Ju 87 Stuka GB

Now that's EXACTLY what I said.

7 pieces for one bomb. Now that's a lot.

I've still got a ways to go really but I keep knocking out one task at a time. The bombs were really a surprising amount of work. The centerline bomb was 7 pieces total with seam lines and gaps everywhere and even the one piece wing mounted bombs had seam lines and an ejector pin mark on the very bottom of every bomb. There was work to be done with these things but I've got them to where they can be painted now. Whew!

Good news, can't be far away from finishing now.

Well guys I finished assembling the bombs and priming them. Tomorrow I'll give' em coat of paint. I still have to paint up and install the bomb crutch as well. Getting there................slowly but getting there.

Thanks guys.

Reasoned, despite all the Stuka books I have, I had not paid much attention to the A until doing this and I had not realised that either. Theres a bit change between the A and B variants from the canopy, wheel spats and overall shape of the front of the aircraft.

Bob, they are rather nice ain't they. I have been looking, and while there are quite a few options in 72nd, thankfully for me, there does not seem to be much in the larger scales.

Looks good Bish, makes me want to start looking for pre-war schemes myself

Looks great Bish, I love a good dio.  I never knew the Stuka came with a hinged canopy variant.

Thanks buddy. I think I am getting the hang of these bases now . It does look a bit cumbersome doesn't it. The inverted V on the end is a separate piece that I left until all the painting and weathering was done. And then at the bottom of one of those bits is a small PE piece, and I left that until after the whole thing was on the base. To me it looks like something you might see on a test aircraft.

Gary: Don't sell yourself short on your scratchbuilt cockpit. You did a fantastic job!

Joe: Nice progress! I really like that landing light!

Bish: I love the bases you make for your aircraft and the figures liven things up a bit too! That curved pitot tube looks kinda awkward IMO...

Thanks guys.

Tom, that's the pitot, I know, looks a bit od doesn't it. I have no idea why it is that design. I know the Ju 52 also had a curved one, must have been a 1930's thing.

Thanks Joe. I started using those badges last year, it was after I finished the 190 but I have gone back and changed that one. Easier to read and a bit more colourful then the old ones I made. And I can personalise them woith flags and so on.

Display area, now that's a good question. Right now, its where ever I can squeeze it into. Most of them are in the dining room, also known as the model room, on top of book cases, shelves and so on, with 4 in the bedroom. I really need to sort something out before I start building anything big, like a 32nd aircraft.

Nice clean build there Bish. The figures really add a different touch to it all. I do like that badging that you fastened to the outside of the base as well. Just a quick question. We've seen your stash, what does your displya area look like?

Gary> That cockpit's looking great.  I'm just finishing my Monogram D5 and chose to leave the cockpit.  I was planning to close the canopy, but it doesn't fit well.  Wish now that I had built in a little more detail.  Good job!

Bish> Looks awesome!  Nice figures as well.  What's sticking out of the port wing?

I got the A-2 finished last night and just taken the pics. The last stage was a very light weathering using Flory washes and some Flory grime around the wheel spats and rear undercarriage. Final touches were E-Z line for the antenna wires and a cranking handle to start the engine made from some plastic rod.

The kit does not come with any bombs and I not to add one and I also left out the rear MG. As its a peace time aircraft, I decided to take the opportunity not to have it all bombed up.

I have been really pleased with this build. I was surprised at how easy it went together. Before now I had not given much thought to pre war aircraft,  but this scheme especially has really got my attention so I can see me doing a few more 1930's German builds. And a real joy to add my second Stuka to the built pile.

I got the underside wingtips painted yellow yesterday, so should have some pics of that son.

Archangel, as Mustang says, there are some great pics a few pages back. But in short, for the rear gunner its just a lap belt attached either side of the seat with nothing coming over the shoulder. There is also a strap behind the seat running from side to side to stop the gunner falling to the front of the aircraft in a dive.

Lawdog:Man I feel your pain on the nose piece/ engine cowling fit to the fuselage. This TOTALLY sucked. I was working with that for what seemed like for friggin ever! Not to mention that if you look through the back side of the radiator/ oil cooler area there's a big ol' blank space in there. Good going on this thing so far. My wing gap  issues weren't as bad as yours though(except for the lower wing to fuselage fit at the centerline. That royally sucked as well but I got it ironed out. Whew! BTW that landing light looks great!! Tell the guy you got that from he had a great idea.

P.S. Just wait until you get to the wheel spats and the bombs on this sucker! These things have more seams than 10 pair of blue jeans!!!

Archangel:Refer back in the build a few pages. I can't remember where I posted it but there are SEVERAL cockpit photos from one of my references that should help you out.

GAF:Your build is looking great for being a Monogram offering man. Added detail is almost a must with those things and you're doing a fine job of upgrading there.

Second that cockpit looking good, even at that scale there was a lot of empty space in the Monogram kit that needed filling in.

I'm slugging away on mine and it's coming together nicely.     Right now I'm in a AWP status as of yesterday,  I ordered a couple of the seat belts from Ultracast and ought to have those by the end of next week.  I was considering getting the photo etch rudder pedals but I figured I can touch up the kit's pedals instead.

One question I have is does anyone know how/where the pilot and gunner belts on the Ju-87 B-2's are attached? So far I haven't  found any online pics showing the placements. I have some ideals but would like to be close. Will post some pics by Tues of what I got so far.  

Great job with that cockpit Gary, I never thought to use balsa wood for that.  Looks like you're off to a great start as well Joe.

Gary, thank you. And that pit doesn't look as bad as you say. It looks like you have the layout of the side walls spot on. Scratchbuilding stuff like that ain't easy.

Joe, thank you. Actually, it was not as bad to that scheme as I had expected. Its just about finished, just got the figures to wrap up and its done. Nice work on the landing light, I think you might be thinking of Mustang using that method. Looks really good.

In regards to bombs, I have not seen 66 mentioned. I have seen pics of 87's, both B-1 and B-2, during the BoB with all 5 stations loaded. The B-2 could carry a heavier load than the B-1. 1,000Kg, so this meant it could carry a single SC 1000 on the centre bomb rack with no bomb on the wings.

I figured I'd drop in.  Work schedule has kept me away from the bench lately. 

Ajm, with the exception of RLM 65 and 76, I'

I've never had much success in reproducing RLM colors with Tamiya paints.  The recommended formulas just don't look right to me.  I prefer Gunze RLM colors for these, which are dead on to my eye.  For reasons unknown, Gunze discontinued their Aquesous line, but their lacquers are still available.  I stocked up on the Aqueous when it was still available.  If interested, you could check E-bay and you could probably still find it.    

Bish, I'm diggin' that pre-war scheme.   Looks like it took a while. It looks like your in the home stretch. 

Mustang, That snake scheme looks great!  Hope to see more pics of that soon.   

Gary, that cockpit is looking awesome.

I did snag some bench time over the last few nights.  The landing light area is a black hole.  I decided to spruce it up by adding a light (I followed someone else's example...perhaps it was in here).  I blanked it off with styrene and sliced off a piece of sprue to represent the light.  I drilled a small hole from the bulb and painted it silver.  A blob of clear epoxy finished it off.  Not too shabby eh?

I 

It looks like a light yeah?  Alot better than an empty hole I suppose.

A test fit.  It looks like the Hasegawa wing root gaps will be on coffee break for this build, however, that engine attachment will be hurtful.  Here I attached it temporarily with Blue Tac... 

I started with the wing to fuselage attachment.  Here is how I solve any wing root issues....works everytime.  Pull the wings to the root with a strip of masking tape, Tenax it, then leave till dry.

As I expected, I had a gap where the engine piece attached to the fuselage (the diagonal panel line).  Unless the real thing was supposed to look this way, which is certainly possible, this area needed work.  I filled the gap with styrene rod and sanded it smooth.  I them rescribed the lines back in with a sewing needle in a pin vice.  What a PITA this was.  Its not perfect but it looks much better than before.  For future builds, Does anyone know if this area has a gap on the real thing?  Everything else fit great.  I built the spats and dryfitted them.  These fit great.  Here's where I left off. 

Reference the discussion of bombs.  I thought there were painted RLM 66?.  Also, I have read that Battle of Britain Stukas only carried the centerline bomb, is that accurate?  Any input greatly appreciated.

Almost time to paint, eventhough I still have no idea which plane I'm building....

Joe 

Bish> That really is an interesting scheme, and you've done a bang-up job on it. 

I suppose I should do another small update on my build progress, though I'm a bit embarrassed to post anything showing the work I've done.

I've been working on the cockpit, and, let's face it, I'm no cockpit guru like Joe "Lawdog". 

The cockpit being "sparse" in the MONO-CRAFT stuka, I thought I would try to spruce it up with a few items.

So using some plastic card, silver duct tape (the kind with the sticky back) and some balsa wood, I began to add panels and boxes.  Using some images from online of other cockpits, and with Bish's help with the center panel and radios, I began to fashion something out of the interior.

The IP was an image I found online and printed out, then added a scratch-built sight to the top.  I fashioned some seat belts out of the metallic silver duct tape and painted them tan.  Then some paint and imaginary detailing and soon I had something that... well, I'm only glad it will be hidden beneath some thick, plastic canopy.

And that's about it.  The only thing I didn't do was give a shot of the back of the gunner's position and the radios.  Bad photography.

So there you have a scratch-built Stuka cockpit in all it's crudeness.  I have to wonder after finishing this if it was all worth the trouble.  Good thing I have a sense of humor.

Thanks for looking!

Gary

Thanks buddy, ye, I rather like that scheme. I can see me going on a pre war/Spanish civil war kick.

As for the Eduard kit, well, I do have another one. That going to be Rudels bird when I get to it, so I might just be tempted.

Scott: Now thats a big birdie! Very nice work on that monster of a kit!

Joe (Lawdog): Amazing looking cockpit! Thanks for sharing your techniques with us! I got a question though: What do you mean with "paint dipped in alcohol" do you simply dip your brush into the paint, then into the alcohol and start brushing it onto the model?

Bish: I'm absolutely digging that splinter camo! Great looking color pallete too! The lil Eduard Stuka looks really nice as well. BTW, i wasn't sure either if you were serious about detailling the cockpit or not...

Kostas: I'm sorry to hear about the fit issues you have with your kit. That's a neat looking engine though!

Joe (Mustang):

mustang1989

And there you have it folks! He's lost it!

Well it sure took you long enough!

It's nice to see her standing on her legs!

Ye, its been my go to site for this sort of info for a few years now. Some nice info on the bomb markings as well.

Ok, time for another update. I got the markings on followed by exhaust staining using Tamiya XF-19 and then a flat coat. As you can see, this carries the pre war 5 digit codes, these were replaced by the more familiar 4 digit codes in 1939, just a few months before the war.

The white marks on the right wing are a bit of a mystery. They are clearly seen on the photo's of this aircraft. There is no marking for the left wing and its not visible on the real thing, but this could simply be because they can't be seen against the light grey background. I can only assume its an old marking that's been replaced, but its a bit odd that it has not been painted out completely.

Next up will be some weathering, as a peace time aircraft, this will be rather light, and that should be about it.

Hey Bish... yup, I msure your right, and I think I saw that same color listing and it knd of puzzled me too, but still, lots of good info on the site!

Greg... LOL... looking forward to it bud, and the compleation of the 190s!

Doug

Hey Doug! I know you're just yanking my chain, but.....

I am getting serious about finishing my 2nd 190 (past the due date) and I plan on procuring a Stuka very soon. I do NOT want to miss this GB.

Doug, that's the main source I get my info from. But its also there they say the SC 500 is blue, but I think that's the only error I have found.

Joe, this is the link, its very useful.

www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/.../index.html

Theres also links for others nations there as well.

OH... and Greg..... Your starting your build ... when?   Just kidding my friend, lol,,,always good to see your active!

Doug

Joe... Try... warbirdsresourcegroup.org    thats where I get alot of info on ordenance. They had a variaty of different types and sizes of bombs and this site usually gives a very good description of the different types.

Doug

PS... Looking good!

Well, speak of the devil, there's Mustang Joe's Stuka!

Wow, that is is looking great, Joe. Those side decals must have been fun.