Junkers Ju 88 A-4
Luftwaffe "Jack of all trades"

Italeri, 1/72 scale
 

Reviewed by Glen Porter

Italeri's 1/72 scale Junkers Ju 88 A-4 will be available online from Squadron.com

The Junkers Ju 88 was designed as a fast bomber but performed so well that it was employed for other uses. Perhaps the best known of these roles was as a night-fighter along with specialized ground attack, torpedo bomber and reconnaissance. The A-4 variant was the most produced and the Ju 88 fought in all theatres from the Battle Of Britain to war’s end.

I haven't seen Hasagawa's 1/72 scale Junkers Ju 88, but I am told it has some fit problems associated with their policy of getting as much use out of one set of moulds as possible. If this is correct, then this re-release from Italeri must be considered a viable alternative.

There is a lot about this kit I like. It must have been one of their last kits before they started engraving panel detail because it has more interior detail than I have seen in any of their early twins such as the Dorniers, Mitchells and He-111s. It also hasn't got the rather ordinary looking crew figures we've come to expect from these early Italeri kits. In fact, the only thing I don't like is the raised panel detail and the fact that there are only two decal options.

Most of the parts are on the “A” sprue including fuselage, interior, engine nacelles, some undercarriage parts and weapons, both defensive and aggressive. Everything is beautifully moulded in light grey plastic with just a few small sink marks, no flash and the few ejector pin marks are in unobtrusive places. I'm not sure about the taper in the engine cowlings and the seats have shoulder straps moulded on but no lap belts. I think they should put them all on or none.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Sprue “B” has main wings, tailplane, wheels, under carriage roofs, engine fronts and props. There is no spar to ensure correct dihedral, the prop blade may require some re shaping and the cowling flaps are moulded closed. Other than this, the detail level and mould quality is similar to “A”.

The clear sprue, “C”, is very nicely done, as mentioned above, with very clearly marked framing and very little distortion.

There are only two decal options but I would be surprised if there aren't a host of after-market decal sheet out there for this very kit. The paint recommendations only show Model Master numbers and FS numbers but no Luftwaffe colours. I guess this is a left-over from the original issue as MM now do all of them.

Option “A” is a Luftwaffe aircraft from the Totenkopf Geschwader, 1/KG 54, Bergano 1943 in Green and Brown uppers, Light Grey lowers with wave pattern lines over both surfaces, Light Grey above and Green below.

“B” is an Ex-Luftwaffe aircraft in the Swiss Air Force Test Centre with Light and Dark Greens on the top surface and Black below and the Light Grey wave pattern on the top surfaces only. The decals them selves, by Zanchetti of Italy, are beautifully done as we've come to expect from this manufacturer but there are no stencils what so ever.

As I mentioned earlier, I haven't actually seen the Hasagawa kit so I really can't comment on how good or bad it is but only recount what I have been told by others. So, if you don't want to shell out the big bucks then consider this limited re-pop from Italeri. You won't be sorry.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Italeri for the review sample