FROG F160 Junkers Ju 88A

TRADE NOTES

Messrs. Airfix and Frog continue their parallel paths with recent releases. Each has produced a Junkers Ju88A-4. and followed on with one of the lesser known Royal Navy aircraft of the war period, Airfix with a Grumman Wildcat Mk. VI and Frog with the Fairey Barracuda. Inevitably one is drawn into comparisons especially when the same subject appears in two widely differing shapes. According to the official Luftwaffe handbook, the Ju88 A-4 should have a span of 20,080 mm., length 14,359 mm., tail-span 7,500 mm. and distance between thrust lines of 5,430 mm. Each of these 4/6d. kits are oversize therefore by slight amounts ; but on engine spacing the Frog version is at considerab'c variance (approx. ¼ in.) with the 1/72nd figure. This, coupled with an exaggerated outer wing taper, fails to capture the look of this famous bomber. On the other hand, one clever point that we liked in this kit, was the reproduction in transparent plastic of the underbelly observr/bomb aimer's quarters. This elongated blister can be painted in position leaving only the forward and aft windows uncoloured and, finished, looks far more realistic than the more usual separate window system.

In detail, the Airfix Junkers shows more of the characteristics but still needs attention in rudder profi e and wing sections for the fastidious. Both kits have apparently overlooked the small size of identity crosses on the 88. Full size on wing and fuselage were 1 metre square, with 25 cm. black arms edged by 25 mm. white outlines. Fin Swastika, omitted from the kit, was 60 cm. square with 25 mm. outline in white.

Camouflage scheme for our Frog Ju 88 is a light sand/dark earth pattern taken from Karl Ries' book on Luftwaffe schemes, designs and insignia, and the registration shown is accurate for the same machine, an armed Reconnaissance version in action in the Mediterranean theatre.

Frog Fairey Barracuda at 3/- leaves little to be desired in both ease and speed of assembly and accuracy. Undercarriage on this unusual subject is tricky to assemble but looks right when in position. Frog's camouflage pattern, is, we believe, incorrect and that shown in our illustration is more likely to be accurate

Airfix's Wildcat 2/- went together in about three hours (including painting) and buiids into a truly attractive model. Only point we would query, however, is the serial No. and "Royal Navy" markings which Airfix print on their transfer sheet in bright blue — surely these should be black! Otherwise a great little kit to complete a fascinating bunch for the month produced at prices that are rock bottom by world standards and represent tremendous va'ue.

Simplification in the Humber Oil Co's listing of dopes has led to the disappearance of the name "Britfix" on cans as of November 1st. Only trade name to be used in future is Humbrol and this applies to the clear and coloured, Glider dope, Sanding Sealer, Banana oil and Fuel Proofers. The simplified and improved one name packs include all the brushing dopes as well as 4/6d. Aerosol spray cans (4 oz.) of clear and colours.

AeroModeller JANUARY 1965 Vol.XXX No.348

OVER THE COUNTER

Recent additions to the field of plastic scale models have come at a lower rate than might have been expected, bearing in mind the Christmas period. Airfix restricted themselves to the Grumman Wildcat (2s.) which, although of a very good standard, was a little disappointing for those of us who had hoped for a Ju.52 in our stocking!

Frog have been most industrious, with WW.II, being represented by a Ju.88 at 4s. 6d. and a Barracuda at 3s. Whereas the Airfix Ju.88 was criticised for being too square in fuselage and nacelle cross-sections, the Frog model is the reverse. The gun cupola under the nose is a separate item which, although representing another joint to be cleaned, does make for easier modifications to fighter variants.

The Barracuda is very well modelled indeed and the only real criticism possible is with reference to the radiator intake and the cockpit. Both are glaringly empty, but this can be rectified by the addition of a piece of gauze in the former case and two pieces of scrap balsa sheet (to represent the spars passing through the fuselage) in the latter. In supplying only two crew men Frog would appear to have slipped up but, although the Barracuda was designed for a crew of three, it was in fact usually operated with two, i.e. pilot and AG/RO.

Two additions have also been made to the "Trail Blazer" series, namely the Spirit of St. Louis—Lindberg's mount for the first solo crossing of the Atlantic—and a Westland Wallace as used for the first flight over the top of Mount Everest. Both models are extremely good and are simple to construct. Note that the area of fuselage top-decking to be painted black on the Wallace is as shown on the boxtop illustration and not as per the painting instructions. Cost of each of these kits is 3s.

Model Aircraft MARCH, 1965

NEW AND IN VIEW
New Aircraft Kits
ROVEX TRI-ANG (FROG) LTD.: JUNKERS Ju88A-4. Scale 1/72.

Continuing their policy of re-issuing selected kits, FROG have now released their JUNKERS Ju88A-4 in which the mouldings remain unchanged but the box art and decals are revised. The decals include markings for Ju88A-4/Trop of 1 St. (F) 121, Martuba, Libya 1942 and camouflage being Luftwaffe Sand upper surfaces, white wing tips and Light Blue 65 undersides. Alternative markings are for Ju88A-4 of II/KG.54 "Totenkopf" Geschwader, Russia 1942 winter scheme, with Light Grey overall upper surfaces and Light Blue 65 undersides. National insigna crosses are included together with Geschwader/Staffel markings and unit badges or crests. As usual, no swastikas are provided on the decal sheet, FROG being one of the very few plastic kit manufacturers who still omit these from their Luftwaffe markings and box art illustrations.

Also re-issued alongside the Junkers Ju88A-4 is the BRISTOL BEAUFORT. This model also remains unchanged but, similarly, new markings are included, alternatives being for a Beaufort II of 42 Squadron, Coastal Command RAF coded "G-Ghoul" and the other for a Beaufort of 93 Squadron RAAF Labaun, 1945.

The third kit is that of the BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER. Unlike the other two this kit has been altered slightly. The Beaufighter in this kit now represents the Mk. 21 of the AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE, markings being provided for the famous "MACKSVILLE II" EH-Z of 31 Squadron RAAF, Dutch East Indies 1944 and another Mk. 21 DU-H of 22 Squadron RAAF, Sanga Sanga, Phillipines late 1944. Both machines are finished in overall Foliage Green RAAF camouflage. The modifications to the kit parts to make this into a Mk. 21 include the addition of a "bump" forward of the pilot's cockpit for the Sperry Gyro fairings, armament optional rockets, bombs or a torpedo. The fact that the company took the trouble to add the Sperry Gyro fairing is worth noting but it is a pity that they did not take the opportunity of enlarging the diameter of the engine cowlings which remain undersized as when this kit was originally issued as RAF Beaufighter variants; neither have the air intakes been opened up or enlarged in the leading edge of the wings outboard of the engine nacelles, two points which the enthusiast would certainly like to have seen modified or improved. Nonetheless, it is still basically a good kit and even built straight from the box looks "right" but the more experienced modeller will probably wish to correct the cowling and intake errors before pronouncing himself satisfied that the model is really representative.

All three kits contain the extra parts necessary to use the FROG F20 Spin-a-prop units but none of them include the actual Spin-a-Prop motors and batteries.
FROG : Junkers Ju 88A-4. Scale 1/72.

This is another "duplicate" kit as a model of this aircraft is, of course, also available from AIRFIX. Of the two, both have slight errors and the selection of kit for a basic A-4 is entirely to choice. However, from the conversion point of view the FROG kit is probably the better of the two, largely because the lower gondola position is moulded separately and therefore less work is involved in producing a C6 or G series night fighter variant. Frog's kit is up to their usual standard and all parts are cleanly moulded with little flash or distortion. The canopies are extremely clear and more accurate than those of the Airfix kit. The colouring of the codes is, however, incorrect as L1 + AA indicates that it is in fact the Geschwader Kommodore's aircraft of Lehrgeschwader 1 and as such the first "A" (third letter) should be in "Staff Green" 521/1 No. 25 "Hellgrun", the spinners also being this shade. LG. 1 did in fact use 88's with this code in the Battles of France and Britain but the aircraft would have been the earlier shorter-span Ju 88A-2. The aircraft depicted in the kit, after repainting the "A" should be finished Sand Yellow above and Light Blue below, to represent the Ju 88A-4 TROP as it appeared in North Africa. Externally there are no differences between the European and Tropical versions.

The IPMS magazine, MAY 1971 Vol. 8 No. 5

NEW to YOU?
MONTHLY REVIEW OF NEW PRODUCTS CONDUCTED BY BOB JONES OF I.P.M.S

We are still receiving for review new items obviously designed to fall in with the Battle of Britain film and its attendant publicity.

FROG have introduced some of their kits in two-some boxed sets: These being the Spitfire/Ju 88, Blenheim Mk. l/Bf.lO9F and Hurricane IIC/Ju 87D, each set retailing at 10/6d.

For the extra value over the combined price of the two kits, one receives a most attractive box, the front of which features an excellent action painting featuring the aeroplanes provided. One is given a plastic picture frame into which this box top illustration is placed and two display stands which also fit on to the frame. The models may then be mounted on these and the whole hung on the wall of one's den or office etc. The frame is a sturdy unit moulded in polystyrene with a faked wooden 'grain' and colouring, which from a distance looks like an expensive picture surround. The kits for the aircraft are, of course, identical to those which one may buy separately. Taking into account the value of the kits plus the very high quality of the decals, together with the frame and stand mounts at 10/6d. this is good value for money and provides a new and unique method of display.

Scale Models No.5 1970 FEBRUARY Vol.1 No.5

Air Enthusiast 1971-07 vol.01 no.02
MODEL ENTHUSIAST
My wife doesn't understand met
A Frog quartet

Released simultaneously by Frog were re-issues of three kits that have existed for some time but have now been redesigned for motorisation. To accompany them there is a set containing two tiny electric motors with the necessary wiring and copper connections. This is a first class idea, for which we award full marks. The kits concerned are Bristol's Beaufort and Beaufighter, and the Junkers Ju 88A-4, and the motors are 0-8 in (2,0 cm) in length and 0-45 in (1,14 cm) in diameter, and thus slip easily into 1/72nd scale radial engine cowlings. Their shafts are offset, which may enable them to be used for some liquid-cooled engine installations, though nacelles such as those of the Hornet are too slim to accept them. The motors are driven by means of a pen-light battery housed within the fuselage of the model (and accessible by means of a detachable panel in the fuselage underside) and are started and stopped simply by turning or stopping the airscrew. The price of the entire motorisation set is only 42^ pence in the UK, and we foresee a wide application for this clever device.

Turning briefly to the kits themselves, the Beaufighter is an excellent model, and has now been provided with the bulge forward of the windscreen that characterised Australian-built variants and an excellent new decal sheet for a Beaufighter 21. The Ju 88A-4 is a kit of older vintage, and suffers a number of inaccuracies, notably concerning the shapes of the wings and nacelles. The new decal sheet provides markings for examples of this aircraft that served both in North Africa and the Soviet Union. Oldest of the trio is the Beaufort, but it has stood the test of time well, and is generally a very good model if one throws away the atrocious engine cowlings and replaces them with suitable cowlings from another kit. Incidentally, despite the statement on the boxtop, the markings of neither aircraft provided by the decal sheet are those of a Beaufort II (W6476 was a Taurus-engined Mk I while A9-408 was a Twin Wasp-engined Mk VIII). The cowlings of the two types of engine were noticeably different, and the box art is in error in showing the Australian machine with the forward collector rings and long exhaust pipes of the Taurus installation.
W R Matthews

RECENTLY ISSUED KITS

Air Enthusiast 1971-07 vol.01 no.02