Bf 109 G-6/U2 - 6./JG 53 - Border Model 1/35

[Furie]

Well, after my adventures with the Jug, here's a new build that I hope will be “relaxing”, as opposed to SH's Tempest.

 

I've just received the 1/35 Border Model Bf 109 G-6 kit.
Opening the box looks promising, as this Bf 109 seems to be very well reproduced, with great accuracy and detail.
And yes, it's nice to be able to assemble a kit that looks well-born and without major difficulties.

 

Will the future prove me right? 
Will I learn new Klingon insults?
Will my family have me committed to a psychiatric hospital?

 

The suspense is unbearable and the rest is coming soon, folks!

 

Edited March 28, 2025 by Furie

[Greif8]

I will be following along with this build Denis to see what magic you work with the kit.

 

Ernest

[Mal_Belford]

Its a fun kit and good fit.

 

But if in lovin all of exxagerated rivets, then this the kit, like Rob Halford did some colaboration with Border Models....

 

But nah, me personally like rivets...

 

Im pretty sure you are going to have a great time with this kit indeed.

 

as i did with mine, but used the decals in the box...and all that noted errors....wrong size, did all in the box with little scratch, relaxed fun build.

 

In for more correct insignias, numbers all that, order new ones or do paintmasks for everything..more correct size.

 

also this build will be easy peasy for you with your skills, seen your other works here on LSP

 

 

Edited March 28, 2025 by Mal_Belford

[Furie]

Thank you Ernest and Mal for your messages.

 

 

We're off!
Well, 1/35 is a little smaller than 1/32 (thanks Cne Obvious!), but the BM kit is truly magnificent.
Rivet line, structural line, detail, precision, it's all top-notch.

 

I start with the cockpit, which I upgraded with an AM set from Eduard N° 33331.
The BM IP is very precise, but unfortunately no decal for the instruments is supplied...

 

I brightened up MRP's RLM 66 to bring some light, and added a few odds and ends to enhance the details (oxygen tubing and electrical wiring).
The IP supplied by Eduard is already painted, so it's just a matter of assembling it to get something convincing.
The pilot seat harnesses come from another Eduard set, which is really good at marketing!

 

I didn't use the Eduard rudder pedals, which have to be folded like Origami, but I kept the ones from the BM kit, which are very nice.
I'll be able to close the ½ fuselages together.

 

 

 

 

 

l

[Rampenfest]

Great looking cockpit! 

[scvrobeson]

Great start to the build Denis!  Looking forward to following along on this one.

 

 

 

Matt 

[Greif8]

Spectacular looking cockpit Denis!

 

Ernest

[Borsos]

Lovely start! I really like how you painted the interior.

[Furie]

Thank you Rampenfest, Matt, Ernest and Borsos for your messages.

 

Well, I don't have much of interest to offer you except that I have used the documentation provided by the very famous Jean-Claude MERMET (JCM) who left us a short time ago.
JCM was “THE” French specialist on the Luftwaffe and in particular the Bf 109.
He wrote several books on the subject, including a kind of manual for identifying the BF 109 G-1 to K-4.
This book is a real must-have reference, allowing you to determine the exact type of Bf 109 concerned, based on W.Nr, engine cowl, engine type, canopy, tailplane, wing, tailwheel, fuselage and rudder.

For my Bf 109 G, I know the W.Nr: 440190.
So it's a Bf 109 G-6/U2.

 

The various pieces of information I've obtained from this book enable me to accurately determine the parts located on the fuselage.
The elements with the “red circles” are not on this aircraft, and the elements with the “green circles” are present.
BM's model is accurate on the whole, except that a hatch is missing on the right side of the fuselage (item 17), which I had to engrave.

 

 

[MikeMaben]

[Javlin1]

Nice work thus far Furie esp like those chains on the trim wheel.

[Furie]

Thanks Mike and Javlin for your messages.

Yes, the Eduard set is really accurate and it even manages to represent this “lace” for the trim chain!
I also plugged the hatch below the “15” mark to get a realistic fuselage.

 

The exhaust pipes were painted before being glued to the engine, but before all that I preferred to paint the engine cowl part in RLM76 to avoid having to touch up the paint.
I could put a mask on the exhausts and continue my painting.

 

 

 

The MG 131s were painted black, then brushed with 2B pencil “dust” to simulate a “gun metal” look.
Then I glued them in place.
I painted the location of the MG 131s in RLM 74 on the outer engine cowl.
So I can put a mask on the MG 131s.

 

 

 

 

The whole engine cowl has been glued in place: a tricky job, given the number of different parts that have to be aligned without any misalignment.

Note the hinge at the top of the engine cowl, which is beautiful and extremely fine !

 

 

 

 

A photo of the rudder to show you all the details that BM has reproduced so well:

 

 

Edited April 15, 2025 by Furie

[Javlin1]

Thanks for the tip about the exhaust pre-paint always struggle in the area and doing touch ups... as well everything is looking really smart!

[Greif8]

Very skilled and clean work Denis.  You are making very good progrss on this build.

 

Ernest

[Castor]

Thank you, Denis, for this introduction and this tribute to Jean-Claude Mermet, a wonderful and very humble man. I have some PDFs that I'll send you via PM. Take what interests you.
I bought this kit last month, and I was disappointed by the decal sheet, which doesn't provide any technical markings. So I bought a sheet on eBay.
https://www.ebay.fr/itm/355789917408
The manufacturer also makes a sheet that only includes the crosses, swastikas, and technical decals, but there's no price difference.
I'm settling in comfortably for what follows.