Hobby 2000 48004 - 1:48 Junkers Ju-87 D-3 Eastern Front 1943

Plastic model kit of the German Junkers Ju 87 D-3 Stuka dive bomber in 1:48 scale

Hobby 2000 48004 is a self-assembly kit of the Junkers Ju 87 D-3, the armoured ground-attack version of the famous Stuka that in 1943 formed the backbone of German close support aviation on the Eastern Front. The box contains Hasegawa plastic, for which Hobby 2000 has prepared its own release: a new box, illustrated assembly instructions and a decal sheet printed by Cartograf.

The model captures the characteristic features of the D series: the streamlined forward fuselage with the radiator moved underneath, the long canopy over the two-seat cockpit, the inverted gull wing and the spatted fixed undercarriage. Finely engraved panel lines and a cockpit with an instrument panel and gunner's station respond well to a panel wash, while the extensive glazing is the area worth the most care during painting.

The decal sheet covers two marking options from the summer of 1943. The first is T6+AA of St.G. 2, flown by Obst. Dr Ernst Kupfer from Bagerovo in the Kuban region, August 1943. The second is a Romanian Ju 87 D-3 coded 'White 10', flown by adj. av. Ovidiu Cerecel of Escadrila 73, Grupul 3, Russia, August 1943 — a subject rarely offered in standard Stuka boxings.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts covering the airframe, cockpit interior and armament
• Clear parts for the long cockpit canopy
• Bomb load with its racks
• Waterslide decals printed by Cartograf for two marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:48
• Catalogue number: 48004
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Assembled model length: approx. 240 mm
• Assembled model wingspan: approx. 288 mm
• Skill level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Assembly:

The kit is aimed at modellers with some experience. An airframe with fixed landing gear is simpler to build than a retractable-gear design, but the legs still need to sit squarely in their spats and the gull wing has to be aligned symmetrically. It is worth painting and finishing the cockpit before closing the fuselage halves, as access becomes very limited once the fuselage is together. The long multi-part canopy is easiest to handle by masking the clear panels and then painting the frames.

A typical Eastern Front scheme for 1943 combines dark green and black upper surfaces (RLM 71 and RLM 70) over light blue undersides (RLM 65), with yellow theatre identification bands on the fuselage and wingtips. Applying the decals over a gloss coat is recommended, as it reduces the risk of silvering, with a satin varnish for the final finish. A panel wash and light exhaust staining behind the exhaust stacks noticeably bring the finished model to life.

Tools required:

• Modelling sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in assorted sizes or an airbrush
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for decalling and satin varnish for the final finish
• Panel wash to emphasise details and panel lines

About the aircraft – Junkers Ju 87 D-3 Stuka:

The Junkers Ju 87, universally known as the Stuka (from Sturzkampfflugzeug, dive bomber), became one of the emblems of the opening years of the Second World War. Designed by Hermann Pohlmann in the early 1930s, it featured a distinctive inverted gull wing, spatted fixed landing gear and an automatic dive-recovery system that allowed the aircraft to pull out of its dive accurately even if the pilot briefly blacked out under g-loads. Sirens fitted to the undercarriage legs of early versions were intended to unnerve the troops under attack.

The D series was a thorough modernisation of the aircraft, developed in response to mounting losses. It introduced the more powerful Junkers Jumo 211J engine of some 1,400 hp, a redesigned, more streamlined forward fuselage with the radiator moved beneath it, a new canopy and a much greater ordnance load — up to 1,800 kg carried on the centreline and underwing racks. The D-3 was the ground-attack variant, with added armour protecting the crew compartment, the radiator and other vulnerable areas of the airframe in order to improve survivability during low-level attacks on ground targets.

Ju 87 D-3s served above all on the Eastern Front, where from 1942 they struck armoured columns, transport hubs and field fortifications, and also over the Mediterranean and in North Africa. The type was not flown by the Luftwaffe alone: it was also operated by the air forces of Germany's allies, including Romania, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia. As Soviet fighter strength grew the Stuka became an increasingly vulnerable target, and from 1944 it was progressively replaced by faster ground-attack versions of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190.

Original aircraft specifications (Junkers Ju 87 D-3):

• Length: 11.50 m
• Wingspan: 13.80 m
• Height: 3.90 m
• Empty weight: approx. 3,900 kg
• Take-off weight: up to approx. 6,600 kg
• Crew: 2 (pilot and rear gunner)
• Powerplant: Junkers Jumo 211J inline engine of approx. 1,400 hp take-off power
• Maximum speed: approx. 410 km/h
• Service ceiling: approx. 7,300 m
• Range: approx. 1,160 km
• Gun armament: 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns in the wings and a twin 7.92 mm MG 81Z in the rear position
• Bomb load: up to 1,800 kg on the centreline and underwing racks
• Production: D variants were built from 1941, approx. 3,300 aircraft completed

About the manufacturer – Hobby 2000:

Hobby 2000 is a Polish model company based in Katowice that specialises in preparing its own boxings of plastic kits. Its releases follow a re-issue formula: the plastic parts come from established kit manufacturers, while Hobby 2000 adds its own box, illustrated assembly instructions, a fresh decal sheet printed by the Italian printing house Cartograf and — in most aircraft kits — self-adhesive masks for the glazing. The result combines proven tooling with a decal sheet developed for one narrowly defined subject. The company's catalogue covers 1:72, 1:48, 1:35 and 1:32, with a clear emphasis on Second World War and Cold War aviation. A hallmark of the range is its thematic approach: individual boxings are devoted to a single front, campaign, unit or operator of a given type, frequently with Polish connections. Cartograf decals offer a thin carrier film, crisp printing and accurate colour registration, which makes applying the markings straightforward and helps avoid silvering. Hobby 2000 kits are produced in limited runs and many titles do not return to the market once sold out. Today the company is one of the most recognisable Polish publishers of plastic kits, stocked by model shops across Europe.