Kit: No. 7269
Scale: 1/72
Manufacturer: Zvezda, from Dragon Models USA, 626-968- 0322, www.dragonmodelusa.com
Price: $21.95
Comments: Injection-molded, 151 parts, decals
Pros: Cost; subject; optional parts
Cons: Poor fit of outer wings and minor fit issues overall; thick canopy frame.

A versatile aircraft in the Luftwaffe’s toolbox, the Junkers Ju 88 was built as a bomber, reconnaissance and ground-attack plane and, as depicted in Zvezda’s release, a night fighter.

The kit features finely engraved panel lines, cockpit detail, open or closed landing- gear doors, and air crew with options for different heads and poseable arms. Markings are provided for three aircraft.

The crew compartment is a straightforward build. While cockpit detail is minimal, you’re not going to see very much of it when you’ve finished. I painted the cockpit Testors Model Master RLM 66 instead of the olive drab specified by the instructions. I also painted the tail wheel and well with Gunze RLM 02 before closing up the fuselage.

Installing the ventral gun assembly required careful sanding to blend out the edge of the belly pan. The vertical tail was installed and the whole assembly set aside.

The main landing gear’s rear legs did not line up with the rear holes, but careful adjustment of the legs got them in place. I painted the main wheel wells and landing gear Gunze RLM 02 before assembly and masked them off.

Dry-fitting the inner and outer wing assemblies revealed a mismatch; the outer wings are thicker. After sanding both the upper and lower parts of the outer wing part numbers A7, A8, A9, A10 to correct this problem, I joined the halves. When they were dry, I installed both wings and tail pieces. I masked the canopy with Bare-Metal Foil and prepainted Model Master RLM 66.

I painted overall with Gunze RLM 76 and applied the spotted camouflage with pastels and a china pencil. The instructions do not specify a squadron for each marking, so I selected the third one on the plans.

Small exterior parts were installed after painting and decaling to minimize breakage. The “stag horn” antennae give this plane an insect-like appearance.
Referring to Warplanes of the Luftwaffe, by David Donald, I verified that the kit’s measurements closely match the published dimensions.

With the nagging fit issues, I can only recommend this kit to intermediate and advanced modelers. My “insect” took 25 hours to finish, and it would be a nice addition to anyone’s collection.

– Tom Foti