1:32 BF-109 G-6 - interior 3D decals for Trumpeter kit

The Gustav and its cramped cockpit

The G-6 subversion was the most numerous form of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and you will recognize it by the conspicuous covers over the machine gun breeches ahead of the windscreen. The inside of the fighter was famously tight, the seat grown together with the armored backrest and the instruments crowded into a small area. At a large scale the cockpit is meanwhile open to view from outside, and an unfinished interior spoils the impression of an otherwise well-made model.

The contents in brief

These are layered decals whose printing is already in color and whose individual elements stand above the plane. They cover the front panel with the instruments and the surfaces at the sides of the pilot's space. The coloring matches the shades used in German cockpits of the period, so additional toning usually makes no sense. The needles and dials are drawn in and the edges on the bezels are noticeable. That does away with painting small areas with a brush, which otherwise calls for a steady hand and a magnifying glass.

Procedure and small recommendations

First try the position dry, by all means against a printed copy of the instructions. The transfer itself takes place in lukewarm water; draw the excess moisture off and press the layer down lightly with a soft point. If the set holds seat belts, let them overhang the edge of the seat cushion and bend them only once dry, so they look like a loosely lying strap. Finally unify the cockpit space with a semi-matte varnish, which evens out the difference in sheen between the print and the surrounding plastic. The matching Trumpeter kit is not part of the delivery.