Cool Hand

Yes. It's always a good idea to search for reference photos and other information. In some cases, you won't find all the information in one place and will need to piece it together. But it's not likely you will find a Werknummer unless you can find a source that can link a plane to a pilot or to an incident report. If a basic google search for the aircraft or pilot doesn't result in the answer being found in short order, then the Werknummer is probably unknown. In most cases, it's probably not worth much more effort than to find a photo pf the plane.

The paint pattern is the main clue. Otherwise you would need to know the aircraft's serial number, Werknummer (W.Nr.) in German. Unfortunately, unlike USAAF or RAF aircraft, these numbers are not painted large enough in most cases to be read in photos. Here's a clear example from a Jg 1 aircraft:

Yes, the Eduard instructions show an accurate camouflage pattern. Although I believe the rudder is white like the Eagle decals show.

And now you know why Luftwaffe subjects are are so appealing to some modelers, there is so much uniqueness between individual aircraft and the deeper you dive into the minutia of the details the more uniqueness you find.

It's your model, paint it how you want to. I just wanted to provide you with the relevant information regarding accuracy. I'm sure you will make it look good either way. Happy modelling.

Nice choice, Dai. Regarding the camouflage scheme on the decal sheet, it's probably wrong. I'm sure this plane is an Erla built aircraft and not one built at Regensburg. The Erla plant also produced the G-5 model with a pressurized cockpit. The air pump for this system needed a secondary bulge on the right cowling panel just forward of the main bulge. To simplify aircraft production, Erla decided to only make the G-5 cowl panel and to also use them on their G-6's. The aircraft you have chosen has this bulge, but it seems that the Tamiya kit only provides the standard G-6 cowl panel

Ok. Then I will suggest that you wait until you choose a scheme before proceeding with the painting. Since you are concerned with the proper hardness of borders in the camouflage colors, I will assume you will be interested to know more detailed information on how real 109's were painted. But it's your model and you can feel free to ignore this information. Bf 109G-6's were produced in three factories and each one has it own distinct pattern. This blog post has a great breakdown of the three types, but I will link the images here. http://theprofilepaintshop.blogspot.com/2013/

Generally, a semi-soft edge is what you will find for the main pattern on the wings, the fuselage patterns can vary more - especially the mottling. Which scheme will you be doing? That will give you a better indication of how the pattern will go.

RLM colors are Luftwaffe spec paints from WW2. RLM 02 is a warm gray that tends to tint to a beige or green. I don't think it would work for a seeker head, but RLM 74 looks like a good match for some of the pics in this thread.. Just rub it with a pencil after painting to get a metallic shine. Some color samples taken from this blog: http://theprofilepaintshop.blogspot.com/2014/07/ak-interactive-ak2001-luftwaffe.html

Exactly. I can see the logic in the "collaboration" theory when you only consider the Phantom because it's an obsolete aircraft. But the Super Hornet is a current front line fighter and the type will be the most encountered by the Chinese should any of their questionable moves in the South China Sea spark a shooting conflict. Any business with Meng beyond licensing the name and likeness of Boeing aircraft could and should constitute treasonous activity. And I don't think Boeing is that greedy and stupid.

Oh, that brilliant!

Fantastic build.

There's plenty of reference photos of Doras parked with the cowl flaps open including from JV 44. Go nuts.

Those are gorgeous. They look just right.

Also be sure to use the cooling vent panel aft of the exhausts with the open slots and not the one with the doors. Edit: Looking at the sprue shots here: https://ipmsusa.org/reviews/Kits/First_Looks/hasegawa_48_fw190a4/hasegawa_48_fw190a4.htm It looks like only the panel with the doors comes with the A-4 kit, which is a shame since there are many photos of A-4's with the slotted panel. The standard changed during A-4 production.

Looking at pictures of the 2 different sets, they seem 90% the same. There's a box on the forward half of the right sidewall on the G-10 that's not on the F-4. Sanding it off should make them essentially identical. There's also a small box on the lower center of the left F-4 sidewall and wiring going forward that's not on the G-10 sidewall. Should be easy to replicate.

It would be a cool design if you removed the color cup part.

Here's some more conjecture supporting black paint: At the time that III/Jg 54 began receiving 109G-2's, July 1942, they were conducting night fighter sorties during the Battle of the Volkhov, in addition to normal day-fighter missions.

I'm wondering if the spinner was the original RLM 70 and the fuselage was painted with a black or near black.

Awesome

No, that's a song people have heard of.

Just got my first shot today. The most painful part was hearing the D-grade disco music being played in the waiting area.

That's amazing!

It's amazing how different the color looks between the three pictures.

It seems that with Jg 52 109G-2's the only had the scoops on the right side under the windscreen. The left sides were flat in that area.