In Box Review of 21st Century Toys 1/32nd Scale
German Bf-109G-14 Fighter
Part no. 22106, Item no. 22201
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2006
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 2006
Out of production
HISTORY:
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that was, along with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force. The Bf 109 first saw operational service in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War and was still in service at the dawn of the jet age at the end of World War II in 1945.
It was one of the most advanced fighters when it first appeared, with an all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, and retractable landing gear. It was powered by a liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 aero engine. From the end of 1941, the Bf 109 was steadily supplanted by the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. It was called the Me 109 by Allied aircrew and some German aces, even though this was not the official German designation.
It was designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser who worked at Bayerische Flugzeugwerke during the early to mid-1930s. It was conceived as an interceptor, although later models were developed to fulfill multiple tasks, serving as bomber escort, fighter-bomber, day-, night-, all-weather fighter, ground-attack aircraft, and reconnaissance aircraft.
It was supplied to several states during World War II, and served with several countries for many years after the war. The Bf 109 is the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 airframes produced from 1936 to April 1945. Some of the Bf 109 production took place in Nazi concentration camps through slave labor.
The Bf 109 was flown by the three top-scoring fighter aces of all time, who claimed 928 victories among them while flying with Jagdgeschwader 52, mainly on the Eastern Front. The highest-scoring, Erich Hartmann, was credited with 352 victories. The aircraft was also flown by Hans-Joachim Marseille, the highest-scoring ace in the North African Campaign who shot down 158 enemy aircraft (in about a third of the time).
It was also flown by many aces from other Axis nations, notably the Finn Ilmari Juutilainen, the highest-scoring non-German ace. Pilots from Italy, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Hungary also flew the Bf 109. Through constant development, the Bf 109 remained competitive with the latest Allied fighter aircraft until the end of the war.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Fighter
Crew: 1
Length: 8.95 m (29 ft. 4 in)
Wingspan: 9.925 m (32 ft. 7 in)
Height: 2.6 m (8 ft. 6 in)
Wing area: 16.05 m2 (172.8 sq. ft.)
Airfoil: NACA 2R1 14.2; tip: NACA 2R1 11.35[86]
Empty weight: 2,247 kg (4,954 lb.)
Gross weight: 3,148 kg (6,940 lb.)
Max takeoff weight: 3,400 kg (7,496 lb.)
Powerplant: 1 × Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1 V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston engine 1,475 PS (1,455 hp; 1,085 kW)
Propellers: 3-bladed VDM 9-12087, 3 m (9 ft. 10 in) diameter light-alloy constant-speed propeller
Maximum speed: 520 km/h (320 mph, 280 kn) at sea level, 588 km/h (365 mph; 317 kn) at 4,000 m (13,123 ft.), 640 km/h (400 mph; 350 kn) at 6,300 m (20,669 ft.), 622 km/h (386 mph; 336 kn) at 8,000 m (26,247 ft.)
Cruise speed: 590 km/h (370 mph, 320 kn) at 6,000 m (19,685 ft.)
Range: 880–1,144 km (547–711 mi, 475–618 nmi)
Combat range: 440–572 km (273–355 mi, 238–309 nmi) 440-572 km to the front and back home
Ferry range: 1,144–1,994 km (711–1,239 mi, 618–1,077 nmi) 1144 without and 1994 with drop tank
Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft.)
Rate of climb: 17 m/s (3,300 ft./min)
Wing loading: 196 kg/m2 (40 lb./sq. ft.)
Power/mass: 0.344 kW/kg (0.209 hp/lb.)
Armament Guns:2 × 13 mm (.51 in) synchronized MG 131 machine guns with 300 rpg, 1 × 20 mm (.78 in) MG 151/20 cannon as centerline Motorkanone with 200 rpg or 1 x 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannon as centerline Motorkanone with 65 rpg (G-6/U4 variant), 2 × 20 mm MG 151/20 underwing cannon pods with 135 rpg (optional kit—Rüstsatz VI), Rockets: 2 × 21 cm (8 in) Wfr. Gr. 21 rockets (G-6 with BR21), Bombs: 1 × 250 kg (551 lb) bomb or 4 × 50 kg (110 lb) bombs or 1 × 300-litre (79 US gal) drop tank
Avionics: FuG 16Z radio
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 is a German World War II fighter aircraft that was, along with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force. The Bf 109 first saw operational service in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War and was still in service at the dawn of the jet age at the end of World War II in 1945.
It was one of the most advanced fighters when it first appeared, with an all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, and retractable landing gear. It was powered by a liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 aero engine. From the end of 1941, the Bf 109 was steadily supplanted by the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. It was called the Me 109 by Allied aircrew and some German aces, even though this was not the official German designation.
It was designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser who worked at Bayerische Flugzeugwerke during the early to mid-1930s. It was conceived as an interceptor, although later models were developed to fulfill multiple tasks, serving as bomber escort, fighter-bomber, day-, night-, all-weather fighter, ground-attack aircraft, and reconnaissance aircraft.
It was supplied to several states during World War II, and served with several countries for many years after the war. The Bf 109 is the most produced fighter aircraft in history, with a total of 33,984 airframes produced from 1936 to April 1945. Some of the Bf 109 production took place in Nazi concentration camps through slave labor.
The Bf 109 was flown by the three top-scoring fighter aces of all time, who claimed 928 victories among them while flying with Jagdgeschwader 52, mainly on the Eastern Front. The highest-scoring, Erich Hartmann, was credited with 352 victories. The aircraft was also flown by Hans-Joachim Marseille, the highest-scoring ace in the North African Campaign who shot down 158 enemy aircraft (in about a third of the time).
It was also flown by many aces from other Axis nations, notably the Finn Ilmari Juutilainen, the highest-scoring non-German ace. Pilots from Italy, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Hungary also flew the Bf 109. Through constant development, the Bf 109 remained competitive with the latest Allied fighter aircraft until the end of the war.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Fighter
Crew: 1
Length: 8.95 m (29 ft. 4 in)
Wingspan: 9.925 m (32 ft. 7 in)
Height: 2.6 m (8 ft. 6 in)
Wing area: 16.05 m2 (172.8 sq. ft.)
Airfoil: NACA 2R1 14.2; tip: NACA 2R1 11.35[86]
Empty weight: 2,247 kg (4,954 lb.)
Gross weight: 3,148 kg (6,940 lb.)
Max takeoff weight: 3,400 kg (7,496 lb.)
Powerplant: 1 × Daimler-Benz DB 605A-1 V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston engine 1,475 PS (1,455 hp; 1,085 kW)
Propellers: 3-bladed VDM 9-12087, 3 m (9 ft. 10 in) diameter light-alloy constant-speed propeller
Maximum speed: 520 km/h (320 mph, 280 kn) at sea level, 588 km/h (365 mph; 317 kn) at 4,000 m (13,123 ft.), 640 km/h (400 mph; 350 kn) at 6,300 m (20,669 ft.), 622 km/h (386 mph; 336 kn) at 8,000 m (26,247 ft.)
Cruise speed: 590 km/h (370 mph, 320 kn) at 6,000 m (19,685 ft.)
Range: 880–1,144 km (547–711 mi, 475–618 nmi)
Combat range: 440–572 km (273–355 mi, 238–309 nmi) 440-572 km to the front and back home
Ferry range: 1,144–1,994 km (711–1,239 mi, 618–1,077 nmi) 1144 without and 1994 with drop tank
Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft.)
Rate of climb: 17 m/s (3,300 ft./min)
Wing loading: 196 kg/m2 (40 lb./sq. ft.)
Power/mass: 0.344 kW/kg (0.209 hp/lb.)
Armament Guns:2 × 13 mm (.51 in) synchronized MG 131 machine guns with 300 rpg, 1 × 20 mm (.78 in) MG 151/20 cannon as centerline Motorkanone with 200 rpg or 1 x 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannon as centerline Motorkanone with 65 rpg (G-6/U4 variant), 2 × 20 mm MG 151/20 underwing cannon pods with 135 rpg (optional kit—Rüstsatz VI), Rockets: 2 × 21 cm (8 in) Wfr. Gr. 21 rockets (G-6 with BR21), Bombs: 1 × 250 kg (551 lb) bomb or 4 × 50 kg (110 lb) bombs or 1 × 300-litre (79 US gal) drop tank
Avionics: FuG 16Z radio
THE KIT:
21st Century Toys was based in San Leandro, CA. They went out of business. They mostly sold their kits at Walmart's, where is where I got mine.
The kit came in a very blousy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. It is 4”too long and 3 ½” too wide. Leaving a large letter “L” void around the parts.
The cover art shows 3 Bf-109’s flying above the clouds. All 3 are in a wave pattern of gray and green above light blue under-carriages. All have black spinners with white spirals around them, red and yellow fuselage bands . The one in the foreground has black fuselage no, 10 outlined in white and a small black circle outlined also in white on its fuselage sides.
The second one has the same color bands and black fuselage no. 6 and the small circle outlined in white.
The third one, far in the background sports the same color bands and fuselage no 2.
One corner of the box art says: Ages 10+. Warning: choking hazard – small parts. Not for children under 3 years. Skill level 2-easy. Ready to assemble. Cement and paint not included.
One side panel begins with a color photo of the model made up with the no. 10 fuselage code. Features of the kit are: Authentic components with engraved panel lines. Canopy opens to reveal detailed cockpit. Main landing gear retracts and extends. Detailed German pilot figure included. High quality decals for3 marking options. Skill level 2. Ready to assemble. Cement and paint not included.
21st Century Toys was based in San Leandro, CA. They went out of business. They mostly sold their kits at Walmart's, where is where I got mine.
The kit came in a very blousy shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. It is 4”too long and 3 ½” too wide. Leaving a large letter “L” void around the parts.
The cover art shows 3 Bf-109’s flying above the clouds. All 3 are in a wave pattern of gray and green above light blue under-carriages. All have black spinners with white spirals around them, red and yellow fuselage bands . The one in the foreground has black fuselage no, 10 outlined in white and a small black circle outlined also in white on its fuselage sides.
The second one has the same color bands and black fuselage no. 6 and the small circle outlined in white.
The third one, far in the background sports the same color bands and fuselage no 2.
One corner of the box art says: Ages 10+. Warning: choking hazard – small parts. Not for children under 3 years. Skill level 2-easy. Ready to assemble. Cement and paint not included.
One side panel begins with a color photo of the model made up with the no. 10 fuselage code. Features of the kit are: Authentic components with engraved panel lines. Canopy opens to reveal detailed cockpit. Main landing gear retracts and extends. Detailed German pilot figure included. High quality decals for3 marking options. Skill level 2. Ready to assemble. Cement and paint not included.
The other side panel says: Box contains one unassembled and unpainted plastic model kit, assembly instructions and water-slide decals with 3 marking options. Paint and model cement are required to complete model as shown in photos. Recommended for ages 10 through adult.
Join our fan club to learn all about our exciting historical products 21st Centurys fan club web site called AREA-21 is provided. Copyright 2001 and 21st Century’s street address in San Leanro, CA is provided. Kit was made in China.
Color photos of other 21st Century aircraft models made up are shown: a A6M3 Zero Model 22, a F4U-1A/D Corsair, a Italian Macchi C.205 “Veltro” and a German Junker Ju-87B/R “Stuka”. No kit numbers are given for these 4 kits.
A CAUTION about small parts is given and kit is for ages 10 through adult again. Kit make in China.
Join our fan club to learn all about our exciting historical products 21st Centurys fan club web site called AREA-21 is provided. Copyright 2001 and 21st Century’s street address in San Leanro, CA is provided. Kit was made in China.
Color photos of other 21st Century aircraft models made up are shown: a A6M3 Zero Model 22, a F4U-1A/D Corsair, a Italian Macchi C.205 “Veltro” and a German Junker Ju-87B/R “Stuka”. No kit numbers are given for these 4 kits.
A CAUTION about small parts is given and kit is for ages 10 through adult again. Kit make in China.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
Medium gray parts are not on trees. They are all loose and in segments of a long tube of clear cello.
There are 2 large decal sheets and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 7 ½” x 12” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art over the history of the Bf-109G-14.
Page 2 through 6 gives a grand total of 8 assembly steps.
Page 7 and 8 are painting and marking guides.
Page 7 has three side-views and a top view on it.
All three have Gray green and black-green spines, gray-violet sides and light-blue under-carriages and black spinners with white spirals.
The top one has tan shield, outlined in black with a black griffon on it on the side of its nose. It has a white fuselage no. 1 and white skeletal type German cross followed by a black, white and black fuselage band. It was with 13./JG-4, Pilot unknown, Rhein-Main airfield, Frankfurt, Germany, December 1944.
The second one has fuselage no. 10 outlined in white (the cover art subject, already described above). It was with 11./JG-5, pilot unknown, Gossen Norway, May 1945.
The third one also has the tan shield with black griffon on it on the sides of its nose, yellow fuselage no. 25 + I. It was with III./KG(J) 55, SS Pilot unknown, Straubing German December 1944.
Page 8 has a 5 view guide for marking applications.
At the bottom of the page is 21st Century’s web address, phone and extension numbers. Kit is said again to be for ages 10 and up. Color and styles may vary. Confirms to safety standards ASTM F963-96a. The Department of Defense has not approved or authorized these products.
Page 9 has general model building instructions and decal application instructions on it.
Page 10 is blank.
Parts are not alphabetized or have part number tabs on them. They are not on part trees, but are loose. They are in segments of long tubes of clear cello.
First is the loose fuselage halves, the upper and lower wing halves, not bagged
Medium gray parts are not on trees. They are all loose and in segments of a long tube of clear cello.
There are 2 large decal sheets and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 7 ½” x 12” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art over the history of the Bf-109G-14.
Page 2 through 6 gives a grand total of 8 assembly steps.
Page 7 and 8 are painting and marking guides.
Page 7 has three side-views and a top view on it.
All three have Gray green and black-green spines, gray-violet sides and light-blue under-carriages and black spinners with white spirals.
The top one has tan shield, outlined in black with a black griffon on it on the side of its nose. It has a white fuselage no. 1 and white skeletal type German cross followed by a black, white and black fuselage band. It was with 13./JG-4, Pilot unknown, Rhein-Main airfield, Frankfurt, Germany, December 1944.
The second one has fuselage no. 10 outlined in white (the cover art subject, already described above). It was with 11./JG-5, pilot unknown, Gossen Norway, May 1945.
The third one also has the tan shield with black griffon on it on the sides of its nose, yellow fuselage no. 25 + I. It was with III./KG(J) 55, SS Pilot unknown, Straubing German December 1944.
Page 8 has a 5 view guide for marking applications.
At the bottom of the page is 21st Century’s web address, phone and extension numbers. Kit is said again to be for ages 10 and up. Color and styles may vary. Confirms to safety standards ASTM F963-96a. The Department of Defense has not approved or authorized these products.
Page 9 has general model building instructions and decal application instructions on it.
Page 10 is blank.
Parts are not alphabetized or have part number tabs on them. They are not on part trees, but are loose. They are in segments of long tubes of clear cello.
First is the loose fuselage halves, the upper and lower wing halves, not bagged
The first tube, in its 4 segments holds: the spinner, propeller, main wheels, gear legs and doors, air intake, exhaust stack.
The second tube, in its 5 segments holds: the rudder, elevator halves, cockpit floor and rear wall, seat, fuselage nose upper panel, machine gun blisters etc.
The third tube, in its 5 segments holds: the pilot, clear canopy parts, wing cannon bulges etc.
The fourth tube, in its 4 segments holds: the air scoop, bombs, drop tank etc.
A bag of metal screws is next. These are supposed to be used to assemble the fuselage and wing halves. However, I intend to not use them and to putty up the screw holes after cementing them together instead.
A molded clear plastic box holds 19 dark-green parts and 3 clear wing tip light lenses
The decals complete the kit.
This kit has great detail, mostly of the raised variety.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.