For a look at the basic Ju-88C-4/6 kit as well as a bit of historical background, please visit the preview.

I suppose that I'm not alone in that I tend to concentrate on certain themes when I build models. Now some folks concentrate so much that they build nearly everything to a theme; be it 50's US aircraft, or P-51 Mustangs. Some of us are more eclectic in what we build, but we rarely miss a chance to add a model or two to our favorite themes from time to time.

Now most of my themes are in 1/72 scale, as much for availability of different kits and accessories as it is a space thing. One theme I have is Phantoms and I try to do at least one a year, regardless of scale. Same with Bf-109s as I have collections in both 1/72 and 1/48. For the FW-190, Spitfire and Hurricane, those are also pretty much 1/72 as well. Same with a series on IJAAF 'Ki-' aircraft and my P-1 to F-117 collection, though there is one that has a goodly number of models in 1/48. Thanks to the influence of my friend Drew, I have a Grumman collection in 1/48 going as well. Another is on Ju-88s; derivatives and updates. This is in 1/72 and I have just gotten started with but a few kits completed. Over the years I've built several that could be included such as the Revell Ju-88C and an Italeri Ju-188 as well as a Lindberg and Airfix  Ju-88A, but those have either been destroyed or are packed up.

This time, I'm not doing the kit out of the box, but using the excellent AIMS Ju-88C-4 detail set. This was custom ordered as AIMS will do a package for any Ju-88 variant not already covered in their extensive catalogue of things 88!

The initial step is to get some of the larger bits of the resin update set removed from their pour stubs. Break out the saw and settle down as this will take a bit of time. I took care of all the biggies at this stage and cleaned them up. I only removed a portion of the pour stub from the back of the new nose section as the remaining piece can be trimmed to fit inside the rest of the fuselage. At least, that is the plan. AIMS assumes that you've had some experience doing these things so their instructions provide only the basics and not a blow by blow construction sequence.

Then I started prepping the kit parts. The major work on this is the upper and lower wings. Basically, you remove the upper engine nacelle from the top wings, cut a chunk out of the upper wing for the resin part to fit, cut a chunk out of the lower wing for the resin part to fit, and cut back on the upper wheel well plate on the lower wing. You then fill in the holes for the bomb racks and remove the dive brake mounts.

OK, so why remove the upper wing nacelle part. Well, the kit one is too long and too skinny. If you look at the image, you can see the difference. What has to be done here is that the entire upper nacelle has to be sanded away. This leaves the wing a bit thin in this area, but not unduly so. The instructions give measurements (in mm) as to just where to start hacking on the area to be removed.

Going to the underside, you are given the proper dimensions for the rectangular notch as well as how far you have to carve back the wheel well roof. If you take your time and care in measuring, it will be a breeze. One thing that helps is that the AMT plastic is rather soft so easy to carve. I found that using files to do the lower wing well removal helped out a great deal to get the limitations of how far to cut and then I chiseled most of the material away, followed by various grades of sandpaper.

Then I hacked off the nose section in preparation for the new resin one. This was pretty easy to do as the area to be removed is along a panel line. I simply sawed it off. The other major part to be replaced was the fin/rudder. Not only are the kit ones not the same shape, but the C-4 needed an early rudder with the straight hinge line. Though it had later wings, the C-4 fin was unchanged from the A-1/C-2.

Once the various bits were cut, the wings were glued together and sanded . I then carved more on the new cockpit section so that it would fit into the fuselage halves. I glued together the fuselage halves and was less than thrilled to note that I cut one side a bit shorter than the other. Nothing that filler can't fix, but on the next one, I'd glue the fuselage first before sawing off the nose. I cut back the wing stub piece and then slotted it in place in the fuselage. I then glued on the nose  and aligned it as best I could with the wing roots. A coat or two of filler to take care of the seams and then I glued on the wings, tail planes and the new resin fin. These all required some filler before I could go on to the next step of assembling the cowlings and fairings.

I waited until after the wings were put in place as the instructions made it clear that I had to have the lower part of the wheel wells lined up. Of coarse, they didn't take into account that I fail at basic airframe alignment!

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