Hasegawa 1/72 Ju-88R-2, previewed by Scott Van Aken

The Ju 88R was an improved fighter version of the Ju 88, based around the use of 1,700hp BMW 801A radial engines. These had been reserved for use in the Fw 190, but by the end of 1942 the increased pace of British bombing made the night fighters more important.

The R-1 was an improved version of the C-6. It carried the same guns as the C-6, but was powered by the BMW radial engines. A single rear firing MG 81K or MG 131 was also provided. The majority of these aircraft used the early FuG 202 or FuG 212 radar sets. The R-1 entered service in early 1943, at a time where the German night fighters were inflicting heavy casualties on Bomber Command.

On 9 May 1943 a fully equipped Ju 88R-1 was stolen from a German airfield and flown to Scotland. This gave the RAF a chance to examine the German radar equipment, and modify tactics accordingly.

The R-2 used more powerful 1,700hp BMW 801D radial engines. It was equipped with FuG 220 Lichtenstein SN-2 radar, which at the time ignored Allied jamming. The R-2 was the first version of the Ju 88 fighter to always feature an armoured windscreen. It could reach a top speed of 359.6mph with its normal combat load. The Ju 88R-2 remained in production until early 1944.

THE KIT

Hasegawa takes advantage of its modular kit design with this one by incorporating a number of sprues from the standard kit with specialty ones to allow the builder to do this variant. This includes various smooth noses used on the G kits along with different adapters and the BMW radial engines. Unlike the later Ju-88S/T, the R still had the lower forward gondola. This kit also uses the 'stag horn' radar antennas from the G kits.

The cockpit is pretty much the same on all their Ju-88 kits with some decals provided for instruments. The nose section is separate from the rest of the fuselage with the rear fuselage incorporating wing spars to help hold the wings at the right angle. Once the tail gear is trapped in the fuselage halves, the nose is joined.

Construction then moves to building up the engines. Polycaps are used to hold the propellers in place. Wings are then built up using separate wing tips and the engine attachment points are installed, followed by the engine assemblies. Fin and horizontal stabs are two pieces which are then attached to tabs molded into the fuselage. Lower fuselage blanking plates are then installed.

One then moves on to the fairly complex main landing gear and installation of gear doors. One could paint the airframe prior to gear installation. On the flip side, the various clear pieces are attached. Since this kit uses the same basic nose as the glass nose bombers, the small windows surrounding it will have to be installed. These will later be painted over. It would have been nice to have had those already molded in place. You then attach the gun nose and the two canopy pieces. This is followed by the props and the radar antenna. Molding on the antennas is a bit thick for the scale and if you want something more prototypical, you'll need to hit the aftermarket crowd.

You are provided two nearly identical options from NJG 102, both in RLM 70/71/65 with an overspray of RLM 76 in a 'mirror wave' pattern over the forward section. Hasegawa provides this feature as a decal and I see no reason why it won't prove to be effective. Decals are nicely printed, but old school so will need hot water when applying.

CONCLUSIONS

These do build up into nice models though they take some fairly careful building due to all the inserts. It will make a very nice addition to any Ju-88 collection.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.

KIT #:	00885
PRICE:	3200 yen
DECALS:	Two options
REVIEWER:	Scott Van Aken
NOTES:	2008 Limited Edition