Anyways, this came in the mail today
Over all, I am quite pleased with the model. BBI did a very nice job on this plane, really capturing the look of the Bf-109 and giving collectors a ton of detail and function. Is it the best of the 1:18 aircraft, particularly those made by BBI? I'm not sure on that one, however it is certainly in the upper echelon of all the 1:18 planes yet made. The following is a review with pictures. Enjoy
First, the boxed plane and the included parts:
It is pretty much your standard sized BBI box. There are alot of parts and some assembly is certainly required. I like how the wings were all once piece, though they were difficult to get on. The threading of the antenna wires is the most difficult aspect of the assembly, but the end results sure look good. The plane is very sturdy in construction and its nice to have all the antennas in the right place.
It compares and compliments well with the 21c Bf-109G-6. The 21c plane has a smoother fuselage, whereas the BBI version is riveted. The rivets are smooths and small and do not really show (like on the BBI P-51) but they are borderline on being overly riveted. As you can see on the photo of an actual Bf-109G2 in similar livery to the BBI plane, the rivets are not as noticeable. The BBI plane has overall superior workmanship, in my opinion, but both are great efforts. Comparing them really is like the classic "which is better" debate concerning the BBI P-51 and the 21c retooled P-51. Both are great planes, each with their strong and weak points.
Actual Bf-109G-2:
Now, some of the finer details:
Here is a head-on shot, showing the engine cowling, propeller, radiator and sand filter. The paint work and weathering on this plane are amazing, as good and better than 21c's best efforts. I apologize about the closepin on the tail - there was a little gap that I was gluing shut.
The opening engine (the first for a 1:18 scale WWII fighter) is really the coolest feature of this model. The panels close tightly and are pretty much flush with the rest of the fuselage. I'm not much of a mechanic or an expert on the Bf-109 DB-605A engine, but it certainly looks like it from what I've seen in photos and there is a lot of detail there, including the 7.92mm guns, pistons, hoses and all.
The cockpit is extremely well detailed, as is typical of all BBI WWII planes. The detail is overall better than on the 21c Bf-109G cockpit, pictured below. I still like the 21c instrument panel a little better, but the BBI cockpit wins hands down. The clear glass on the gunsight is a nice touch.
All the main control surfaces on the BBI Bf-109G move except the radiator flap. They attached by tabs and must be pulled out slightly to move. They can then be re-inserted so that they stay in place. The flaps drop better than on the 21c Bf-109G.
The undercarriage is well done on the BBI plane. The landing gear close tightly and come down to hold the proper angle (see the pictures above for that.) The tail wheel also retracts. I don't recall that being a feature on the early "G" models of the Bf-109, though the later G aircraft and the Bf-109K had that. Someone correct me if I'm wrong about that, however!
The drop tank and its hardpoint are removable. The underside of the wing features several holes which the drop tank can be mounted to. If you have more than one of the BBI droptanks, you can thus make a Bf-109G-2 R/1, which had droptanks on the wings and a bomb on the center rack. There are also two small holes presumably for mounting a cannon pod. None were included, but perhaps they will appear on future repaints...
Now for the pilot:
This is BBI's first WWII German figure. The sculpting and paint job are excellent and the removable helmet is a nice feature. The body is made of a harder plastic, not rubbery like some 21c and BBI pilot figures. It comes with the helmet, removable parachute, and Mauser rifle.
Pilot seated in cockpit:
But over all, the pilot is the most disappointing aspect of this new model. Why might you ask, especially considering BBI's excellent pilot figures from past aircraft? Well, two reasons: it is largely non-articulated and it is very small. There are 5 points of articulation - about the same as an original Star Wars figure from the 1980s. The legs and arms do not even bend. In fact, the original midget ME-109E pilot from 21c had more articulation. The pilot is also quite short, as the below comparison shot with a modified 21c standard German pilot shows:
I think BBI went with the small stature so that the figure could fit easily within the cockpit. Those of us with 21c Bf-109s know how tricky it is to get the pilot to fit in and it seems like the design staff at BBI wanted to avoid any difficulty. When the pilot is in the cockpit, you can't really notice the small size and lack of articulation, but for those wanting to display the figure outside the aircraft, the options are a bit limited.
So, with the exception of the figure, I think BBI has produced another winning aircraft and set the bar all the higher for the 1:18 aircraft market. The Bf-109G2 really is worth the purchase and I don't think you all will be disappointed. I hope this review is helpful and I'm eager to hear your opinions
