1/72 Bilek Junkers JU-188 D-1

by Josip Žagar

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Hello!

You are probably well familiar with this Nazi twin, so I won't dwell into detailed history.  It suffices to say that it was an evolution of JU-88 and that it came "too few and too late" to have any real impact on WW2 in Europe.

This is still the best kit of this airplane in 1:72, even if it dates from 1970s!  It has raised panel detail and  simplified cockpit details.  Still, there is plenty to like.  It has the correct shape, separate tail control surfaces, 2 types of engines and nicely molded gun armament.  I built one when I was a teenager and have been wishing to repeat the experience ever since - now, some 15 years later, armed with my accumulated knowledge and better equipment.  But a funny thing happened; when I decided to buy one, suddenly there were none to be found!  Italeri stopped making them years ago and if they reissued them from time to time in limited numbers, I never really bothered - until now.

So I asked a friend for help and he ordered it for me from Hannants in UK.  They only had limited numbers left and they weren't Italeri kits, but some obscure Czech kits from Bilek!?!  Still I wanted the kit badly enough and decided to risk my money on it.  Fortunately this Bilek proved to be nothing more than a repackaged Italeri :-) with resin torpedoes.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

For such an old kit, the fit was spot on and I built it without any major problems.  I only replaced some cockpit parts with remains from Italeri JU-88A.  The main challenge was how to make it stand out.  I prefer to make interesting models, especially if they are big!  So I searched and found this interesting striped pattern on an early reconnaissance D-1 version.  It seemed unique enough.

First two types of Green were used on the upper surfaces as was the custom on Nazi bombers.  Masks were used for sharp edges.  Then I mixed my own mix for that elusive Nazi Light Blue colour and applied it on the undersurfaces.  Using the very same paint I airbrushed the stripes freehand all over the upper surfaces.

I chose to use generic markings since the original airplane had 2 much peculiarities for me to bother with at the moment.  Weathering was done with dry pastels.  Raised surface details were nicely enhanced as I think that rescribing those older kits isn't always necessary.

And there you go! 

Josip

Photos and text © by Josip Žagar