In Box Review of MPC 1/24th Scale Junkers Ju-87B Stuka German Dive-bomber
Kit no. 2-3506
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1977
Out of production.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1977
Out of production.
HISTORY:
The Junkers Ju 87 or "Stuka" is a German dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft. Designed by Hermann Pohlmann, it first flew in 1935. The Ju 87 made its combat debut in 1937 with the Luftwaffe's Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 and served the Axis in World War II from beginning to end (1939–1945).
The aircraft is easily recognizable by its inverted gull wings and fixed spatted undercarriage. Upon the leading edges of its faired main gear legs were mounted ram-air sirens known as Jericho trumpets, which became a propaganda symbol of German air power and of the so-called Blitzkrieg victories of 1939–1942, as well as providing Stuka pilots with audible feedback as to speed.
The Stuka's design included several innovations, including automatic pull-up dive brakes under both wings to ensure that the aircraft recovered from its attack dive even if the pilot blacked out from the high g-forces, or suffered from target fixation.
The Ju 87 operated with considerable success in close air support and anti-shipping roles at the outbreak of World War II. It led air assaults in the invasion of Poland in September 1939. Stukas proved critical to the rapid conquest of Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France in 1940. Though sturdy, accurate, and very effective against ground targets, the Stuka was, like many other dive bombers of the period, vulnerable to fighter aircraft. During the Battle of Britain of 1940–1941, its lack of maneuverability, speed, or defensive armament meant that it required a heavy fighter escort to operate effectively.
After the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe deployed Stuka units in the Balkans Campaign, the African and the Mediterranean theatres and in the early stages of the Eastern Front war, where it was used for general ground support, as an effective specialized anti-tank aircraft and in an anti-shipping role. Once the Luftwaffe lost air superiority, the Stuka became an easy target for enemy fighters, but it continued being produced until 1944 for lack of a better replacement. By 1945 ground-attack versions of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 had largely replaced the Ju 87, but it remained in service until the end of the war in 1945.
Germany built an estimated 6,000 Ju 87s of all versions between 1936 and August 1944.
Obrest Hans-Ulrich Rudel became the most successful Stuka pilot and the most highly decorated German pilot of the war.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 2
Length: 11.5 m (37 ft 8.75 in)
Wingspan: 13.8 m (45 ft 3.5 in)
Height: 3.9 m (12 ft 9.25 in)
Wing area: 31.9 m2 (343.37 sq ft)
Airfoil: Göttingen 256
Empty weight: 3,900 kg (8,598 lb.) (equipped)
Max takeoff weight: 6,600 kg (14,550 lb.)
Powerplant: 1 × Junkers Jumo 211J V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston engine, 1,000 kW (1,400 hp) for take-off
1,050 kW (1,410 hp) at 4,300 m (14,100 ft)
Propellers: 3-bladed Junkers constant-speed propeller
Maximum speed: 410 km/h (255 mph, 222 knot) at 4,100 m (13,500 ft)
Cruise speed: 319 km/h (198 mph, 172 knot) at 5,100 m (16,700 ft)
Range: 1,535 km (954 mi, 829 nm.) at 5,100 m (16,730 ft) (maximum)
Service ceiling: 7,300 m (24,000 ft)
Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,400 ft) in 20 minutes
Armament:
Guns: 2 × 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 17 machine guns forward firing, 1 × 7.92 mm (0.31 in) twin MG 81 machine gun to rear
Bombs: 1 × 250 kg (550 lb.) bomb beneath the fuselage and 4× 50 kg (110 lb.) under-wing.
The Junkers Ju 87 or "Stuka" is a German dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft. Designed by Hermann Pohlmann, it first flew in 1935. The Ju 87 made its combat debut in 1937 with the Luftwaffe's Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 and served the Axis in World War II from beginning to end (1939–1945).
The aircraft is easily recognizable by its inverted gull wings and fixed spatted undercarriage. Upon the leading edges of its faired main gear legs were mounted ram-air sirens known as Jericho trumpets, which became a propaganda symbol of German air power and of the so-called Blitzkrieg victories of 1939–1942, as well as providing Stuka pilots with audible feedback as to speed.
The Stuka's design included several innovations, including automatic pull-up dive brakes under both wings to ensure that the aircraft recovered from its attack dive even if the pilot blacked out from the high g-forces, or suffered from target fixation.
The Ju 87 operated with considerable success in close air support and anti-shipping roles at the outbreak of World War II. It led air assaults in the invasion of Poland in September 1939. Stukas proved critical to the rapid conquest of Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France in 1940. Though sturdy, accurate, and very effective against ground targets, the Stuka was, like many other dive bombers of the period, vulnerable to fighter aircraft. During the Battle of Britain of 1940–1941, its lack of maneuverability, speed, or defensive armament meant that it required a heavy fighter escort to operate effectively.
After the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe deployed Stuka units in the Balkans Campaign, the African and the Mediterranean theatres and in the early stages of the Eastern Front war, where it was used for general ground support, as an effective specialized anti-tank aircraft and in an anti-shipping role. Once the Luftwaffe lost air superiority, the Stuka became an easy target for enemy fighters, but it continued being produced until 1944 for lack of a better replacement. By 1945 ground-attack versions of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 had largely replaced the Ju 87, but it remained in service until the end of the war in 1945.
Germany built an estimated 6,000 Ju 87s of all versions between 1936 and August 1944.
Obrest Hans-Ulrich Rudel became the most successful Stuka pilot and the most highly decorated German pilot of the war.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 2
Length: 11.5 m (37 ft 8.75 in)
Wingspan: 13.8 m (45 ft 3.5 in)
Height: 3.9 m (12 ft 9.25 in)
Wing area: 31.9 m2 (343.37 sq ft)
Airfoil: Göttingen 256
Empty weight: 3,900 kg (8,598 lb.) (equipped)
Max takeoff weight: 6,600 kg (14,550 lb.)
Powerplant: 1 × Junkers Jumo 211J V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston engine, 1,000 kW (1,400 hp) for take-off
1,050 kW (1,410 hp) at 4,300 m (14,100 ft)
Propellers: 3-bladed Junkers constant-speed propeller
Maximum speed: 410 km/h (255 mph, 222 knot) at 4,100 m (13,500 ft)
Cruise speed: 319 km/h (198 mph, 172 knot) at 5,100 m (16,700 ft)
Range: 1,535 km (954 mi, 829 nm.) at 5,100 m (16,730 ft) (maximum)
Service ceiling: 7,300 m (24,000 ft)
Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,400 ft) in 20 minutes
Armament:
Guns: 2 × 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 17 machine guns forward firing, 1 × 7.92 mm (0.31 in) twin MG 81 machine gun to rear
Bombs: 1 × 250 kg (550 lb.) bomb beneath the fuselage and 4× 50 kg (110 lb.) under-wing.
THE KIT:
MPC is of Fundimensions Div. of Gen Mills Fun Group Inc. They are an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, that makes all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a gigantic 21” x 14”, very blousy, shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. It is 6” to long and 5” too wide. It could have been marketed in a 15” x 8” box.
The box art shows a color photo of the model made-up and posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya does the majority of their box arts too.
The Stuka has a dark-green fuselage and landing gear legs and pants, over a grey undercarriage. It has a red tip on the black propeller, a yellow cowling, lower wing tips and rudder flap. There is a squadron insignia of a shield that is yellow at the bottom with 3 peaks, under red above the peaks and a leaping black panther on the yellow part, outlined in black. Followed by a small yellow maintenance mark, outlined in black. German AF crosses in the normal 6 positions and black bombs.
It was with 6/StG 77 Squadron.
MPC is of Fundimensions Div. of Gen Mills Fun Group Inc. They are an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, that makes all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a gigantic 21” x 14”, very blousy, shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. It is 6” to long and 5” too wide. It could have been marketed in a 15” x 8” box.
The box art shows a color photo of the model made-up and posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya does the majority of their box arts too.
The Stuka has a dark-green fuselage and landing gear legs and pants, over a grey undercarriage. It has a red tip on the black propeller, a yellow cowling, lower wing tips and rudder flap. There is a squadron insignia of a shield that is yellow at the bottom with 3 peaks, under red above the peaks and a leaping black panther on the yellow part, outlined in black. Followed by a small yellow maintenance mark, outlined in black. German AF crosses in the normal 6 positions and black bombs.
It was with 6/StG 77 Squadron.
There is no swastika shown on the rudder. Probably because this emblem is not allowed to be shown in countries where the kit is sold that outlawed it.
Across the top of the box art there are 6 walk-around type color photos of the model made up.
It says: Wingspread of nearly two feet ! Wingspan 22”, Length 18”. Detailed Jumo 12-cylinder engine. Complete cockpit with instrumentation and controls. Sliding canopy. Rubber tires. Removable wing and cowling panels. Choice of bomb load. Over 350 parts.
For modelers age 10 and older.
The box has 2 identical side-panels.
They begin with a one-paragraph history of the Stuka.
Paint and cement not included are available at hobby or department stores.
Followed by a black and white illustration of the Stuka, that shows cut-aways of the cockpit, engine compartment and wing gun compartments.
Features named are: Movable control surfaces. Choice of rear-mounted machine-guns. Sliding canopy. Detailed cockpit with instrumentation controls, pilot’s and gunners seats. Wing guns with ammo cans. Removable cowling. Hub detail under spinner. Choice of 500 kg or 800 kg bombs. Oil cooler. Bomb crutch. Navigation lights. Air brakes. Pilot and gunner figure included.
On the right of the side-panel there are 4 color box arts of other 1/24th scale aircraft kits that MPC manufactures: a Spitfire Mk. 1a, this Stuka kit, a Messerschmitt Bf-109E and a P-51 Mustang. No kit numbers are provided for these 4 kits.
Across the top of the box art there are 6 walk-around type color photos of the model made up.
It says: Wingspread of nearly two feet ! Wingspan 22”, Length 18”. Detailed Jumo 12-cylinder engine. Complete cockpit with instrumentation and controls. Sliding canopy. Rubber tires. Removable wing and cowling panels. Choice of bomb load. Over 350 parts.
For modelers age 10 and older.
The box has 2 identical side-panels.
They begin with a one-paragraph history of the Stuka.
Paint and cement not included are available at hobby or department stores.
Followed by a black and white illustration of the Stuka, that shows cut-aways of the cockpit, engine compartment and wing gun compartments.
Features named are: Movable control surfaces. Choice of rear-mounted machine-guns. Sliding canopy. Detailed cockpit with instrumentation controls, pilot’s and gunners seats. Wing guns with ammo cans. Removable cowling. Hub detail under spinner. Choice of 500 kg or 800 kg bombs. Oil cooler. Bomb crutch. Navigation lights. Air brakes. Pilot and gunner figure included.
On the right of the side-panel there are 4 color box arts of other 1/24th scale aircraft kits that MPC manufactures: a Spitfire Mk. 1a, this Stuka kit, a Messerschmitt Bf-109E and a P-51 Mustang. No kit numbers are provided for these 4 kits.
At the bottom of the box art it says: Imported parts labeled to show country of origin.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
Here is the greatest fault of the kit.
It holds 4 chalk-white mostly full parts trees, loose wings and fuselage halves, 7 chopped-up chalk-white trees, clear tree and the instructions in 2 large sealed cello bags.
The chopped-up trees have mold squeeze out flash on the frames of the trees and some parts. The plastic is brittle. I can bend and snap the tree frames or remove parts easily with my fingers. This probably accounts for the way the kit is ?
The instructions consist of a 20 page staple-bound booklet.
Page 1 says: Ju-87B Stuka, Super 1/24 Scale. Over a black and white illustration of the Stuka in the box art scheme, the copyright date for the kit of 1977 and Fundimensions Inc’s., A Div. of the General Mills Fun Group.
Page 2 is blank.
Page 3 begins with a 2-paragraph history of the Stuka. Over 2 assembly symbol explanations.
The bottom of page 2, on through to page 17 gives a whopping 67 assembly steps.
The last 3 steps are for assembly and painting of the 2 crewmen and placing them into the cockpit.
Page 18 is a painting and marking guide, showing a 3-view of the Stuka in the box art scheme. (already described above).
The trees have labels on the full trees that call them FRAMES with letters A, B, C & D on them.
I don’t know why some tree sections are all chopped up.
There are many loose chalk-white parts too.
The mostly full chalk-white FRAME A tree holds: the foot pedals, cockpit side walls, figures arms etc. (50 parts)
Here is the greatest fault of the kit.
It holds 4 chalk-white mostly full parts trees, loose wings and fuselage halves, 7 chopped-up chalk-white trees, clear tree and the instructions in 2 large sealed cello bags.
The chopped-up trees have mold squeeze out flash on the frames of the trees and some parts. The plastic is brittle. I can bend and snap the tree frames or remove parts easily with my fingers. This probably accounts for the way the kit is ?
The instructions consist of a 20 page staple-bound booklet.
Page 1 says: Ju-87B Stuka, Super 1/24 Scale. Over a black and white illustration of the Stuka in the box art scheme, the copyright date for the kit of 1977 and Fundimensions Inc’s., A Div. of the General Mills Fun Group.
Page 2 is blank.
Page 3 begins with a 2-paragraph history of the Stuka. Over 2 assembly symbol explanations.
The bottom of page 2, on through to page 17 gives a whopping 67 assembly steps.
The last 3 steps are for assembly and painting of the 2 crewmen and placing them into the cockpit.
Page 18 is a painting and marking guide, showing a 3-view of the Stuka in the box art scheme. (already described above).
The trees have labels on the full trees that call them FRAMES with letters A, B, C & D on them.
I don’t know why some tree sections are all chopped up.
There are many loose chalk-white parts too.
The mostly full chalk-white FRAME A tree holds: the foot pedals, cockpit side walls, figures arms etc. (50 parts)
The mostly full chalk-white FRAME B holds: spinner, machine gun, etc. (54 parts)
The mostly full chalk-white FRAME C tree holds: the figures body parts, more machine guns, engine parts etc. (68 parts)
The mostly full chalk-white FRAME D tree holds: exhaust, seats, air scoops, bomb sling etc. (42 parts)
Chalk-white wings halves (4 parts)
The bent wing upper and lower sections.
Chalk-white fuselage halves (2 parts)
The clear tree holds: canopy parts, light lenses, dash-board lenses (11 parts)
The black tree holds the rubber tires. (3 parts)
The first tree for the bomb halves, pilot arms, etc. (11 parts with 1 loose)
The second tree for the bomb halves. (10 parts with another half loose)
The remaining parts were loose in the kit.
The decal sheet completes the kit contents.
I have included a review that I had.
The detail is extensive and of the raised variety.
This kit is by no means for the amateur or beginning modeler.
Highly recommended.
This kit is by no means for the amateur or beginning modeler.
Highly recommended.