Dragon 1/48 Ju-88G-1/10

DRAGON 1:48 JUNKERS JU-88G-1/10

Reviewer: James Garnett (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 8 March 2002

Aircraft:
The Junkers Ju-88G-1 and G-10 were developed as Luftwaffe nightfighters and differed from other G series by having a rectangular shaped tailplane compared to the more rounded examples on other versions. The G-1 was the first produced nightfighter of this series and entered service late 1943. The G-10 was a version with higher performance and longer range with the addition of fuel tanks in a lengthened fuselage.

The Kit:
Nothing surprises the modeller who has worked with Dragon kits of this scale before with everything packaged in separate bags and the sprues containing fine raised surface detail upon which to work. The instruction sheet is also standard Dragon affair with easy to follow assembly steps and painting instructions quoted from Gunze and Italeri/Modelmaster ranges. There is also a fret of photoetched parts which add to enhance the whole package.

Construction:
The cockpit is adequately catered for but certainly bettered by the photoetched set containing seat belts, throttles, pedals, instrument panels and consoles, etc. The seat and stick were also installed into the tub before the sub assembly affixed inside one fuselage half. The cockpit was given an RLM 66 finish before moving onto fuselage halves and wing assemblies next.

To build a G-10 you need to add a fuselage extension later, and perform surgery on the fuselage to install it, but I stuck with the G-1 out of sheer laziness. I did play around with the extension part out of curiosity and was unimpressed to learn that it is not the same width as the fuselage halves. The fuselage halves otherwise go together well but the join lines needed sanding and filling. The fit of the crew access door is a challenge to be wary about.

The engine cowling and propeller assembly came next and these on the whole went together okay but still needed filler around the joins. The wings were then put together and the engine assemblies attached thereto and the fit means that a fair bit of filling and sanding is needed to get a flush form. The propellers are separately added and are a fiddly process. The wheel wells were also glued into place along with the covers which fit okay.

The canopy and undercarriage assemblies were straight forward and fitted okay. In the final stages I added the gun pod, rear wheel, external nose antennae array and all the small detail bits. The radar antennae was quite fiddly to attach but everything else was straight forward

Painting & Decaling:
I used the kit decals in producing a probably historically inaccurate example, but hey it is my model! The decal sheet covers two G-1 and one G-10 examples and does not include swastikas. The decals went on well and settled just as well with Humbrol Decalfix setting solution. A late war scheme was depicted on my example and I used RLM 75/76/82

Overall:
The finished example looks good and other than the engine and prop assembly the model went together relatively easily overall. I'd certainly give it the thumbs up for recommendation and should suit quarter-scale modellers of intermediate skill at least.

Note: the following related reviews links have not been updated since early 2000's - more kit reviews of this aircraft may now be on SMAKR, not reflected below. Refer to the Index for other kits of this type.

Related INBOX Reviews:-

Hasegawa (Dragon) 1/48 Ju-88A-4

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