Reviewed by Rob Baumgartner
 

Eagle Strike Productions' Gustavs Part 3 are available online from Squadron.com

 

FirstLook

This sheet is different from the previous two in the series in that we have the inclusion of a Bf 109G-14 along with the G-6 aircraft. Eagle Strike has designed the decals around Trumpeter kit 24008 (with some changes) for the former and 24007 for the later.

The decals are printed in perfect register with very thin and minimal carrier film.

Despite their thinness they are still strong enough to withstand normal handling when being applied to the model.

Again we see the welcome stencil data that was included in the previous releases in this series. Nothing has changed here and we see the usual sharp clear printing with optional decals provided where necessary.

The instructions come with a generic stencil placement guide to help the modeler get things right as well as plan views for the camouflage pattern.

The subjects are:

Bf 109 G-6 trop, “white 9”, 7./JG53, Sciacca, Sicily, 1943

The aircraft of 7 Staffel had some very unusual personal markings applied to their G-6 aircraft. A mechanic did the artwork during a lull in operations when the aircraft first landed in Sicily. All shared a similar theme of the Jagdgeschwader emblem involved in a particular activity.

This machine was that of Unteroffizier Georg Amon. The meaning of the artwork is unclear, as are the colours used, so Eagle Strike have thoughtfully provided two versions.

The rest of the aircraft is pretty standard with RLM 74/75/76 finish, yellow lower engine cowl and RLM 70 spinner with a white segment. A white Mediterranean theatre band and wing tips are also present with the III. Gruppe bar being finished in the same colour.

Photos also reveal the presence of a 300-litre drop tank under the fuselage and the two clips under the cockpit for the sun umbrella.

Interestingly this aircraft ended its life with Uffz. Walter Reinicke (also from 7 Staffel) at the controls. His war ended on 3 July 1943 as a British POW.

Amon scored nine victories before bailing out of another stricken aircraft and being taken prisoner on 2 April 1945.

Bf 109 G-14/AS, “black 10”, 14./JG5, Norway, 1945

Quoted as wearing RLM 74/75/76, this machine was likely to have been flown by Leutnant Helmut Neumann. The Werk Nummer for this aircraft is not known for certain so Eagle Strike provide a selection of three to cover the likely possibilities.

It wears a black IV. Gruppe symbol over the JG5 yellow and black Reichsverteidigung band and the spinner is RLM 70 with a white spiral.

Take note that a photo of this aircraft shows that the under wing cross was solid black with no white border. The instruction sheet does not reflect this but it is easy enough to fix.

Nuemann led 14./JG5 for a year and scored 62 victories before being transferred to JV44.

Bf 109 G-6, “black >>”, Stab III./JG11, Fels am Wagram, Austria, 1944

This interesting aircraft was the mount of Hauptmann Anton Hackl. Finished in RLM 74/75/76, it carried the double chevron of a Gruppenkommandeur. Yellow was used for the lower engine cowl and JG11 Reichsverteidigung band, the latter having the III. Gruppe marking on it.

The fin and rudder was painted white as an indication of the flight leader. White was also used to cover a portion of the RLM 70 spinner and the rudder displays a scoreboard of 132 victories.

Note that this aircraft carried the under wing Rüstsätze for the installation of the MG151/20 cannons.

Hackl survived the war with one source crediting him with 192 victories including 25 bombers.

 

Conclusion

This is an excellent sheet from Eagle Strike, which offers further colourful schemes for Trumpeter’s 1/24th scale Bf 109G kits.

The quality of the product is up to the usual high standard and the inclusion of stencil data rounds off the package nicely.

Recommended

Thanks to Eagle Strike Productions for the review sample.
 

Review Text Copyright © 2004 by Robert Baumgartner
Page Created 25 May, 2004
Last updated 27 May, 2004

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