SPECIAL HOBBY ISSUES ANOTHER STUKA

The Czech firm’s marriage of Academy’s 1/72 Ju 87 with its own parts continues with a ‘Stuka Experten’ boxing.

SPECIAL HOBBY ISSUES ANOTHER STUKA

Academy’s 1/72 Stuka is arguably one of the better kits on the market, but the series was limited. Spotting a great opportunity, Special Hobby has been packaging Academy’s runners with its own bespoke styrene components, photo-etched (PE) brass details and decals.

Via new kit 72470, Special Hobby lets modellers build the D-3 sub-type and you have the choice of three different airframes flown by Knight’s Cross recipients. Supplied in 3D-printed resin, too, are the so-called Trumpets of Jericho… the spat-mounted, wind-driven sirens that helped to give the Stuka its infamous ‘scream’ in a dive. Included on the new styrene runner are undercarriage legs, a new seat and adjacent armour, radios, bombs and racks, and wheels among other smaller items.

SPECIAL HOBBY ISSUES ANOTHER STUKA

Above: Many new parts sit on Special Hobby's bespoke styrene runner, including bombs/racks, wheels and a new seat.

SPECIAL HOBBY ISSUES ANOTHER STUKA

Above: Items sucha s seat straps and bomb fins are carried by the useful PE fret.

The decal sheet’s markings have strong colours and good opacity. Special Hobby’s new schemes are:

•    T6+AA, ObLt Dr Ernst Kupfer, Geschwaderkommodore St.G 2, Crimea, Ukraine, summer 1943
•    S7+AA, ObLt Walter Sigel, Geschwaderkommodore St.G 3, Egypt, 1942
•    T6+BC, WkNr 2491 Little Bear, Lt Gunther Schmid, II.St.G 2, eastern Ukraine, September 1942

SPECIAL HOBBY ISSUES ANOTHER STUKA

All three machines wear the standard splinter pattern associated with the type, although the Egypt-based Stuka has patches of RLM 79 Sandgelb along its fuselage, in the canopy area. Yellow theatre markings help to add colour to two of the airframes. The Ju 87 in Scheme A is notable for having its wheels spats and ‘trumpets’ removed.

Read a review of Special Hobby's 'Night Attack Stukas' package.

This is a well-considered package, which will doubtless be welcomed by staunch fans of the type… especially as the parts are so good (as they are in all Special Hobby Stukas thus far). If you haven’t yet taken the plunge with a Ju 87, this boxing may well offer the right contents for you. It costs €21.90 when purchased direct from Special Hobby, but it is also available at Hannants in the UK.

SPECIAL HOBBY ISSUES ANOTHER STUKA

Above: The Stuka's notorious 'Trumpets of Jericho' sirens come in 3D-printed resin. They can be fitted to two of three airframes here.

SPECIAL HOBBY ISSUES ANOTHER STUKA

SPECIAL HOBBY ISSUES ANOTHER STUKA

SPECIAL HOBBY ISSUES ANOTHER STUKA