Eduard 82163 1/48 WWII German Fighter Bf 109G-6/AS [ProfiPACK]

Currently the best series of AS-engined Bf 109G's in 1/48 - includes masks, colour etch, and version specific fuselage and wings.... far surpassing the old Fujimi classic AS kit's. If you're not on top of your Luftwaffe Mottling this is Bf 109G for you, as there are TWO single colour schemes - an overall RLM76 Grey machine from JG5, and an overall Black machine from EJG2 - there's also a rather interesting JG300 Wilde Sau scheme. If you're a bit crazy and have ninja airbrush skills, then you'll dig the 'tiger striped' Stab I./JG3 option. You can pretty much take this review to cover the all the following kits too: Bf 109G-5/AS (ED82163) Bf 109G-6/AS (ED82163) Bf 109G-14/AS (ED82162) WILDE SAU Episode Two: Saudämmerung (ED11148) Bf 109G-10 Mtt Regensburg (ED82119) Bf 109G-10 WNF/ Diana (ED82161) Bf 109G-10 Erla (ED82164) ...and the associated Weekend Editions (sans masks and PE). Gotcha's include: 1. not a fan of the tail wheel construction and having to have this installed and painted before closing up the fuselage sides. 2. depending on the sub-variant and exhausts selected, you WILL need to ensure there is ZERO flash on the fuselage openings and exhaust parts (hit it with a file) - else things will NOT fit (I do wish they had gone with a 'external fitting' as opposed to an 'internal fitting' of the exhausts too). These openings seem to attract JUST enough flash to make life uncomfortable for a few minutes. 3. Like most Eduard kits, there are engineering 'challenges' (as above), such as how the instrument panel attaches - another case of use a slower setting glue to give yourself some working time. 4. SOME of the G-10's in my stash (both ProfiPACK and Weekend) have noticeable flash, while others do not - not sure what's going on there, but the Regensburg G-10 W/E has been the worst, while the Erla ProfiPACK was excellent; the G-6/AS seems to be on the better side. In summary, the Eduard G's are the best scale these days.