FINAL REVEAL!!--Airfix 1/48 Junkers Ju87B-2 "Stuka" (8.2.14)

[UKguyInUSA]

Hello Guys,

Here are my final entry photos into the D-Day 70th Anniversary Group Build for my Airfix 1/48 scale JunkersJu87B-2 "Stuka" dive-bomber. I have also included a link at the end of this thread to my YouTube account "Final Reveal" video. If you haven't seen it, please watch and leave comments, including constructive criticism which is most welcomed. Also, if you subscribe and you have a YouTube account, I'll subscribe to you and we are then automatically alerted with each others latest update videos that we post!

Hope you enjoy?!













































Well....there she is!

I hope you enjoyed the photos, and, forgive me for posting so many, but it's always difficult to choose which are my favorite photos with the best angles, lighting etc.

This was a typical old Airfix kit kind of build wherein every joint and seam required my worst enemy- filler! But, fortunately, one of my viewers following my YouTube build thread gave me an awesome tip, which was to use nail polish remover applied to the filler with a moistened cotton bud/Q-Tip. It worked a treat, removing the excess filler with just a couple of strokes and leaving the filler at the joints, which was then gently and easily sanded smooth.

Overall conclusions: The molded parts were reasonably molded, flash free (except some very small amounts on a couple of parts), no sink marks, no ejector pin stress marks on visual surfaces, no short shots, blemishes, splays or warping etc, but, no recessed panel lines and rivet details for pre-shading and highlighting. Instead lots of raised rivets and few raised lines. The clear molded canopy and light parts were thick and the top of the canopy parts looked wavy and not crystal clear, although the side windows were thinner and nice and clear.
The kit comes with three different paint and decal instructions in glorious color, a 5 page black and white instruction booklet with 13 assembly stages on the inside and a description and brief history about the "Stuka" in 5 different languages on the front page. The back page provides assembly instructions and assembly icon definitions, again, in 5 languages.
The decals are nice and thin and matted down, but they do not include the tail "Swastikas".

I built this kit O.O.B (Out of the Box), with the only additions by me being the radio antenna cable made from stretched sprue and the port-side leading edge navigation light, which I made by drilling a hole in the front of the leading edge, cutting a thin section of clear round sprue/runner and painting it silver, then inserting it into the pre-drilled hole before covering with the supplied lens.

I give this kit 6 out of 10 or 3 out of 5 stars, based on the two major issues during the build. The first issue being the raised surface details that are all over the place, making the plane look like it has an exaggerated case of the measles, and the second issue being the fact that the joints and seams do not go together well and required filler all over.
I also marked it down because of the canopy parts being thick and wavy and the decals not including the "Swastikas".
The kit also loses marks for accuracy; this is a dive-bomber that would intimidate its targets with screaming "Jericho Sirens" that were driven by small propellers on the front of the wheel fairings; this kit had nothing included to represent them. What is a "Stuka" dive-bomber without it's sirens?!

Quality of molded product = 5/10 ....all raised surface details, lots of it and the poor fits at the assembly stage requiring tons of filler!

Quality of assembly instructions = 8/10

Quality of painting instructions = 8/10 (color) Score could be higher if they included the references for alternative supplier paints

Quality of Decals = 9/10

Quality of packaging and box artwork = 8/10

Quality of fits = 5/10 too much filler required!

Quality of details of molded product including options = 5/10 No Sirens!

Would I recommend this kit? To the serious detail oriented modeler...NO, to a beginner not fastidious about detail and accuracy...Yes, just have patience with the filler requirements and enjoy the technique and skill building practice it will provide.

Would I buy this kit again...NO...I'd much prefer to buy a more expensive kit that has all the nice details one expects, and one that has after market options to further enhance the detail and realism of the craft.

Would I buy after-market accessories to enhance this kit? NO....it would be a waste of money on an old poorly detailed kit.

Here is the link to the video of this build....please leave comments and subscribe!

...and here is the link to the build thread within this forum, if you haven't already seen it. Included within this build thread are the links to my 3 build update videos on YouTube: http://intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.php?f=261&t=7931

Thanks to those that have made comments on this thread and the build update videos, and I thank you for taking your time to read, look at the photos and do that when you could be doing something else, greatly appreciated!

Happy modeling!

Martin

[wappynutter]

Many claps and bows Martin...
She's excellent mate..





Well done again matey....

[UKguyInUSA]

Many claps and bows Martin...
She's excellent mate..





Well done again matey....

Hello Andy, you're too kind mate, got me blushing

Thanks for checking in, taking a look and commenting, greatly appreciated, mate

Cheers,

Martin

[Joesdad]

Lovely job Martin you've done a great job of an old nasty kit.

Well done mate

[Daishi12]

Cracking job mate, again Airfix have succeeded in re-issuing an older kit with new swanky box art and doing naff-all about the quality.

Given the quality of the original, you've got a great kit there

[JohnP]

I love the finish!

[UKguyInUSA]

Lovely job Martin you've done a great job of an old nasty kit.

Well done mate

Hello Tim, thanks mate for taking a look. She was a challenge, being an old Airfix, but I persevered and was happy with the end result.

[Dunhill2005]

The kit looks great.
I'm a fan of the Ju and your model confirmed my love for this aircraft.
You want to hear criticism?
Here it comes:
MORE PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[felisbarcinonensis]

WOW!!!!!! FREAKING AWESOME!!

[Willem]

Great stuff Martin. You worked miracles on that old kit to get it looking so good.

Great breakdown too.

In a funny sort of way it must be that little bit more satisfying knowing you've built something that takes a bit more tlc than a 'fall-together' modern kit. Maybe we are being a bit spoiled by new super kits. Possibly an idea for a sig where we take skills we've learned and apply them to overcoming the shortcomings of an older kit?

Great job mate.

[chief5437]

Wow! Great result mate! looks brilliant. You've done really well with a less than perfect kit. Good work fella!

[rodrant]

Martin , A Great Build !

It is a plane that we didn't get linked to D-Day , a plane that I like but always associate it with the Blietzkrieg and the battle of Britain , well they were there in the D-Day but an easy target for all the Allied Aerial power , so I have read !

Noe for you build , really nice with all the gap issues you reported.In the End a very nice built and well painted 'Stuka' .

Another Top Job Martin !

[UKguyInUSA]

Cracking job mate, again Airfix have succeeded in re-issuing an older kit with new swanky box art and doing naff-all about the quality.

Given the quality of the original, you've got a great kit there

Thanks, Daishi....she was a troublesome starter, but I'm happy about how I tamed her

[fly1ngdutchm4n]

Great finish, great reveal
Love this kit. You've done a awesome job on a poor kit.
So good, that you can not see that it's a poor kit anymore

[UKguyInUSA]

I love the finish!

Thanks John, appreciate you looking and commenting!

Cheers,

Martin

[UKguyInUSA]

The kit looks great.
I'm a fan of the Ju and your model confirmed my love for this aircraft.
You want to hear criticism?
Here it comes:
MORE PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a lot more photos of her....she's my second Luftwaffe build and I just love the variety of German camo schemes. I'm definitely going to build more. I think my next German build will be the Heinkel HE111...another bomber that was used in force during the "Battle of Britain".

Thanks for taking a look and commenting, greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Martin

[Polly]

nice well done

[Navcom]

Awesome! Purely awesome! Great weathering!

[kiwigav]

Nice finish love the weathering

[UKguyInUSA]

WOW!!!!!! FREAKING AWESOME!!

Hello Felis, thanks for checking in and your very kind comment, greatly appreciated

[UKguyInUSA]

Great stuff Martin. You worked miracles on that old kit to get it looking so good.

Great breakdown too.

In a funny sort of way it must be that little bit more satisfying knowing you've built something that takes a bit more tlc than a 'fall-together' modern kit. Maybe we are being a bit spoiled by new super kits. Possibly an idea for a sig where we take skills we've learned and apply them to overcoming the shortcomings of an older kit?

Great job mate.

Hello Will, Thanks for checking in and your kind comment, greatly appreciated!

Yes, in a sense, we are "spoiled" with the wonders that newer manufacturing technologies can achieve with the end product, because looking back when we first started modeling as boys/teens, we were happy with these kits and never complained. I guess there might be some peer pressure influence instilled into us when we observe the magnificent creations of others, so when we come across problems like this, we automatically assume there's no way to reach the standard of others with defunct product like this?

Suggest that Sig to Lee and Paul...what would you call it? The TLC Sig?

Cheers,

Martin

[schweinhund227]

Impressive results.....

knowing the Kit age and limitations !

you have outdid yourself again !

Great Bird !


I Salute you !

[Daishi12]

The kit looks great.
I'm a fan of the Ju and your model confirmed my love for this aircraft.
You want to hear criticism?
Here it comes:
MORE PHOTOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a lot more photos of her....she's my second Luftwaffe build and I just love the variety of German camo schemes. I'm definitely going to build more. I think my next German build will be the Heinkel HE111...another bomber that was used in force during the "Battle of Britain".

Thanks for taking a look and commenting, greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Martin

Don't whatever you do get the Airfix He-111, the kit is about 20 years older than the Stuka..and is, to be honest, a huge p.i.t.a. - http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 111#p89236

[UKguyInUSA]

Wow! Great result mate! looks brilliant. You've done really well with a less than perfect kit. Good work fella!

Hey Chief, thanks for taking a look and commenting mate, appreciate it from someone of your talents!

[Navcom]

Don't whatever you do get the Airfix He-111, the kit is about 20 years older than the Stuka..and is, to be honest, a huge p.i.t.a. - http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 111#p89236

Holy crud! That He-111? THAT is one bad model kit!

[UKguyInUSA]

Martin , A Great Build !

It is a plane that we didn't get linked to D-Day , a plane that I like but always associate it with the Blietzkrieg and the battle of Britain , well they were there in the D-Day but an easy target for all the Allied Aerial power , so I have read !

Noe for you build , really nice with all the gap issues you reported.In the End a very nice built and well painted 'Stuka' .

Another Top Job Martin !

Hello Antonio, thanks for your kind comments again, greatly appreciated

[UKguyInUSA]

Great finish, great reveal
Love this kit. You've done a awesome job on a poor kit.
So good, that you can not see that it's a poor kit anymore

Thanks Frans, greatly appreciated mate

[UKguyInUSA]

nice well done

Thanks Polly, appreciate you looking and commenting

Cheers,

Martin

[UKguyInUSA]

Awesome! Purely awesome! Great weathering!

Thanks Jeff, greatly appreciate your kind comments mate!

[UKguyInUSA]

Nice finish love the weathering

Thanks, Gav....appreciate you taking a gander and commenting, mate

[Lego]

You did a great job there. Like the weathering, just enough to show she has been around the block but nothing to suggest she ain't wearing any knickers

[Paips]

Looks great... one of my fav aircraft

[AchtungPanzer]

Very nice execution

[UKguyInUSA]

Impressive results.....

knowing the Kit age and limitations !

you have outdid yourself again !

Great Bird !


I Salute you !

Thanks, Norm

[UKguyInUSA]

Don't whatever you do get the Airfix He-111, the kit is about 20 years older than the Stuka..and is, to be honest, a huge p.i.t.a. - http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 111#p89236

Holy crud! That He-111? THAT is one bad model kit!

I won't get the Airfix, I'll probably get the Revell one though?

[Coen]

That's some really great work Martin. I've seen a lot of Stukas in the last few weeks, I think that I'm beginning to become a bit of a connoisseur haha.
I certainly love the things. There's something about the shape and design of them.
I really like the way that your colours turned out. They look excellent bud.
Well done.

[UKguyInUSA]

You did a great job there. Like the weathering, just enough to show she has been around the block but nothing to suggest she ain't wearing any knickers

Ha ha!! Thanks for looking and commenting, mate

[UKguyInUSA]

Looks great... one of my fav aircraft

Thanks John, I appreciate you checking in and commenting, mate