The Junkers Ju 88 is a German World War II Luftwaffe twin-engined multirole combat aircraft. Junkers Aircraft and Motor Works (JFM) designed the plane in the mid-1930s as a so-called Schnellbomber ("fast bomber") that would be too fast for fighters of its era to intercept. It suffered from technical problems during its development and early operational periods but became one of the most versatile combat aircraft of the war. Like a number of other Luftwaffe bombers, it served as a bomber, dive bomber, night fighter, torpedo bomber, reconnaissance aircraft, heavy fighter and at the end of the war, as a flying bomb in the Mistel program.

The Ju-88A-5 actually predates the A-4. These were earlier models of Ju 88 upgraded with longer wings and other equipment. Jumo 211B-1, G-1 or H-1 engines all rated at 890 kW (1,200 hp) for take-off. The majority of Ju-88s that operated during the Battle of Britain were the Ju-88A1/2/5 variants.

THE KIT

In the last few years, ICM has produced a number of Ju-88A/C variants in 1/48 scale. Prior to this, the type was produced by AMT, Hobbycraft and Dragon. The latter was the best of the trio, though not exactly an easy build. It is also the only 1/48 Ju-88 that I've ever built.

The ICM kit takes advantage of all the benefits of modern technology that have benefitted the industry in the last 25-30 years. The kit starts, logically enough, with the interior. However, this is done in a fairly unique way when it comes to Ju-88 kit. The upper portion of the interior is built into the fuselage halves. The main part of the interior that is attached to the floor, is attached to the lower forward fuselage section then raised into position. This lower section also includes short sections of the lower wing which will enhance the attachment of the wings during that step.

All of the flying surfaces have separate control surfaces. The wings include separate flaps. Once the basic wings, stabs and fin are built, these are attached to the fuselage. With those attached, the lower gondola is built up as are the main landing gear (tail gear is attached when the fuselage is closed).

The kit includes complete engines with a fair amount of detail. Personally, I could do without this, but you need the engines in place so that you can attach the exhaust and the prop. These are then attached to the appropriate nacelles before being attached below the wing. The next several steps involve installing the clear bits, machine guns, bomb racks, and dive brakes. Note that there are optional nose sections, one having a gun in it for one of the markings options. You also have several bomb sizes for the bomb racks. The final bits are gear doors and wheels.

Instructions are a nice booklet with large drawings and 103 construction steps. It also includes a full stencil suite. Markings are all in RLM 70/71/65, the standard bomber camouflage splinter scheme. The scheme itself is very difficult to see on the color markings guide and I really wish that model companies would provide the markings scheme in line drawings, which are easier to deduce. One is the box art plane from 5./KG30 in Finland during 1941. From the same time period is a winter white plane from 8./KG76 in Russia. A Battle of Britain plane from 4./LG1 has white spinners and with yellow rudder and cowlings is a 5./LG1 plane in Greece during May 1941. Decals and nicely printed and do not include swastikas so you'll have to source those from somewhere else.

CONCLUSIONS

Does this kit mean you should trash your Dragon kits? Well, no. As super as this one is, it isn't a quantum improvement over what Dragon provides. I do expect the ICM kit to be easier to build in terms of fitting better, but I'd say if you have the previous kit, I wouldn't toss it (unless you want to throw it my way).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_88#Ju_88A

March 2022

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