Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10

by Brett Green

Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10 II/JG52, Neubiberg Germany, May 1945

Hasegawa's 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10 is available online from Squadron.com

Late-War Improvements to the Bf 109

The Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10 was an attempt to improve the performance and extend the service life of this crucial German fighter. Increasing weight and the need for additional ordnance was taxing the capabilities of the standard Daimler Benz DB 605 A engine in the Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6.

The DB 605 D would supply up to 1,800HP to the Bf 109G-10 (2,000HP using emergency power), compared to 1,475HP available to the Bf 109G-6 from the DB 605 A.

Externally, the new powerplant featured a larger supercharger, modified engine mounts, a deep oil cooler and a larger crankcase. The forward fuselage was redesigned to accommodate these changes. Larger bulges on both sides of the engine cowl replaced the familiar cowl gun breech bulges of the Bf 109G-5 and G-6. A fairing was fixed to each fuselage side below the cockpit to improve airflow. These combined to give the nose of the new variant a more streamlined appearance. Two circular blisters were also added to the lower nose to permit clearance for the larger crankcase and oil lines. A deeper housing for the new oil cooler was another obvious change.

Detail photographs of these features may be seen in “Late-War Bf 109G/K in Detail - Cowl Bulges for DB 605AS series & D Powered Bf 109s”, Part One and Part Two, in HyperScale’s Reference Library.

Raw materials were desperately short by the time production of the Bf 109G-10 commenced in October 1944. The G-10 was therefore produced using components from earlier airframes. This led to many variations in production, including alternate configurations for the tail wheel, aerial, cockpit air intakes, main wheels, wing bulges and tail surfaces.

The Colours of “Rosemarie”

Non-standard paint finishes were also common due to a combination of these hybrid production techniques, shortage of paint stocks, the increasing variety of theatre markings and the introduction of new camouflage instructions from the RLM.

“White 11” was a Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10 attached to II./JG 52. This aircraft featured wide wheels, large wing bulges and the short tail wheel. It was one of many Luftwaffe fighters that surrendered in a massed fly-in to Neubiberg on 8 May 1945. Two photos of this aircraft were supplied by Charlie Swank for my recent book, “Augsburg’s Last Eagles”.

The aircraft in the photos displays a range of fascinating colour characteristics. It wears a yellow rudder and the wide yellow cowl band of Luftflotte 4. The upper fuselage appears to be finished in a very pale colour in combination with RLM 75 Grey-Violet and RLM 83 Dark Green. The upper cowl is a dark solid colour with a darker mottle. This is possibly a replacement from another machine. Upper wings seem to be a standard finish of RLM 75 and RLM 83. To top this off, the aircraft wears the name “Rosemarie” in flowing script under the port side of the cockpit.

Despite staring at these photos for considerable time while preparing the book, I noticed an additional peculiarity when I was preparing to build this model. There is a large dark patch on the lower empennage, just above the tailwheel. I assume that this is a result of a recent repair. The patch is probably painted in red primer or a dark camouflage colour.

There are four options available to modellers wanting to build a 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10 – Revell, Hobbycraft, Fujimi and Hasegawa. In my opinion, Hasegawa’s kit is the best of the four.

Hasegawa’s 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10 is nicely detailed and generally accurate. The asymmetrical cowl bulge looks good, and other characteristics including the deep oil cooler, tall tail and big upper wing bulges are also present. Options include the choice of short or long tailwheel struts. The engineering of the kit also makes it a simple matter to swap small wing bulges for the large version supplied in the kit.

The only real shortcoming is the slightly funny-shaped VDM9 propeller blades and spinner.

I wanted to build this kit quickly so I did not spend too much time on extra detailing. I added a few wires and some plumbing to the cockpit sidewalls, and an Airwaves etched-brass harness to the seat.

The basic construction went frighteningly fast. The cockpit, wings, tail surfaces and fuselage were assembled during a single session of less than 4 hours. Not a spot of putty was required, but I did smear a little “Mr Surfacer” along the upper wing root to blend the join.

Slats and flaps are supplied separately. I depicted them dropped.

I decided to substitute Ultracast’s VDM9 propeller blades for the kit parts. These made a noticeable difference. I also used Ultracast’s Bf 109F/G/K resin exhausts – another drop-fit replacement. These feature lovely weld-seam detail, and each exhaust stack is hollowed out at the end. I attached a length of fusewire to each main gear leg to represent hydraulic lines, and added “True Details” resin wheels.

In preparation for painting I masked the canopy using a “Black Magic” mask from Meteor Productions. I also painted the main wheel hubs gloss black before masking them with Blu-Tack. I find this is a simple and effective method for masking wheels.

As usual, I commenced the paint job by spraying panel lines in Tamiya German Grey.

I then sprayed the centre of the nose and the whole rudder with Tamiya Flat Yellow. Although Gunze produce a specific colour match for RLM 04 Yellow, I find that their colour is quite translucent and takes forever to dry. In comparison, Tamiya’s Flat Yellow provides good coverage using a few light coats, and dries almost on contact with the surface of the model. I added a spot of Red to bring the Tamiya Yellow closer to RLM 04. When dry, the rudder and nose band were masked using strips of Tamiya tape.

Next, I sprayed the lower surfaces in Gunze H417 RLM 76 Light Blue. I interpreted the pale upper fuselage colour as a light grey. I mixed a batch of paint to match RLM 77 using Gunze acrylics and painted the fuselage spine.

The mid-fuselage was masked and I sprayed the upper cowl in Gunze H69 RLM 75. I also used this colour to mottle the fuselage and paint the upper wings Gunze H423 RLM 83 was then applied freehand for the upper wing disruptive pattern and additional mottling on the fuselage and tail.

I assumed that the repaired patch above the tailwheel was painted in red primer. I mixed a small batch of flat dull red for this job. The photos make the colour look a little more lurid than it appears on the model!

Eagle Editions released a decal sheet - EagleCals EC#26 - associated with my book. I used the markings for Rosemarie from this sheet. Although the fuselage crosses are supplied with a green centre, I decided to mask and spray the inside of my crosses to achieve a perfect match with the RLM 83 Dark Green used elsewhere on the model. This also permitted me to lightly feather the edges of the green at the edges of the crosses.

The decals were otherwise applied per instruction. They performed very well – even the potentially tricky spinner spiral.

I applied a light wash of thinned black oil paint to highlight panel lines, followed by some “chipping” of walkways using Tamiya Chrome Silver enamel paint. The exhaust stain was a thin, dirty mix of Tamiya Flat Black, Deck Tan and Flat Base.

The model was finished off with a coat of Gunze Flat Clear.

This was one of two kits that I took to Chicago as display models for the Eagle Editions table. I packed the models carefully using foam chips and was delighted that the models made it to the USA and back without any major damage.

However, closer examination on my return revealed that the paint had suffered in transit. It seems that the foam chips reacted with the acrylic paint, leaving a “crazing” effect in a number of places. In future, I will wrap the kit in tissue paper before packing it in the chips!

I was also reminded of the dynamic nature of research and observation while I was in Chicago. Somebody drew my attention to one of the photos of “Rosemarie” and pointed out a shape under the fuselage. I had previously assumed that this shape was probably the starboard-side radiator flap, but on closer examination it seems possible that it is, in fact, an ETC50 bomb rack under the mid-fuselage. Back to the drawing board again!

Regardless of late-breaking information and degrading paint, I enjoyed this little project. It was real tonic to complete a model so quickly and effortlessly. Hasegawa’s Bf 109G-10 is a gem of a kit, and there are many fascinating colour options available for these late-war Gustavs.

This was the first Hasegawa Bf 109G-10 that I built, but it will certainly not be the last!

Model, Images and Article Copyright © 2001 by Brett Green
Page Created 23 July 2001
Last updated 04 June 2007

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