Ju 87 Stuka GB

Nice work on those rudder pedals. I know with a lot of aircraft they attach to the floor, I am not sure if this set up is because of the pilots viewing window or some other reason.

Your making great progress on this.

Sweet. Always feels good to have the fuselage closed up!

Hey guys. This has got to be the wierdest set up for rudder pedals that I've seen yet. I ended up cutting a small section of plastic stryrene and mounted the PE pedal mounts and pedals onto the styrene. I then mounted the whole assy onto the L/H fuselage half as shown. It was just too flimsy of an assy to mount one half onto the L/H fuse and then the other half onto the R/H fuse once both halves were together and it was altogether too complicated to assemble the way the instructions had it!

and now the fuselage halves are sealed up!

Every model deserves to be loved mikey, well detailed or not.

And indeed, the addiction begins, and there is no cure.

mikeymize

I'm certain to apply what I'm learning on the next Stuka I build.

This is a scholarly group of modelers for sure. Great info thus far. My model doesn't have nearly the detail many here do especially in the cockpit but I'm certain to apply what I'm learning on the next Stuka I build.

Thanks Bish and Clemens for the word on the IP. Should be finishing up with that part tomorrow.  Rudder pedals installed today and will post pics tomorrow. Looks like its about time to seal the fuselage up boys!!!!!!!!!!!

Bish

Some interesting info there James. Will defiantly be interesting to see what info the Do 17 throws up.

Some interesting info there James. Will defiantly be interesting to see what info the Do 17 throws up.

James: Great work on the 'pit! Thanks for posting all that info!

Joe: That IP sure looks exceptionally nice!

Snapdragon -- amazing info, thanks for sharing!

M/TB379

Snap:Perhaps I'm being read as nit picky. If that's the case then I truly apologize. Apparently my info and yours aint matching and in the big scheme of things it doesn't matter.  We are both going to have good looking builds out of this and thats what does matter. Looking forward to more of your build.

GAF:Thanks for the info. Finding references for the IP even if they are computer models is proving difficult.

Mustang> And just in case you want to know what each of those tiny instruments are... 

http://www.raafsquad.com/cliffs/ju87/ju87.htm

Gary

It is amazing what turns up in archives once you start digging. I have a rudimentary and very basic knowledge of German but when asking what certain words mean people will often help and can become very engrossed in what you are doing.

I have a complete list of Luftwaffe colour references and matches to Vallejo model colour/air. which I will make available to anyone who wants a copy in PDF. Of course I continue to refine and update as new info comes to light.

During research for my Hachette 1/200 Bismarck build, a friend in Hamburg got me a visit to the Blohm and Voss shipyard where I was able to visit the dry-dock where the ship was laid down and also the dock where she was fitted out after launching. I was also able to get close up and personal with the massive model in the company offices and was able to do some colour research in their archives where I came upon complete sets of colour chips for all three services up until end March 1945 along with usage and hand written notes.

I would have loved to get my paws on this on a permanent basis and even offered my soul, but I was only allowed to make notes and spend a few days colour matching chips with paints.

I was surprised to see that the same colours sometimes came up under a different number/refrence more than once and that there are more than one official shade for the 3 tone camouflage of vehicles from 1943. on looking at the chips etc for these colours/shades I got the distinct feeling that the different shades of the official colour were assigned to different factories, but to date I have found no official document stating this.

Getting back to this GB, I found documentary evidence in the Freiburg archive stating that bomber cockpits were to be RLM 42 and the cargo/passenger area of transport aircraft to be RLM 41. Both these orders were cancelled in 1942 in favour of RLM 66.

As the Stuka was a tactical bomber/ground support it seems reasonable that the cockpit of this aircraft would be RLM 42 according to painting orders.

when using black and white photos it is more or less useless to ID a colour shade. Anyone who claims to look at a B&W photo and say that a particular shade of grey is actually whatever green/yellow/brown/blue colour then IMHO they are idiots. You have to go by documentary evidence from archives. Photos do help in defining patterns and the light colour from the dark colour, but to actually ID a colour? Give me a break!!!!!

We do know that fighter cockpits were RLM 02. This is well documented and can be clearly seen on surviving aircraft. We know there was a change in 1941 to RLM 66. This is documented and also can be seen on surviving aircraft,

It would be interesting to see the colour of the cockpit interior of the Flying pencil recovered by the RAF museum as that was shot down in 1940 and I do believe the preservation at the bottom of the channel has been pretty good. This aircraft should be able to answer quite a few questions.

James

Nice start snap. That RLM 42 is quite light isn't it, I think in B&W pics it would be easy to confuse it with 02. Where did you find out the info.

The IP looks really nice Mustang, more great work.

Snap:This looks good so far. The interior color appears a little on the light side but a light wash could tone it down a little. I was going to ask about the color of the ammo drums and you mentioned that in the last statement. The OOB detail looks pretty good in there Snap. I'm not used to seeing a column at the gunners station but that detail adds a little bit more detail to the gunners station and thats always a plus.

Mikey:Progress looks good so far!!!

Everybody:Progress is slowed as of this week to the point of a mere crawl! The dogs the dogs the dogs!!! Its a regular old folks / canine home now around here. This Aires kit just keeps getting more interesting by the minute. The way they have the builder mount the rudder pedals is nothing short of phenomenal! I will post a pic of the procedure later but I countered this and made them somewhat easier (more bearable) to install. The IP is shaping up nicely so far and I still have to install a couple of control levers and turn handles as well as the gunsight but its coming along. The OOB IP was sanded down and painted white for the gauge overlay, then I installed the PE IP facing onto the assy, painted it RLM 66 and then applied a HEAVY wash. Here's where that is now and I'll get back to those rudder pedals in an upcoming post:

A scale reference shot:

..............and a close up shot:

Hi Chaps

Here I go with pictures of my build. First up is the office. During my colours research for Luftwaffe aircraft I came upon painting orders that required bomber and transport aircraft cockpits and work spaces to be either RLM 41 or RLM 42. These orders came into effect in around 1934-35 and were finally changed in 1942.

I have sat and carefully considered what to paint the cockpit, either RLM 02 or the darker grey, of the two from the paint orders, RLM 42. I have decided to go with RLM 42 just to be different.

For this build I am not using any aftermarket parts at all and just building OOB. Normally I would get lots of AM parts but as I am looking at going away for foreign parts this year and also replacing and rebuilding my stash then money has to be hoarded like mad.

Here we go

MG magazines are painted in the colour that was generally used for non-vehicle equipment.

O, no worries mate. If you don't do it for this, I did think that might be a bit much. I have enough to do before I worry about buying that kit, so when ever you do it, I will be keeping a close eye on it.

I don't know if I have enough time to build both Stuas for this GB, so I won't start that one untill I'm done with the G-2... I'd build her with winter camo so that's going to take quite a bit longer than a normal splinter-scheme... No promises...

I will be watching your build closely, I have been in two minds about getting that kit and correction set or just waiting to see if someone else brought out a B.

That replacement nose looks really nice IMO. Seems to go on without any major problems and the amount of surface detail looks good to me as well... The resin wheels are a nice touch as well becuase the Stuka I want didn't have the skis (and Trumpeter removed the wheels from the kit)

My pleasure. I just found this as well. I have only looked at the first page, but he lays out the correction set next to the kit fuselage. He also come to the conclusion that the Trump kit radiator is more like a B-1 rather than a B-2. I hadn't realised they ere that different, so going to have to look at that, but theres not much between them.

www.scale-models.co.uk/.../1-32-battle-of-britain-build-part-2-stuka-trumpeters-ju-87-b-2.25812

Thanks for the link, buddy!

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm used to building in 1/48 so it's a bit of getting used to. Thanks so much for the pics and info Nathan; that's very helpful. I did find a couple pages of Italian JU 87's in the book I'm currently reading but only one color profile of a different squadron's plane.

This is the set if you haven't come across it. I had not heard of these until I came across this.

www.fawcettmodelsandpatterns.co.uk/1-32-junkers-ju-87-b2-r2-correction-set

Tom: I think your Stuka looks really nice! Nothing to be ashamed of at all.

Doug: I remember seeing those in the 43 GB. Amazing stuff!

John: 7 parts!? Oh boy, that's a whole lot for such a tiny assembly...

Mikey: Nice progress!

James: I'm looking forward to those ZM kits as well! Epecially the 335 single-seater.

Bish: Trumpeter didn't correct any of the shape issues in any of their Stuka kits AFAIK. I have the winter version (with the skis) in my stash and the nose looks kinda wierd on that one too. I only bought it because it really was a steal for 30€ at a model show. I think I'll purchase that correction set once I get to build her...

Mike: Looking very good!

Another one under way, nice one Mike.

A little progress -- the wing together and half a dozen small parts attached:

M/TB379

Snap, the nose on that Trump B kit is the only reason I haven't more one yet. There is a correction set out for it, but it lacks all the detail so would need scribing at least. The nose is indeed completely the wrong shape and as far as I know they have not corrected it with the R-2 and B with skis. I have not seen mention of a D, but they are due to release an A. I just hope they get that right.

I to am looking forward to those ZM kits. I had wondered if Revell might follow suit, but I haven't heard anything, so I might just have to man up and get those ZM kits, can't miss out on those.

Looking forward to seeing your build under way.

I am just about to start my stuka and have taken an executive decision just to build OOB. The only thing I will be purchasing is Eduards canopy mask set and more than likely an AM decal set as I am not happy with Trumpeter's offering as they are more or less D3 variant markings, especially for the upper wing. There are also airbrake decals missing and possible colour problems with some.

The reason I am just doing and OOB build is that later this year Airfix is releasing their new 1/24 Typhoon 1b bubbletop. I saw this at Telford last year and immediately tried to pre-order with the airfix chaps, but only got a smile and a "Wait until June 2014!"

The Airfix website has the official price of this big and detailed kit for £99.99. Expect it to "fly" off the shelves. Do I hear the rumblings of a large scale Typohoon group build around the membership??

Also ZM in Japan will be releasing the Horton 229 and Dornier 335 (single and twin seats) later this year

www.zoukeimura.co.jp/.../oyajiblog_050.html

check out the ZM boss' blog for detailed pics.

Now you can see why I want to save up as much coin as I can.

For those who don't have Trumpeter's 1/32 Stukas I can say that it does have faults.

1. The nose section to me doesn't exactly look right. It sort of looks right, but something niggles at me. Also you spend lots of time building up the Jumo engine and then the complete left and right cowling encloses it completely so you can't see it at all. Experienced builders with the skill can correct this, but it is, IMHO, an oversight.

2. The ordnance for this variant (B2 is completely wrong apart from 2 SC50 bombs. The ordnance in the kit is for the D3 onwards variant. I suppose this means that in the future we will get more stukas from Trumpeter and I do hope they correct the nose.

3. The wheel spats are just slightly out of shape for a B2, but it is barely noticeable. The wheel spats are correct for the D3 onwards, which also points to later variants on the horizon.

I did get this just after Trumpeter released this and it has been sat in the stash. I did read somewhere that Trumpeter has corrected the ordnance part of the kit to fit the B2.

There are 3 boxing's of this kit in the Trumpeter range. The B2, B2/U4 which had the undercarriage replaced by skis by frontline units for winter requirements and the R variant which was a B2 with extended wingtips and long range tanks mainly used for anti-shipping in the med theatre

you can see the sprues etc on trumpeter's website here

www.trumpeter-china.com/.../2103.html

I will build this kit as a BoB aircraft. Exterior colours, RLM70/71 upper surface, RLM65 lower. Also this is the first kit on which I will start to use an airbrush!

Expect an update soon

James