1/72 Unicraft Junkers SFP

Gallery Article by Thomas Brückelt on Nov 24 2020

 

      

Junkers started with a design of a ground attack aircraft in 1941. Seems that it influenced the design of the YA-9 and A-10 Thunderbolt II. 

Here you find some more information about it: http://www.luft46.com/junkers/jugap.html 

The real name of the project is unknown. "SFP" stands for "Schlachtflugzeug Projekt" (Ground attack aircraft project). 

The landing gear configuration does not allow an independent take off, because the wheels of the main landing gear have a much too far distance to CG. So the elevator would not be able to rotate it. So I´m sure a trolley - maybe with booster rockets - was planned to get it in the air. 

Compared to the datas and description on www.luft46.com the Unicraft-model is much smaller (wingspan ~144 mm -> scale ~ 1/100) and it´s a single seater. So it seems to be more a "what if". But no matter, it´s a cool looking plane and I needed to have it. 

Click on images below to see larger images

Unicraft gave us a challenging kit. A lot of parts/areas must be built from scratch and the surfaces are very rough and must be sandpapered overall. 

So I made the cockpit, the compressor wheels and generator wheels and all small parts by myself. 

I printed the turbine wheels on a transparent decal sheet, the cones of the compressor I made from two external fuel tanks and the two in the rear I made out of sprue. 

I had to fill gaps with plastic sheet and, as you can imagine, a lot of putty and sandpapering was necessary. 

The gun barrel in the front was made from a cannula and the other little details from stretched sprue. 

I painted the model with enamels from Revell and brush. I used a decal sheet of a Hs 129 from Peddinghaus to get a realisitc looking ground attack aircraft, there are no decals in the box. After some washing I sealed it with flat varnish from Tamiya. 

Surely a kit for experienced modellers who like challenges. 

I enjoyed making it, especially because of the parts I made from scratch. 

Greetings from Germany

Thomas Brückelt

Click on images below to see larger images

 

Photos and text © by Thomas Brückelt