Cutting Edge Decals have hit the ground running after the recent release of Trumpeter's 1/24 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2 and G-6 kits. These are the first three releases for the big Gustav from this company.

The three decal sets are as well printed and presented as we have come to expect, but these decals are big! So big, in fact, that each set required two full-sized decal sheets - one for the unique markings and a second generic sheet for stencils and common national markings.

Each set comes with full-colour, double-sided letter sized placement instructions with an accompanying monochrome sheet with stencil positions, a bibliography; plus paint suggestions for Xtracolor, Floquil, Polly Scale, Gunze, Tamiya, Model Master and even ProModeler.

The decals are perfectly printed, thin, in register and with a minimum of carrier film.

The subjects have been carefully chosen to suit the Trumpeter kits, but some minor modifications or additions will be required for some subjects. For example, some of the Gustavs on the decal sheets are fitted with a DF loop, DF loop base or short aerial mast; others have flat armour plate in the canopy; and six are equipped with the trailing IFF antenna below the fuselage. Take heart thought - all of these modifications are very simple.

Specific subjects are as follows:

CED24003 Great Gustavs #1:

• Bf 109G-6, Yellow 1 + ~, Lt. Erich Hartmann, 9./JG 52, Novosaporovyi, Russia, October 1943;

• Bf 109G-4 Trop, Yellow 7 over Red 5, Oblt. Tonne, Staffelkapitan, 3./JG 53, Bizerta, February 1943;

• Bf 109G-6, Vlack Double Chevron + I, Hptm. Anton Hackl, Stab III./JG 11, Oldenburg, Germany, February 1944;

• Bf 109G-6/R6 Trop, White 9 + I, Oberleutnant Emil Clade, Staffelkapitan 7./JG 27
  Kalamaki, Greece, January 1944

CED24004 Great Gustavs #2:

• Bf 109G-6, Yellow 12 + –, Flown by Heinrich Ehler, JG5, 208 total victories;

• Bf 109G-5, Black Double Chevron + –, Hauptmann Gerhard Barkhorn, Stab II./JG 52, Russia, Fall 1943;

• Bf 109G-6, White 10 + Black –, with white meteor insignia on fuselage gun covers, 7./JG 3, Bad Worishofen, 1944

CED24005 Great Gustavs #3:

• Bf 109G-6, Green 1, Major Hermann Graf, JGr. 50, Wiesbaden-Eberheim, Germany, 1943 (see title image)

Trumpeter's 1/24 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109G kits are really very good.

These Cutting Edge decal releases will add a great deal of colour and variety to these models.

Recommended.

Thanks to Cutting Edge Modelworks for the samples

Review Copyright © 2003 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 14 October, 2003
Last updated 14 October, 2003

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