Hasegawa 1/48 Bf-109G-14

The Bf-109G-14 was in most ways, the very last of the G series of 109s; at least by number. The G-14 incorporated all of the improvements made to the type up until mid-1944 and pretty well standardized the series. Most G-14 airframes are indistinguishable from some late production G-6 versions. Most G-14s include the new, taller wooden fin and rudder along with the Erla Haube canopy that offered improved vision. Still with the airframe were the bulges over the nose machine guns and the small wing bulges as on the G-6. It included pretty much the same DB 605 as on later G-6 models as well. Most had the shorter tail wheel. There were some G-14/AS versions that had the improved DB 605, the wider wheels and subsequently the wider wing fairings as well as the taller tail wheel. Most of these had a rounded lower rudder and the smoother cowling as used in the G-10 and K-4 series. The type was flown until the end of the war, though I'm sure most were destroyed on the ground or in accidents rather than to Allied air power.

Though I cannot prove it, it would seem to me that the most reissued kit in Hasegawa's line up has to be the Bf-109F/G series. The wing sprue for certain has been the same in almost every 1/48 109 Hasegawa has done since the 109F was released in the late 1980s. You still get basically an early F wing where you have to scribe in a panel line and remove the additional circular section of the outer wheel well. You also need to cut off the rudder trim tabs. The positionable flaps and cooler doors are the same as well.

Where the differences arise is in the option of tail planes, fuselage halves, prop blades, wheels and many other smaller things that will help to determine the version kitted. This is still a very good kit despite the preference of the Eduard kit by the 'must have the newest and most detailed' crowd. It is true that the Eduard kit is undoubtedly the most detailed, but you pay for that detail by having a much more modular and fiddly kit. Certainly any of the various resin sets for the Hasegawa 109G will be an improvement in detail quality and crispness. Still, for those who are not comfortable with resin or can't see the sense in putting for the additional effort, the kit cockpit will do just nicely, thank you.

Hasegawa is loathe to provide more extra bits in a kit than are absolutely needed to build the variant being kitted and this one is no different. About the only 'spares' one gets are supercharger intakes, tail planes, upper engine cowling and underwing canon gondolas. Truth is that few G-14s if any actually carried these additional cannon and you'll have difficulty finding a photo to prove it. The kit provides two different canopies as the two markings options need different ones.

Instructions are with Gunze paints and any of you who have built a few of these kits will probably be able to do one in your sleep. Two markings options are provided. One is the box art plane in pretty much overall white as flown by JG 53's Erich Hartmann. The other is a JG7 plane in RLM 75/82/76 with large RLM 76 splotches on the fuselage side. Decals are well printed old style types with off-white white markings.  

I'm sure that most of you have gobs of 109s already in your stash, but if you are seeking a post war Finnish boxing, you know now that one was done. I picked this one up as at the time, I didn't have a G-14 and besides, the price was right.

February 2009