Eagle Editions | EC46: Bf 109 G-14s JG 3, JG 5, JG 52, JG 53
Reviewed by Mark Proulx
Eagle Editions continues to expand their impressive line of EagleCals decals for the Hasegawa Bf 109 G series of kits in 1/32nd scale. This review will look closer at sheet EC#46, the first of four new releases.
As the title implies, this decal sheet is designed for use with the Hasegawa Bf 109G-14. Profiles are included for four aircraft fitted with the Erla Haube canopy as supplied by Hasegawa. However, two of the aircraft have short tails and one aircraft is equipped with an extended tail wheel. These options are not available in the model. Cross kitting from other kits or scratchbuilding is necessary at the time of this review.
Eagle Editions instructions are always extensively illustrated, and this latest set is no exception. Profiles are printed in color showing the left fuselage, top wing and portions of the wing underside for each aircraft. Eagle Editions also supplies extensive details for each subject. Important notes pertaining to the fuselage mounted radio antenna masts are also included as this applies to two of the aircraft in this set. The instructions also have a listing of references that were used. Common to other EagleCals instructions, a complete diagram of all stencil locations is included. Black and white photos of "White 7" and "White 5" complete the instructions.
"White 5" is a short tailed Bf 109G-14 of 1./JG 53 photographed at Bad Aibling in May 1945. Unfortunately, the short tail option has not been included with the Hasegawa kit at the time of this review. To complete this aircraft the short tail from the Bf 109G-6 or G-4 will be required.
Next, is a Bf 109G-14 from 7./JG 52, as flown by Lt. Franz Ewald in the fall of 1944 from the airfield at Veszprem, Hungary. Similar to "White 5" discussed earlier, this aircraft uses the short tail as found in Hasegawa's Bf 109G-6 and G-4 kits. Modelers should take note of the slack antenna wire as previously detailed in the instructions and shown in profile. Three black and white photos of the aircraft are included with the instructions to assist modelers.
"Yellow 4" is a Bf 109G-14 from 15./JG 5. The aircraft was found at Lister, Norway in May 1945. These markings would apply to the Hasegawa G-14 out of the box. The aircraft has a tall tail with trim tabs and Erla Haube canopy with panzer glass headrest.
The final aircraft is "Yellow 18", a Bf 109G-14 of 7./JG 3, as found in Northern Germany in early 1945. The instructions show that the aircraft was equipped with a tall tail with trim tabs and extended tail wheel strut. As the extended tail wheel option isn't in the Hasegawa kit, some scratchbuilding skills would be required to accurately depict this scheme. This aircraft also has its antenna mast mounted to the Erla Haube canopy. It is important to note the slack in the antenna wire as shown and discussed in the instructions.
Micro Scale prints the decals over two pages. They appear to be very thin, in perfect register and I would expect no difficulty in applying them. Carrier film is at an absolute minimum. Proper registration of some markings requires the application of multiple layers of decals. A complete set of stencils is also included.
This is a complete package of illustrated instructions and well-researched markings. For those modelers looking for accurate decals for their Bf 109G-14s, they need to look no further than Eagle Editions. I recommend these and many of their other fine products without hesitation.
Review Samples Compliments of Eagle Editions Ltd.
©Mark Proulx 2003
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This review was published on Saturday, July 02 2011; Last modified on Wednesday, May 18 2016