KIT #:	114
PRICE:	$
DECALS:	Three option
REVIEWER:	Scott Van Aken
NOTES:

HISTORY

The Junkers Ju 86 is a monoplane bomber and civilian airliner designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Junkers. It was designed during the mid-1930s in response to a specification for a modern twin-engined aircraft suitable for use as both a high-speed airliner and a bomber. Junkers responded with a low-winged twin-engined all-metal monoplane; unusually, it was intended to be powered by Junkers Jumo 205 diesel engines instead of petrol engines for greater fuel efficiency. It also had a smooth metal skin instead of the company's traditional corrugated exterior. On bomber-configured aircraft, bombs were carried vertically in four fuselage cells behind the cockpit; these bomb cells were replaced by seating for up to ten passengers on the civil airliner version of the Ju 86. On 4 November 1934, the first prototype, powered by Siemens SAM 22 radial engines, made its maiden flight; on 4 April 1935, the third prototype, which was the first civil-configured aircraft, flew for the first time.

The type was employed by various air forces on both sides of the conflict, although the first military use of the Ju 86 was during the Spanish Civil War, where it was flown by the Condor Legion with mixed results. The Luftwaffe deployed its Ju 86s during the invasion of Poland, but opted to withdraw its diesel-engined aircraft fairly promptly due to its fragility of operation during a wartime pace. The type was predominantly assigned to training roles thereafter and later turned into transports. No diesel engine variants were sold overseas, though the radial versions had a fair amount of success.

Originally tooled in 1972, it has since been released as an airliner with most of the subsequent boxings as the radial engine variant. This original release has also been reissued several times and can fairly easily be found on the second hand market along with vendors at shows and swap meets.

I was quite pleased to note that the kit parts were in excellent condition. No flash or sink areas are readily apparent, though there are a few ejector pin marks on the inside of some of larger pieces. External detail is mostly raised panel lines. Unlike the later E and K model releases, this one does not have the rivets. This tells me that perhaps the tooling has been refurbished for those versions. The cockpit is fairly Spartan, as was typical of the era. Figures are provided for the seats and there are decals for the instrument panel and seat harness. You are provided machine guns for all the gun positions. It appears that the lower gun tub can be moved up and down, but I would treat it gingerly.

Engines are basically a two piece construct that is split horizontally and includes the fairings for over and under the wings. The prop is trapped between the two halves and a radiator face needs to be installed in the lower section prior to final gluing. You'll find that the four bomb bays can be posed open, but there is nothing to see in there so best to have them closed. Also saves from having to cut them apart. An entrance door and ladder are provided as well. Probably the fussiest part of the build will be attaching the long flap/aileron pieces as they have fairly fragile looking attachment hinges and will need you to install mass balances, which also go on the elevators.

Instructions are well done and use generic paint references. All three options are in the early colors of RLM 61/62/63 over RLM 65, though the painting instructions don't list RLM numbers. Two of the three options are for the Luftwaffe and the other is for the Condor Legion (which was the Luftwaffe, but not really). The decals in my kit are past the 'use by' date, but could be brought back to life with some care. You know this is an old boxing as it includes the swastikas. Aftermarket parts and decals have been done, but finding them will not be as easy as with other types.

I have had this kit for a very long time. Decades in fact, but just never got around to building it. It appears to be a fairly easy construct, but painting it will be quite time consuming. While quite basic by current standards, you won't find another in this scale from anyone else.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_86