Junkers Ju87 Stuka

Martin Derry, Neil Robinson

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Aviation
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781526702623
• eBook ISBN: 9781526702647
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka (a contraction of the German word Sturzkampfflugzeug, ie dive bomber) was arguably the Luftwaffes most recognizable airplane, with its inverted gull wings and fixed spatted undercarriage.Designed by Hermann Pohlmann as a dedicated dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft, the prototype first flew in 1935, and made its combat debut in 1937 with the Luftwaffe's Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. After several design changes in the light of operational experiences, the Stuka went on to serve the Luftwaffe and Axis forces, from the invasion of Poland in 1939, through the Battles of France and Britain in 1940, over the North African desert and the across Mediterranean, the invasion of Russia and the subsequent bitter fighting in that vast area, and following several more design changes and upgrades, continued to serve through to the end of World War Two.This latest addition to the growing Flight Craft range, follows the previous well established format, in that it is split in to three main sections. The first section, after offering a concise design and development history, continues with coverage of the various subtypes, from Anton to Gustav and their operational use from the Spanish Civil War to the end of World War Two.This is followed by a 16-page full color illustration section featuring detailed profiles and 2-views of the color schemes and markings carried by the type in Luftwaffe and Axis service. The final section lists as many of the injection-moulded plastic model kits produced of the Junkers Ju 87 in all the major scales that the authors could find details of, including the brand new Airfix 1/72 and 1/48 scale kits which were released while this book was being written, with photos of many finished models made by some of the worlds best modelers.As with all the other books in the Flight Craft range, whilst published primarily with the scale aircraft modeler in mind, it is hoped that those readers who might perhaps describe themselves as 'occasional' modelers, or even simply aviation enthusiasts, may also find that this colourful and informative work offers something to provoke their interests too.

Modelling the Stuka

In starting this Flight Craft title, we expected there would have been ‘quite a few’ Stuka kits produced over the years, but perhaps not quite as many as there actually were! Having said that, some of the kits are the same moulds merely repackaged by different companies and released and marketed under the various manufacturers’ names with different box-top artwork.

Some of the kits date back several years and many of course are no longer generally available, but where we have been able to find details of the kits in question, either from our own collections, or more usually from the collections of our modelling friends and acquaintances, we have added explanatory and/or appropriate notes accordingly. Inevitably, however, several of the kits listed here contain more detailed information than others, but, where only the barest detail appears, it represents the sum of any information unearthed.

AHM	1/144 scale

EDUARD

1/144 scale

Eduard’s 1/144th scale Stukas by Mike Verier – IPMS 1/144 Scale Special Interest Group

There are several Ju 87s available in 1/144 scale, but by far the best are Eduard’s. First produced in 2004 they have since been re-released as two-in-a-box ‘Combos’.

There are two basic toolings – for a Ju 87B and a Ju 87G, both of which offer crisp and accurate replicas of the Stuka, with different engine cowlings, cockpit canopies and wings all accounted for. Being Eduard you also get brass etch for the (different) tailplane struts, dive brakes, machine guns, aerials, and bomb release crutch. In the case of the ‘G’ the etch includes ammunition trays for the BK 37 anti-tank cannon. There is also a mask provided for various markings (but not the canopy).

The Ju 87B tooling was also released as an ‘R’ – the two drop tanks remain on the common sprue so you still have the option for a standard ‘B’.

Decals are excellent and offer three different schemes for each sub-type; all told an excellent package. Despite this the toolings date from a time when cockpits were not considered important for 1/144th scale and, indeed, there isn’t one – just a flat shelf to stand the canopy on!

Models as good as this however attract the attention of the aftermarket and Retrokit have solved this problem with a quite superb resin cockpit which transforms the model at very modest cost. Recently Retrokit released a conversion set for the folding wing Ju 87C intended for the Kreigsmarine’s never-completed aircraft carrier. OWL produce alternative resin ‘un-spatted’ wheels (a common feature of Stukas on the Eastern Front) and have announced replacement flying surfaces too. Also available from OWL are detailed resin replacements for the BK 37s and just to prove that anything can be improved upon, Master have produced stunning turned brass gun barrels for them.

Ju 87B (4414) New tool in 2004

Ju 87R (4415) 2004

Ju 87B with changed parts

Ju 87D (4416) 2004

Ju 87G (4417) 2004

Ju 87D with changed parts

Ju 87G Dual Combo (4430) 2014

Changed decals

Ju 87B Dual Combo (4431) 2014

Changed decals

GUNZE SANGYO

1/144 scale

Ju 87B Stuka (H-1019) 1973

HORNET

1/144 scale

‘Miniwing Series’

Ju 87A-1 Stuka (Mini004)

MITSUWA MODEL

1/144 scale

Ju 87B Stuka (1011)

REVELL

1/144 scale

Ju 87B Stuka (H-1019) 1973

Ju 87B Stuka (4047) 1992

Changed boxtop

‘Micro-Wings’ Ju 87B Stuka (04918) 2012

Changed decals

ZVEZDA

1/144 scale

Ju 87B-2 Stuka (6123) 2010

The exact opposite of the Eduard approach, the Zvezda Ju 87 is the right shape but is intended for the Wargame market and as such is very simplified with just six parts. Decals are generic crosses and numbers. The work required to bring this anywhere near a detailed model probably outweighs its low cost. Mike Verier

ACADEMY

1/72 scale

Ju 87G-1 (1641 & 12450)

Ju 87G-2 (12404 & 12539)

The Academy Ju 87G-1 (1641), released in 2001, (and subsequently re-released in 2010 as 12450) features the short-span wings of the D-1/D-3 series, upon which the G-1 was based. The kit looks impressive in the box with crisp, finely engraved panel lines, thin clear parts and decent detail, but is rumoured to be a little short in the nose area. Another shortcoming is the propeller assembly – the diameter of the propeller is significantly undersized and the spinner looks too blunt, possibly adding to the ‘short nose’ impression. The compression boots on the undercarriage legs appear to be too long, although the spats themselves seem to be the right dimensions. A pair of 37mm anti-tank cannon are included, which are well done.

Academy’s Ju 87G-2, released in 2005 (12404) and again in 2016 (as 12539) is essentially the same kit, but was released with retooled wings to reflect the correct ‘longer span’ with extended wingtips of the G-2. This kit also features a pair of underwing 37mm cannon. As might be expected in this scale, some of the subtler elements are oversimplified, which include the machine guns in the rear of the cockpit and the hinge arrangement for the flaps/ailerons. Markings are provided for one aircraft, a Ju 87G-2 flown by the commander of StG 2, Major Hans-Ulrich Rudel in the summer of 1944 over the Russian Front.

Academy’s Ju 87B-2 (kit number 72001) was released in 2008, and may originally be from a HobbyCraft mould that HobbyCraft never actually released. Apparently they were getting ready to release a Ju 87B kit, but for whatever reason didn’t, and it would appear that Academy acquired the mould (as Academy produced the master moulds for Hobby-Craft kits at that time anyway), and released the kit themselves, as a Ju 87B-2/Trop.

AIRFIX

1/72 scale

Airfix have released four Stuka kits in 1/72 scale to date – a Ju 87B in 1957, two Ju 87B/Rs in the late 1970s, and more recently a superb new tooling in 2016. The 1950s kit, (1395-9...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• CONTENTS
• Acknowledgements
• Preface
• Origins and Ju 87A
• Ju 87B/C/R
• Ju 87D/G
• Export Stukas
• Ju 87 Camouflage and Markings
• Modelling the Stuka