Revell 1:72 Junkers 290 A-5 seeadler (04340)

[Johni044]

Currently working on and off (more off at the moment TBH) on this great kit from Revell.





Still at the initial prep stage of painting parts on sprues.



But should get into construction sometime in the next few days.

[Daishi12]

Nice kit mate, should look awesome when it's built up

[HobbyModeller]

I made the 'Spy Attack' version of this plane two years ago, it's a beast!

[T3hGuppy]

Nice not an aircraft I know much about looks great though.

[Johni044]

I didn't know of it's existence until I saw the box either. Been really busy decorating over recent weeks but have made a little progress on this one.

[Johni044]

It's moved on a little.

First of all the comfy chairs were installed.

No No not the comfy ..... oh never mind.

Office is finished with a something new for me, a little wash, might try this again.


The MG151/20's installed in the waist positions.


And the fuselage was fastened up.


Quite a novel arrangement but it seems to work ok.

[DC87]

This is looking very good, I like the effort you've put into those comfy chairs

[UKscalemodeller]

Why do I not know of this plane?

great progress.

[gosselin2112]

Hey, can anyone provide some back story of this aircraft? Like a lot of us, I have never seen or heard of it before, until now. Look as though you could have quite a party inside.

[Johni044]

I'll pop some history on with my next post :thumb:

[Johni044]

As requested and with the help of Wikipedia.
The Junkers 290 was developed directly from the Ju 90 airliner, versions of which had been evaluated for military purposes, and was intended to replace the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor which by 1942 was proving increasingly slow and vulnerable when confronted by RAF aircraft over the "narrow seas" around Europe.


It was also intended to meet the need for large transport aircraft. A bomber version, the A-8, was planned, but never built.[2]
The development programme resulted in the Ju 290 V1 prototype , which first flew on 16 July 1942. It featured a lengthened fuselage, more powerful engines, and a Trapoklappe hydraulic rear loading ramp. Both the V1 and the first eight A-1 production aircraft were unarmed transports. The need for heavy transports saw the A-1s pressed into service as soon as they were completed.

Several were lost in early 1943, including one taking part in the Stalingrad Airlift, and two flying supplies to German forces in Tunisia, and arming them became a priority.
The urgent need for Ju 290s in the long-range maritime reconnaissance role was now also high priority, and resulted in the Ju 290A-2. Three A-1 aircraft were converted to A-2 specification on the assembly line. Production was slow due to the modifications necessary and the installation of strong defensive armament. The A-2 was fitted with FuG 200 Hohentwiel low-UHF band search radarand a dorsal turret fitted with a 20 mm MG 151 cannon. The Hohentwiel radar was successfully used to locate Alliedconvoys at ranges of up to 80 km (50 mi) from an altitude of 499 m (1,637 ft) or100 km (62 mi) from an altitude of 999 m (3,278 ft). It allowed convoys to be tracked while remaining well out of range of any anti-aircraft fire.
The A-3 version followed shortly after with added navigational equipment and probably the heaviest defensive armament of any World War II aircraft; it was fitted with two hydraulically powered HDL 151 dorsal turrets armed with 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons, with a further 20 mm MG 151/20 and a 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131 machine gun fitted in a gondola beneath the nose, and a 20 mm MG 151/20 fitted in the tail operated by a gunner in a prone position. Two 13 mm (.51 in) MG 131s were also fitted in waist positions (Fensterlafetten). The A-3, along with the A-2, also featured large auxiliary fuel tanks in the fuselage. Both types retained the rear loading ramp so that they could be used as transports if need be.

The improved A-7 version appeared in spring 1944; 13 were completed, and 10 served with FAGr 5. Some A-7s and some A-4s were fitted with a detachable nose turret armed with a 20 mm MG 151/20 for added defense against frontal attack. No bombs were carried, as it was intended that the A-5 and A-7 would be used to launch anti-ship missiles.
Production lines were set up at the Letov aircraft factory in Prague for combat versions of the aircraft, commencing with the Ju 290 A-2, which carried a search radar for its patrol role. Minor changes in armament distinguished the A-3 and A-4, leading to the definitive A-5variant. The A-6 was a 50-passenger transport aircraft.
Ju 290 A-4 no. 0165, which had been equipped with attachments for FX 1400, Hs 293, and Hs 294PGM ordnance, and fitted with FuG 203e Kehl radio guidance gear for controlling such PGM ordnance, was surrendered to the U.S. Renamed Alles Kaputt,[15] and numbered FE 3400, it was flown to the US by Colonel Harold E. Watson from Orly, Paris to Wright Field on 28 July 1945, via the Azores. The captured aircraft, with its Nazi insignia repainted, was a frequent performer at air shows at Freeman Field and Wright Field. When the aircraft was scrapped at Wright Field in 1946, a plastic explosive device of German manufacture was discovered in the wing near to a fuel tank.



The 290 was also further developed to the Ju 390 as one of the Amerika Bomber plan. For this the fuselage and wings were extended and another pair of engines added. It is this version which allegedly flew to within 12 miles of Long Island on a proving flight. However there is no substantiating evidence to support this discovered to date.



Hope this gives some background to the plane.

[T3hGuppy]

Nice bit of background dude.

Now I want to do this in 1/48 scale!!

[Johni044]

Got the major flying surfaces on the 290 tonight and some mat varnish onto the Lancster.

[Lee]

Looking good John

[Coen]

Wow... great stuff, nice history John. Thanks for that.

[Johni044]

No problem, Did some work on the engines last night, instructions say attach them now, but I think I'll wait till I get it painted first.

[Jamesday1998]

that looks awesome! never seen this aircraft before and that is one massive model!!!

[Johni044]

Thanks, finishing the Luft '46 duo means I can get back to other items on the bench, one being the Ju290 which has had the cabin roof fitted and the engines have had a test fit and seem ok.

[Rob]

Thanks for the postings, another one here to whom this is all new. Extraordinary seeing it next to the Lanc, that Junkers is a huge airplane! I look forward to seeing more

[Johni044]

Work is continuing on the Seeadler, slowly I grant you, but most transparencies are now in place and initial painting of them of the internal colour started.

Couldn’t face hours of masking so I’m afraid done freehand. I should be able to get the first coat of Hu65 on tonight fingers crossed.

There are a lot of aerials and gubbins on the outside of this beast but as I’m already having nightmares about snapping the guns off, these will be put on after painting and decaling.





More later hopefully.

John

[Coen]

That is a really sweet looking piece of kit John. Wow. You've done a fantastic job putting her together.
You could try out some masking agent on the clear parts. It's easier than masking tape, but not as exact, or as tough.

[portlandjoe]

Sweet looking build you have there. I want to get my hands on one now.

[muskegman]

That looks great so far, I didnt realize it was that big compared to the size of the Lancaster, looking forward to the rest of the build



Mark

[Johni044]

Well I masked off the Seeadler



Went to get the paint, checked back to the instructions them realized I’d had a serious DOH!!!! Evening, I’d inversed the pattern and applied the masking the wrong way.

So next night, using the “wrong” pattern as a guide, redid the masking.



And over the next couple of nights applied the Hu245, removed the tape and this is the result.



A bit touch up required hither and thither then some gloss varnish on ready for decaling.

[Coen]

Now that is looking really cool John.
Not exactly a small project is it?
That camo scheme looks fantastic.
Well done dude!

[Johni044]

Thanks. It's a surprisingly big bird. Tried to gloss varnish the Ju290, but I think the varnish may have been on the turn so cracked open new pot and gave it a second coat. Hope I haven’t ruined it.



Anyway spent a couple of nights putting the decals on.


Then put the first coat of mat varnish on last night.


Leaving this till tomorrow now to let dry thoroughly, might potter about with a couple of other builds this evening.

[HWGuderian23]

Wow ... the "Seeadler" is a very impressive aircraft and you did a great job on it .

[JayCub]

Nice work John and i have learned something new, the Germans where years ahead and very inventive, i really like how clear the photographs are also this looks a real stunner.
Tom

[Johni044]

Thanks, I think this is the earliest plane I've come across with a cargo ramp in where we would now expect it, ok it had to raise the entire rear of the plane but it pointed the way forward.

Beemers on next.

[Johni044]

The various aerials and gubbins put on the Ju290, the front arrays were a bit of a pain. Just a bit painting, props, and fixing two MG’s I snapped handling the beast during painting





Just noticed, but there seems to be a bit of a discrepancy between the width of the U/C and the U/C bay, it’s as if one person was using inches, the other cm’s.

[T3hGuppy]

Looking great the hard edge camo came out very well dude.