Fly Model #53 JU-87 Stuka

[cjwalas]

In an effort to force myself back into actually getting some paper models built, I've started another Stuka. The JU-87 has long been a favorite and a few years ago, I decided to try and build every paper model Stuka I could find. This will be my 9th in 1:33, but including my tiny Stukas, it'll be my 33rd!
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This is one of three models in the kit. I don't know about the I-16 or the Il-2, but the Ju-87 appears to be a repaint of the earlier (I think?) GPM#8. Here's a comparison of the two kits;
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That's the GPM on the top and the FLY below. It looks like there are some very minor changes and very few of them.
I've already done two of the GPM 87s, #8 and #9 (the trop version). In fact I also did a downscaled version of #9. So the assembly of this one should be straightforward.
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The nose section on the B version of the 87 is noticeably more complex than in the D version. The GPM/Fly design seems to my eye to have captured the forms better than other kits. There are a few parts that aren't great fits, but not too bad.
The cockpit is fairly simple and typical of these earlier kits;
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I remember there being a couple of really awkward fits on the GPMs, so it'll be interesting to see if Fly copied them or corrected them.
At any rate, it's got me building again and I'm always happy to see another Stuka in the works! Maybe this will fortify me enough to re-attack my NCAJ challenge!
Chris

[redhorse]

33 Stukas :eek: That's pretty cool - do you have a picture of all of them together? This one's looking good so far!

[Don Boose]

You always do outstanding work, Chris!

Don

[cjwalas]

Jim,
This is the most I've squeezed into one shot;
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I think there's 21 here, could be wrong. I'll see if I can get a shot of the tiny ones tomorrow.
Chris

[NOBI]

Jim,
This is the most I've squeezed into one shot;
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I think there's 21 here, could be wrong. I'll see if I can get a shot of the tiny ones tomorrow.
Chris

Great job..I like G-1 in bottom of picture...Maly Modelarz?

[redhorse]

Yes, that is an excellent picture!

[cjwalas]

Thanks guys. Obsessive behavior, I know, but it's fun! The Maly Modelarz G is at the back right of the photo. The G in the foreground is GPM #70. I scanned and recolored it a little as the early GPMs are a little cartoony in color. The #70 kit was a joy to build, really well done for a hand drawn kit.
I raced ahead on this one and didn't take enough photos;
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Coming along well enough. The nose section was as intricate as the rest of the fuselage!
These early kits are plain by comparison to kits today, so I added a little marking pen weathering;
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This kit is interesting for the act that it's the only 1:33 model (that I've found) in Eastern Front plain green. All the others are in splinter green Balkan or trop schemes.
Chris

[Lex]

o_O I'm scared... 33 Stukas?!!!!

[MiG-23MLD]

really cool stukas

[cjwalas]

As promised, here's a shot of the tiny stukas;
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Mostly Fiddler's Green and Trotskiy models.
Here's the three smallest ones on a penny;
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Glad to be working in a larger scale at the moment!:D
Chris

[redhorse]

When you said tiny, you weren't kidding! I think that's the smallest plane I've seen. Thanks for the pics!

[willygoat]

Seeing all of these Stukas makes me want to wave my umbrella at a flock of birds ala Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade :p

[zachy]

I hear that doing the same think over and over is some sort of problem. Well there goes another truism shot to hell. This means I don't have to hide all of my I 16s right?

[cjwalas]

Zachy, I just keep doing them until I get one right!;)
I'd love to see a group shot of your I-16s!
Chris

[bob martin]

OH MY GOODNESS:eek: WOW!!!!

Just think:rolleyes:..... If you went the other way......you could actually build one you could get in:D

[bob martin]

I thought I had a lot:)

At a total of three

http://www.papermodelers.com/gallery/data/601/thumbs/4_JU-87_STUKA.jpg (http://www.papermodelers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1941)

[cjwalas]

Just got back in the house after a day and a half of being evacuated here in Santa Barbara. I had most of the Stuka finished Thurs., but the evacuation put a stop to finishing it off!
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The bombs on this kit aren't great, in fact, the fit stinks. The smaller 100lb bombs look like cheap 4th of July fireworks and the 500lb bomb cannot be assembled as supplied. The ring sizes just don't line up. :mad: So, I patched it up as best I could and painted them all. Next was all the counterweights, hinges, and air brakes on the underside of the wings;
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The kit is interesting as it is not supplied with wheels per se. There may be something in the instructions about them, but there are simply the inner circles of both the wing and tail wheels in the kit. I used wooden wheels for the wings and a button for the tail wheel;
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Finally the canopy; I pulled a bit of a dome for the machine gun housing by heating some plastic over a marble and pushing down with a cloth. It's just enough usable area to do the job.
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I've built greenhouse canopies both by adding them section by section on the fuselage as well as by building the complete canopy separately, then gluing it in place. Not really convinced one way is better than another yet. This one was built before adding;
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The milkiness on the top back section is a urethane gloss I use to help disguise the cut in the clear plastic (I really should heat form this section as well). It doesn't work any miracles, but it helps a little. Unfortunately, it was about this time that the Tea Fire broke out here and when I returned to the house, I found that the urethane had puddled a bit. :(
I'll post some finished shots in a little bit.
Chris

[cjwalas]

I forgot to mention one thing about the canopy. It's a bit of a challenge to get the right shape of the two main sections of the canopy as the curve is in the glass section. What I do is form the canopy sections, then stiffen them with CA glue;
7980
I did kind of race through the finish this morning, so there's a couple of minor misfits (my fault).
But here she is, finished. My 33rd paper Stuka!

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Misfits and flubs aside, I think this may be my favorite JU-87 model. (I say that every time!:o

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All in all, an enjoyable build.
Chris

[cjwalas]

Forgot these two shots;
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Chris

[dansls1]

Very nice model!

[GreMir]

Looks really good. There is certain beauty in those gull wings and fixed undercarriage.

[duzer]

!!!:):):):)

[redhorse]

Wow! That looks really good, and amazingly fast!

[Barry]

That really does look just as nasty as the real one excellent work.

[bob martin]

Nice looking Stuka:)

Do you find the Stuka canopy one of the harder one to build?

I was wondering how you do yours.

I cut out the conopy and all window sections, cover the outside with clear tape and trim off the excess tape. Turn the canopy over and cover the inside with clear tape as well and trim off the excess. I leave the tape where the glue tabs were and use them to form the canopy. The rear gun turret is the hardest.

Bob

[cjwalas]

Bob,
I haven't tried the tape method yet. I do find the Ju-87B canopies to be a challenge. Once I form the sections and stiffen the necessary ones, I lay in clear plastic using contact cement. I find the contact cement holds better than most others I've tried.
How do you do the rear gun bubble in tape? I'd love to see a photo or two. I should try the tape method!
Chris

[bob martin]

http://www.papermodelers.com/gallery/data/595/medium/STUKA_CANOPY.jpg
Sorry for the picture quality. My camera won't take close ups very well.
This is an old model I had to cut off the original paper canopy to replace it with the one with tape. That's why it looks bad around the botton of the canopy.

The trick with doing them in clear tape is when you cover the inside of the canopy with tape, its is very important to not cut the tape out from where the paper glue tabs were. I bend the tape tabs back out of the way and bring the two sections together to form the shape between the two sections. Then release the tape tap and press it firmly on the inside the canopy. Not sure how better to explain it:o

If you go to my gallery I have a tutorial there for the canopies. That might help.

How do you stiffen the frames before you glue in the plastic? What kind of glue do you use?

To attach my canopies to the aircraft I've found that testors plastic glue seem to work well.

[cjwalas]

I use Zap Ca glue to stiffen the frames and then glue clear plastic in with contact cement.
Your tape technique looks really interesting. I'll have to give it a shot sometime! Thanks for posting a photo.
Chris