Book Review of
Messerschmitt Bf-109G-6
Single No. 33
MMP (Mushroom Model Publications)
ISBN: 978-83-66549-27-2
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $11.99
ISBN: 978-83-66549-27-2
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $11.99
HISTORY:
G-5, G-6:
In February 1943, the G-6 was introduced with the 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131s, replacing the smaller 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 – externally this resulted in two sizeable Beule blisters over the gun breeches, reducing speed by 9 km/h (6 mph). Over 12,000 examples were built well into 1944 although contradictory factory and RLM records do not allow an exact tally.
The G-5 with a pressurized cockpit was identical to the G-6. A total of 475 examples were built between May 1943 and August 1944. The G-5/AS was equipped with a DB 605AS engine for high-altitude missions. GM-1-boosted G-5 and G-6 variants received the additional designation of "/U2". and were clearly identifiable as they use a modified, aerodynamically cleaner, engine cowl without the usual blisters.
The G-6/U4 variant was armed with a 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannon mounted as a Motorkanone firing through the propeller hub instead of the 20 mm MG 151/20. The G-6 was very often seen during 1943 fitted with assembly sets, used to carry bombs or a drop tank, for use as a night fighter, or to increase firepower by adding rockets or extra gondola-style, underwing gun pod mount ordnance.
The following variants of the G-5 and G-6 were produced:
G-5 (Pressurized fighter)
G-5/U2 (High-altitude fighter with GM-1 boost)
G-5/U2/R2 (High-altitude reconnaissance fighter with GM-1 boost)
G-5/AS (High-altitude fighter with DB 605AS engine)
G-5y (Command fighter)
G-6 (Light fighter)
G-6/R2 (Reconnaissance fighter, with MW 50)
G-6/R3 (Long-range reconnaissance fighter, with 2 × 300 L/80 US gal underwing drop tanks)
G-6 trop (Tropicalized fighter)
G-6/U2 (Fitted with GM-1)
G-6/U3 (Reconnaissance fighter)
G-6/U4 (As G-6 but with 30 mm/1.18 in MK 108 Motorkanone engine cannon)
G-6y (Command fighter)
G-6/AS (High-altitude fighter with DB 605AS engine)
G-6/ASy (High-altitude command fighter)
G-6N (Night fighter, usually with Rüstsatz VI (two underwing MG 151/20 cannons) and sometimes with FuG 350Z Naxos)
G-6/U4 N (as G-6N but with 30 mm/1.18 in MK 108 Motorkanone engine cannon)
One offensive weapons upgrade in 1943 for the Bf 109G – and also used for the Fw 190A – was one that mounted the Werfer-Granate 21 heavy calibre rocket weapon system with one launching tube under each wing panel. The rockets, fitted with a massive 40.8 kg (90 lbs) warhead, were aimed via the standard Revi reflector sights, and were spin-stabilized in flight.
In an emergency, the tubes could be jettisoned via a small explosive charge. Intended as a "stand-off" weapon, fired from a distance of 1,200 meters and outside the effective range of the formations defensive guns, it was employed against Allied bomber formations, the Wfr. Gr. 21 rocket was unofficially known as the BR 21 (Bordrakete 21 cm) for the Bf 109G-5, G-6 and G-14. The weapons system received the designation of Rüstsatz VII on the G-10.
THE BOOK:
MMP (Mushroom Model Publications) is based in the U.K. They are associated to Stratus Books, located in Sandomierz, Poland. Stratus prints all of MMP’s books in English. They also do their own line of books in both Polish and English.
This book is soft-cover of 24 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format,
The cover shows a color illustration of a top view of a Bf.109G-6 in Romanian Air Force markings. The illustration is wrapped around the spine of the book with half of it on the back cover. It is posed against a bright yellow background.
The book begins with 1/72nd scale line drawing of a side view of the Bf-109G-6 that points out the location of its bulkheads inside the fuselage and illustrations of the bulkhead's shapes. Followed by a 5-view, also in 1/72nd scale.
Next is another set of the same views, but to 1/38th scale.
There are 5 black and white wartime photos of the Bf-109G-6 shown with pilots. Walk-around type photos of the air inlet,, 2 photos of the machine gun bulges, 4 photos of the engines,, with 2 line-drawing of them, 3 photos of the nose guns and a line drawing of them, a photo of the MG 151 cannon fairing, 9 photos of the landing-gear and one line drawing of them, 5 photos of the canopy, with a line drawing of it, a photo of the seat and joy stick, 2 line drawings of the foot pedals, a photo of the trim wheel in the cockpit, 2 photos of the gun sight, a color illustration of the dash board with a list of the names of the instruments,
The book ends with a 4-view color profile illustrations of the Bf-109G-6 that is featured on the cover art
It is Yellow 1, Grupul 9 Vanatoare,Tecuci Aerodrome, June 1944. Upper surfaces are Dunkelgrau RLM 74 and Grauviolet RLM 75, Undersides Lieblau RLM 76. Its spinner is divided into 1/3rd white and 2 3rd black. The description calls the black is RLM 70 Schwarzgrun, which it definitely was not.
The aircraft was flown by Captain Alexander Serbanescu, the unit commander. The emblem of the “Desloch-Serinescu” was painted on both sides of the nose. It is a red shield with a winged yellow arrow with a white nose below yellow D S and a white crown with a cross on top, shield outlined in white.
The fuselage has a yellow band and yellow 1 on it. The rudder flap has a vertical tri-color on it of red, yellow and blue bars.
This is a neat book on this aircraft. It will be of interest to modelers planning on building a BF-109G-6 and to aviation historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of MMP book and all their titles can be seen on Casemate’s website at:
G-5, G-6:
In February 1943, the G-6 was introduced with the 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131s, replacing the smaller 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 17 – externally this resulted in two sizeable Beule blisters over the gun breeches, reducing speed by 9 km/h (6 mph). Over 12,000 examples were built well into 1944 although contradictory factory and RLM records do not allow an exact tally.
The G-5 with a pressurized cockpit was identical to the G-6. A total of 475 examples were built between May 1943 and August 1944. The G-5/AS was equipped with a DB 605AS engine for high-altitude missions. GM-1-boosted G-5 and G-6 variants received the additional designation of "/U2". and were clearly identifiable as they use a modified, aerodynamically cleaner, engine cowl without the usual blisters.
The G-6/U4 variant was armed with a 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannon mounted as a Motorkanone firing through the propeller hub instead of the 20 mm MG 151/20. The G-6 was very often seen during 1943 fitted with assembly sets, used to carry bombs or a drop tank, for use as a night fighter, or to increase firepower by adding rockets or extra gondola-style, underwing gun pod mount ordnance.
The following variants of the G-5 and G-6 were produced:
G-5 (Pressurized fighter)
G-5/U2 (High-altitude fighter with GM-1 boost)
G-5/U2/R2 (High-altitude reconnaissance fighter with GM-1 boost)
G-5/AS (High-altitude fighter with DB 605AS engine)
G-5y (Command fighter)
G-6 (Light fighter)
G-6/R2 (Reconnaissance fighter, with MW 50)
G-6/R3 (Long-range reconnaissance fighter, with 2 × 300 L/80 US gal underwing drop tanks)
G-6 trop (Tropicalized fighter)
G-6/U2 (Fitted with GM-1)
G-6/U3 (Reconnaissance fighter)
G-6/U4 (As G-6 but with 30 mm/1.18 in MK 108 Motorkanone engine cannon)
G-6y (Command fighter)
G-6/AS (High-altitude fighter with DB 605AS engine)
G-6/ASy (High-altitude command fighter)
G-6N (Night fighter, usually with Rüstsatz VI (two underwing MG 151/20 cannons) and sometimes with FuG 350Z Naxos)
G-6/U4 N (as G-6N but with 30 mm/1.18 in MK 108 Motorkanone engine cannon)
One offensive weapons upgrade in 1943 for the Bf 109G – and also used for the Fw 190A – was one that mounted the Werfer-Granate 21 heavy calibre rocket weapon system with one launching tube under each wing panel. The rockets, fitted with a massive 40.8 kg (90 lbs) warhead, were aimed via the standard Revi reflector sights, and were spin-stabilized in flight.
In an emergency, the tubes could be jettisoned via a small explosive charge. Intended as a "stand-off" weapon, fired from a distance of 1,200 meters and outside the effective range of the formations defensive guns, it was employed against Allied bomber formations, the Wfr. Gr. 21 rocket was unofficially known as the BR 21 (Bordrakete 21 cm) for the Bf 109G-5, G-6 and G-14. The weapons system received the designation of Rüstsatz VII on the G-10.
THE BOOK:
MMP (Mushroom Model Publications) is based in the U.K. They are associated to Stratus Books, located in Sandomierz, Poland. Stratus prints all of MMP’s books in English. They also do their own line of books in both Polish and English.
This book is soft-cover of 24 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format,
The cover shows a color illustration of a top view of a Bf.109G-6 in Romanian Air Force markings. The illustration is wrapped around the spine of the book with half of it on the back cover. It is posed against a bright yellow background.
The book begins with 1/72nd scale line drawing of a side view of the Bf-109G-6 that points out the location of its bulkheads inside the fuselage and illustrations of the bulkhead's shapes. Followed by a 5-view, also in 1/72nd scale.
Next is another set of the same views, but to 1/38th scale.
There are 5 black and white wartime photos of the Bf-109G-6 shown with pilots. Walk-around type photos of the air inlet,, 2 photos of the machine gun bulges, 4 photos of the engines,, with 2 line-drawing of them, 3 photos of the nose guns and a line drawing of them, a photo of the MG 151 cannon fairing, 9 photos of the landing-gear and one line drawing of them, 5 photos of the canopy, with a line drawing of it, a photo of the seat and joy stick, 2 line drawings of the foot pedals, a photo of the trim wheel in the cockpit, 2 photos of the gun sight, a color illustration of the dash board with a list of the names of the instruments,
The book ends with a 4-view color profile illustrations of the Bf-109G-6 that is featured on the cover art
It is Yellow 1, Grupul 9 Vanatoare,Tecuci Aerodrome, June 1944. Upper surfaces are Dunkelgrau RLM 74 and Grauviolet RLM 75, Undersides Lieblau RLM 76. Its spinner is divided into 1/3rd white and 2 3rd black. The description calls the black is RLM 70 Schwarzgrun, which it definitely was not.
The aircraft was flown by Captain Alexander Serbanescu, the unit commander. The emblem of the “Desloch-Serinescu” was painted on both sides of the nose. It is a red shield with a winged yellow arrow with a white nose below yellow D S and a white crown with a cross on top, shield outlined in white.
The fuselage has a yellow band and yellow 1 on it. The rudder flap has a vertical tri-color on it of red, yellow and blue bars.
This is a neat book on this aircraft. It will be of interest to modelers planning on building a BF-109G-6 and to aviation historians alike.
I sincerely wish to thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of MMP book and all their titles can be seen on Casemate’s website at:
Highly recommended.