Hobby 2000 72022 - 1:72 Junkers Ju-87 G-2 Winter 1944/45

Plastic model kit of the German Junkers Ju 87 G-2 anti-tank aircraft in winter camouflage in 1:72 scale

Winter camouflage and two 37 mm cannon under the wings – Hobby 2000 72022 is the Ju 87 G-2 of the last winter of the war, when anti-tank Stukas operated over the frozen Eastern Front. The G version had no dive brakes and attacked tanks in level flight, using its wings of increased span and the accurate, slow-firing BK 3.7 cannon.

The kit is based on Fujimi sprues with a new sheet of waterslide decals printed by Cartograf and self-adhesive masks for the glazing. The decals cover two marking options: S7+BU of 10.(Pz)/SG 3 from December 1944 in winter camouflage, and W.Nr. 494193 of the staff flight of SG 2 "Immelmann", the aircraft of Hauptmann Hans-Ulrich Rudel, at Märisch-Friedland in January 1945.

What you will find in the box:

• Plastic sprues with airframe, cockpit and undercarriage parts
• Underwing pods with 37 mm BK 3.7 cannon
• Clear parts for the canopy glazing
• Self-adhesive masks for the glazing
• Waterslide decal sheet printed by Cartograf covering two marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 72022
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Length of the finished model: approx. 160 mm
• Wingspan of the finished model: approx. 208 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

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

Building the model:

The build itself is pleasant and straightforward – the Ju 87 has a simple shape and fixed undercarriage, and the only assemblies calling for extra precision are the cannon pods, which should be set parallel to one another. The cockpit is painted and assembled before the fuselage halves are joined, and the included self-adhesive masks make the canopy framing far easier.

The main attraction of this release is the winter camouflage. A considered, uneven application of white over the base scheme works well, letting the underlying colours show through in places – winter finishes were applied in the field and wore off quickly, especially along leading edges and in areas handled by the ground crew. Laying the decals over gloss varnish is recommended, as it prevents decal silvering, with a satin varnish for the final finish.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes or an airbrush
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for the decals and satin varnish for the final finish
• Decal setting solution to help the decals conform to the detail
• Modelling wash to emphasise the detail and panel lines

About the aircraft – Junkers Ju 87 G-2 Kanonenvogel:

The Ju 87 G was born of urgent need: in the summer of 1943 the Luftwaffe required an aircraft able to destroy Soviet medium and heavy tanks from the air. The solution was to hang two 37 mm BK 3.7 cannon under the wings, fed from magazines and firing rounds able to penetrate the comparatively thin top and side armour of armoured vehicles.

G-2 aircraft were built on D-5 airframes with wings of increased span. The dive brakes were removed – attacks were flown flat and low rather than in a classic dive. The heavy pods reduced speed and worsened handling, so success depended largely on crew experience and on whether fighter cover was present over the battlefield.

In the winter of 1944/45 the anti-tank Stukas fought on the Eastern Front in conditions that are hard to overstate: frost made servicing difficult, snow changed the look of the battlefield, and the aircraft were given temporary white finishes that washed off and wore away quickly in use. This period brought fame to Hans-Ulrich Rudel of Schlachtgeschwader 2 "Immelmann", for whom the G version became the tool of his trade. The Ju 87 stayed in the front line to the end of the war, although its losses under Allied air superiority were very heavy.

Original aircraft specifications (Ju 87 G-2):

• Length: 11.50 m
• Wingspan: approx. 15.00 m
• Height: 3.90 m
• Take-off weight: approx. 6,600 kg
• Crew: 2 (pilot and radio operator/gunner)
• Powerplant: Junkers Jumo 211J inline engine of approx. 1,400 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 344 km/h (with the cannon pods fitted)
• Main armament: two 37 mm BK 3.7 cannon in underwing pods
• Defensive armament: twin 7.92 mm MG 81Z machine guns in the rear cockpit
• Role: destruction of armoured vehicles in level flight at low altitude
• Production: approx. 6,500 aircraft of all Ju 87 versions

About the manufacturer – Hobby 2000:

Hobby 2000 is a Polish model company based in Katowice that builds its range around its own themed releases of plastic kits. Each box contains sprues from an established manufacturer – in this case Fujimi sprues – combined with the company's own artwork, illustrated assembly instructions and a new decal sheet. The waterslide decals for the brand's kits are printed by Cartograf of Italy, valued in the industry for their thin carrier film and accurate colour registration. Most of the aircraft releases also include self-adhesive masks for the glazing, which makes painting the canopy frames considerably easier. Hobby 2000 selects its subjects around specific campaigns, units and pilots, and Polish themes appear regularly in the catalogue. Print runs are limited, so once a release sells out it rarely returns. For the modeller this means access to proven tooling in a boxing with carefully researched markings that are often hard to find elsewhere.