AirDOC (Aircraft Documents)

Ju 88 - Kampfgeschwader  76/77

1/72 or 1/48 Junkers Ju 88 Part 4 decal sheet

1/72 product # ADM 72012  -  1/48 product # ADM 48012

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Mar 14 2008

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This decal sheet from AirDOC is the 4th in a series of 4 decal sheets for the Ju-88.  This particular decal sheet features 12 different Ju 88 Kampfgeschwader  76/77.  The Ju-88 was a core aircraft to Luftwaffe operations and it flew in a variety of theatres during WW2.  This decal sheet focuses an excellent variety of paint schemes.    

  • A/C # 1 is Ju 88 A-1 of 8. Staffel III./KG 76, "Iltis", France in late 1940.  This aircraft is painted in standard camo of RLM 70, 71,  and 65 with yellow spinner tips.  The white tactical codes and the white part of the national insignia are over painted with black water based paint.

  • A/C # 2  is Ju 88 A-5 F1+AS, 8./KG 76 in Russia in the winter of 1941.  This aircraft is painted in standard camo of RLM 70, 71,  and 65 that is overpainted with white water based winter camouflage with Eastern Front identification markings of yellow wing tips, yellow fuselage stripe.   

  • A/C # 3 is Ju 88 A-5 F1+GM of 4./KG 76 in France in early 1941.  This aircraft is painted in standard camo of RLM 70, 71,  and 65 with white stripes on the spinners and yellow wing tips, yellow fuselage stripe.

  • A/C # 4 is Ju 88 A-4 F1+BR with 7./KG 76 in Sicily in early 1943.  This aircraft is painted in RLM 79 over RLM 65 with blotches of RLM 80 and RLM 70.  White stripes identify the squadron.  This aircraft features Mediterranean Front Identification markings of white wing tips.

 

  • A/C # 5 is Ju 88 A-4 F1+IT of 9./KG 76, Russia in 1943.  This aircraft is painted in standard camo of RLM 70, 71,  and 65 with Eastern Front identification markings of yellow wing tips, yellow fuselage stripe and yellow spinner stripes. 

  • A/C # 6 is Ju 88 A-4 F1+DP with 6./KG 76 in Russia in 1942.  This aircraft is painted in standard camo of RLM 70, 71, and 65 that is overpainted with white water based winter camouflage with Eastern Front identification markings of yellow wing tips, yellow fuselage stripe.   

  • A/C # 7 is Ju 88 A-6U PN+MT with KG 77 in Italy in 1943.  This aircraft is painted in standard camo of RLM 70, 71, and 65 with underside overpainted in black water based paint.  The spinners have red stripes and red tips.  The upper surfaces are covered in a  wavey pattern  

  • A/C # 8 is Ju 88 A-1 3Z+CH with to 1./KG 77 in France in 1940.  This aircraft is painted in standard camo of RLM 70, 71 and 65 with white and red spinners.

  • A/C # 9 is Ju 88 A-4 3Z+AB with Stab I./KG 77 in Russia in 1943.  This aircraft is painted in standard camo of RLM 70, 71 and 65 with Eastern Front identification markings of yellow wing tips, yellow fuselage stripe and  yellow lower engine cowlings.  Spinners are bright green.  

  • A/C # 10 is Ju 88 A-5 3Z+FK with 2./KG 77 in France in 1941.  This aircraft is painted in standard camo of RLM 70, 71 and 65 with the front part of the spinners in red.    

  • A/C # 11 is Ju 88 A-4 3Z+H with 'Spatz" personal aircraft of Hptm. Reichenberg, III./KG 77 in Italy 1943.  This aircraft is painted in standard camo of RLM 70, 71 and 65 with the spinner featuring white and yellow stripes.  Part of the lower wings are overpainted in black water based paints.    

  • A/C # 12 is Ju 88 A-4 3Z+EH with 1./KG 77 in Italy in 1943.  This aircraft is painted in standard camo of RLM 70, 71 and 65 with Mediterranean Front identification markings of white wing tips and a white fuselage stripe and white spinner tips.

It's a treat to see the variety of camo schemes on this decal sheet.  Two are in my favourite Russian winter camo scheme.....one is in desert tan camo and you can't overlook the wild aircraft in the wave camo.  Not that there's anything wrong with the standard green/green camo of RLM 70, 71 and 65, but the winter or the Mediterranean Theatre paint schemes do stand out more and the wave camo will stop people in their tracks if you build one for your next model show.  One of the aircraft (#7) is fitted with radar antenna.  

The instructions are beautifully printed in glossy full colour with numbered arrows showing which decals go where.  Each aircraft is shown from one angle and there is generic colour drawings showing 4 views of the Ju 88 which will assist in camo layout and decal placement for national insignia etc.  There is also 5 photos showing the various defensive guns used on the Ju 88.....this plane was hunted so the defensive guns kept being modified to try to deal with the aerial threats the Ju 88 had to counter.  Thankfully the instruction sheets do mention what type of canopy and defensive guns were fitted to each or these aircraft and even mentions one with a field modified nose glazing and whether the dive brakes were removed or not etc.  Also included is colour samples on the instruction sheets to help the less informed modellers figure out the various RLM colours.  

The decals print by Cartograf come on 3 small decal sheet on the 1/72 sample before me.  They are clearly and crisply printed and appear to be of the highest quality.  

This is a very well done decal sheet with good variety and well worth purchasing.

Steve

I would like to thank AirDOC for providing me with this review sample.

AirDOC also has a large selection of aircraft reference books covering modern and vintage aircraft as well as decals covering vintage and modern aircraft.

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Photos and text © by Steve Bamford