1/48 Monogram Ju-87G-2 Stuka

by Rick Reinbott

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This is my Monogram 1/48 Ju-87G-2 Stuka.  I originally built this model about 25 years ago.  It was built straight out of the box following the kit instructions to the letter, meaning the topside was left unpainted in its dark green color, the underside was spray painted with Testors Light Blue, and the kit decals were used, which were not good.

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Construction

 

The model remained in that state up until three years ago, when I finally decided that it needed to be brought up to standards.  First, all the paint and decals were stripped off using Polly S Easy-Lift-Off.  I wanted the model to represent a Ju-87G-2, so a small amount of conversion work was necessary.  The G-2 version used the long-span Ju-87D-5 airframe.  First, the fairings for the wing-mounted MG 17 machine guns were filed and sanded off.  Then the non-skid surfaces on the wingwalks were sanded off and replaced with strips of clear plastic, cut to the approximate length and width.  Rivet detail was added using the pointed tip of a scribing tool.  Regarding the extended wingspan, although the instructions for the Monogram kit say the model is a G-1 version, the wings are in fact the extended ones of the G-2.

 

The canopy was replaced with a vacuformed one from Squadron.  I drilled out the barrels of the underwing Flak 18 37mm anti-tank guns as well as the rear cockpit MG 81Z machine guns.  The aerial wire was made from fishing line with the insulators being Elmer’s Glue painted white.  I scratchbuilt some appliqué armor for the frontal side area around the cockpit and wing leading edge with clear plastic and added some rivet detail as described above. 

 

 

Painting & Weathering

 

For painting the model, I used Model Master Enamels.  The camouflage scheme is the standard RLM 70 Black Green and 71 Dark Green over RLM 65 Light Blue.  All colors were airbrushed on, with drafting tape being used for the masking.  The decal instructions didn’t have a drawing showing the camouflage pattern for the starboard fuselage, however, the Squadron in Action book shows this pattern in a print on the back cover, so I used that as the guide.  Paint chipping was done by spraying certain areas of the model (wing leading edges, wing roots, fuselage sides and propeller blades) silver, followed by a light spray of Testors Glosscote.  Once the base coat was applied and let to dry about 40 minutes or so, the paint was then “chipped” off using a small piece of drafting tape to reveal the silver underneath.   The exhaust stains were made by drybrushing using Humbrol Panzer Gray.  I applied an acrylic wash to the underside, wheel spats, underwing cannons and rear cockpit machine guns using Polly S Night Black mixed with water.  Drybrushing of the cannons and machine guns was done using the base coat of gun metal mixed with white.

 

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The decals are from Superscale and went on very nicely.  I used Micro Set Solution to apply them.  The model depicts a Ju 87G-2 flown by Oberstleutnant Hans Ulrich Rudel with Schlachtgeschwader 2 on the Eastern Front during 1944-45.  While flying the Stuka, Rudel managed to destroy an enormous number of enemy equipment, including over 500 tanks.  

Happy Modeling!

Rick 

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References:

  • Ju 87 Stuka in action, Squadron/Signal Publications Aircraft No. 73 (1986)

Photos and text © by Rick Reinbott