. That is 10 Euros more than Eduard's Profi-Pack. And if you can also enjoy their Weekend-Edition of the G-6, that comes for 20 Euros.


Btw, Zvezda offers also a very good 109 G-6 kit for around 25 Euros



Torsten,

That is exactly my point. The price tag of Tamiya-san is just too high when you have 2 genuinely good kits already in the market.
Zvezda also gets you a full engine but it’s fiddly to build, to say the least. Decals are also poor, but the rest is top quality.
I bought one that I’m currently building/fighting for under €20... a fair price I like to think.
Eduard’s is for me the best around when it comes to value. Either profipack or weekend it simply beats the competition. And the weekend Box, I got one for under €16!

Be sure to post those builds when you complete them Torsten

SunburntPenguin
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Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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Posted: Monday, March 05, 2018 - 06:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


If the option with magnets is offered to allow an alternate display showing the nose closed up, at least SOME photos (especially in a review, or here "product feature") should show the nose closed up, because all photos everywhere so far, including from Tamiya, practically ALL only show the nose completely open, and at this increasingly late stage this is getting extremely, extremely, tiresome, to say nothing more.

I know modellers like to rush headlong exactly where the manufacturer is pointing them, but please let's start to show some more informative photos, especially at this time when most have not yet spent their money: There are several competing brands, some a lot cheaper, so the slightest issue could be a deciding factor.

Since other brands have a lot of builds finished, a side by side of different brands of finished kits would be most welcome.

Gaston



Steam ahead Gaston, be a hero and make such feature, I am looking forward to seeing it




We all know that won't happen. A quick search via Google shows that even Tamiya itself shoqws the kit built up with the cowl closed. Maybe a more extensive Google search next time Gaston?
GazzaS
#424
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Queensland, Australia
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Posted: Monday, March 05, 2018 - 07:46 AM UTC
I know a guy doing a comparison build...
...he's relatively inexperienced after 35 years of building no models...
He's not very quick, because he is has a few builds going at once...
He's me.

BigT-vs.-Eduard Bf109G6 Build
BlackWidow
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European Union
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Posted: Tuesday, March 06, 2018 - 01:01 AM UTC
[quote] ....Be sure to post those builds when you complete them Torsten[quote]

I surely will in my Assembly Line thread, Pedro. Probably in April. Have just thrown the first bits of paint on them.


Quoted Text

I know a guy doing a comparison build...
...he's relatively inexperienced after 35 years of building no models...
He's not very quick, because he is has a few builds going at once...
He's me.

BigT-vs.-Eduard Bf109G6 Build



Gary, I'll follow your comparison build with interest. Your Eduard kit is the same as I have here on my bench. Which version will you build? I'll go for Gerd Barkhorn but a different machine he flew
GazzaS
#424
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Posted: Tuesday, March 06, 2018 - 05:12 AM UTC
Torsten,
I have a few different options I can choose. Probably Barkhorn, but you never know.

Gaz
MS406C
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Landes, France
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Posted: Monday, August 27, 2018 - 07:00 AM UTC
Well I have started to build this kit for a customer. I had the Eduard resin set for the cockpit as my patron wanted it that way. let say I'm not a rookie in modeling, but when after much struggle the resin tub was glued in to the fuselage, the plastic parts for the ammunition cases, could not fit properly! I did then glue the nose panels in the close position to check the fit, and once again the resin tube is keeping from any tight fit! Now guess! An order to HLJ for a new kit which will be from the box and with the close option! Te rest is in the graveyard now! Those resin sets are a pain in the A..and when you look at the level of detail in the kit, they do not bring that much plus value, considering what will be left to see! My two cents!
PorkChopper
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Posted: Monday, September 10, 2018 - 06:18 AM UTC
I'll be building my Tamiya kit with all the cowlings open and in the box top marking scheme - now that I know it will trigger some of you.

GazzaS
#424
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Posted: Monday, September 10, 2018 - 06:33 PM UTC
They compare well...


But there are size differences:


As far as comparing them to Zvezda...
The Zvezda is set up with the radiators fully closed(you'll need to create tabs to model them open). Decals not so good (so extra money for more!). Sink marks in the wings... ...and four-part fuselage halves.

Pick your poison, I guess. Here is the order where I'll put my preference for 1/48 109 G6's:
1. Tamiya (Most fun, most accurate LG angles w/out using a protractor, nice engine.)
2. Eduard (Gets second because pf those little scoops on the side of the cowls being molded open.)
3. Hasegawa
4. Zvezda (Did not enjoy the build!)
5. UM (didn't enjoy this build!)
6. KA Models (don't like the shape of the spinner)

Gaz

BlackWidow
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Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2018 - 06:27 AM UTC
Gary, you forgot the old 1990's Academy kit in your list. I've built it a few times and although it cannot keep up with recently published kits, it's not that bad to build. My fav 109 kit in the meantime comes from our czech neighbours, though I guess that Zvezda kit must also be fine. I'm judging it from their great Pe-2.

Torsten
GazzaS
#424
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Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2018 - 10:57 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Gary, you forgot the old 1990's Academy kit in your list. I've built it a few times and although it cannot keep up with recently published kits, it's not that bad to build. My fav 109 kit in the meantime comes from our czech neighbours, though I guess that Zvezda kit must also be fine. I'm judging it from their great Pe-2.

Torsten



Torsten,
I've never built that kit. In the 1990's I wasnt building any models. I didn't return to models until 2015.

And there's nothing really wrong with the Zevzda G6. I just didn't enjoy building it, and I wouldn't recommend it to a novice.

The Zevzda kit is made to be built with the engine covers open. If you're wanting them closed-up, it's more a pain in the backside.

Gaz
amoz02t
#192
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Kentucky, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, September 11, 2018 - 12:06 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Gary, you forgot the old 1990's Academy kit in your list. I've built it a few times and although it cannot keep up with recently published kits, it's not that bad to build. My fav 109 kit in the meantime comes from our czech neighbours, though I guess that Zvezda kit must also be fine. I'm judging it from their great Pe-2.

Torsten



Torsten,
I've never built that kit. In the 1990's I wasnt building any models. I didn't return to models until 2015.

And there's nothing really wrong with the Zevzda G6. I just didn't enjoy building it, and I wouldn't recommend it to a novice.

The Zevzda kit is made to be built with the engine covers open. If you're wanting them closed-up, it's more a pain in the backside.

Gaz



Gary- Great builds! Thank you for sharing
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