So, after completing a few 109 G's from Eduard, after tackling the Zvezda kit (recently posted here), I got my hands on the new(ish) G-6 from Tamiya.
Yes, I did some promises out loud about not buying the kit, after all why would I (or we, the modelers worldwide) buy another 109 when there are at least 2 fantastic kits in the market for anyone who wishes to build the Gustav version of the venerable Messerchmitt design?
Well the simple answer is because I saw one in my LSP and couldn't refrain myself from reaching the wallet.
So if you are curious about the kit, perhaps thinking about it the same way I was not long ago, or if you are just a 109aholic like me then perhaps this thread sounds interesting.

I bought a few AM goodies to make the build as simple as possible, not forgetting getting the overall end quality of the model up a notch or two (or so I hope).
These goodies are not mandatory of course. In fact the price I paid for the box here was twice the price of the competitors, Eduard and Zvezda. So getting these made the bill a bit too excentric for my liking. To ease my conscience I will only build 1 box of this kit, unlike Eduard, wich I collect at a steady pace of 2 per year.

Here’s some images of the lot, and let’s see how it goes in the next few days

9 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Damm right David!

So Tamiya-San designed the cockpit in a way it can be instaled after we glue the fuselage halves. Now usually this sounds like a good idea right? Yeah...like it’s good theory for a not so good practice.

You can see in the images how the tube fits upward in the fuselage, complementing the parts that are on the side walls. However I fear that the line it creates, non existent on the actual plane, will be noticeable. Hope I’m wrong with this one.

Another small but annoying issue are the sink or raised marks in the side walls. Just why?

6 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Louis, I recall your review very well and it was one of the reasons that got me a bit more curious about the plastic inside the box. When I saw th frames at the shop I was already hooked.

Sadly one needs to fill or sand down a couple of those marks present in the cockpit walls. It’s obviously not a problem, au contraire, but why Tamiya got them there puzzles me. Almost.50€ for a XXI century kit that present the same sink holes as a 1995 edition. If they developed the ease of construction even more, why not solve this?

I suspect to build it faster than I did the competitors and I won’t be doing the kit’s decal options. Glad to have you aboard my friend

Progress coming along nicely, sir - we'll be watching with keen interest. 🙂

Thanks Craig!

The cockpit is almost done. Missing the shoulder belts, that will be added later on, and the front windscreen with the IP. This area should be an improvement over all other moulds so far, and one which I hope will preserve those details just front of the windscreen and still have a perfect joint line with the fuselage. Added a photo of the Eduard 109 F-4 (another ongoing project) so the subtle differences between different approaches to build the same area can be seen. Notice that I needed a bit of filler just ahead of the windscreen in Eduard's kit.

4 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Quick update:
Some filling is required on the lower wing, which I did using some CA with talcum powder. Seems Tamiya made it thinking of further Gustav versions.
The fit of the part that made the back of canopies didn't fit that good, probably my fault.
More soon, the kit builds fast as usual from this brand

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

David, there’s always beer in the fridge for you!

And yes, it mildly irritates me as well when you pay a wealthy sum for what some folks dubbed the “kit of the year 2018” and then you get spurious joint lines or a plethora of sunk moulding marks. I must say that the Gekko I built last year, wich was a 1998 or so mould, had fewer of these nuisances, go figure that!?

And thank you for the compliment about the painting. I’m not sure if my way is the Spanish school or else, but it is what looks better in my naked eye, especially for areas that are not exposed, like cockpits, compartments and U/C areas. Oddly I don’t use much that lighter/darker contrast in the visible areas of the plane because direct light (natural or indoor) does tend to enhance the effect to a level that I find a bit unreal (or cartoonish as you name it). Personal preferences, nothing more.