Reviews : Hasegawa Ju87G-2 Stuka

An excellent Stuka Ju87G-2 1/48 kit. The kit includes the decals to make the Stuka flown by the well known and highly decorated German Luftewaffe WW II pilot, Hans Rudel. Although the price of this kit was reasonable, some after market products added to the expense of my build. These items were the Montex Mini interior and exterior Canopy Mask for the Junkers Ju 87D/G Hasegawa kit, Eduard Color PE interior detail Zoom Set, and the LF Models Junkers Ju87D/G Stuka camouflage masks set. The kit decals were slightly thick, but went on with Microsol decal solvent solution. The parts fit was precise as no filler putty was necessary. The kit is far superior to the Revell model of this same aircraft which has raised panel lines and inaccurate wing mounted 37 mm anti tank cannons. All panel lines on the Hasegawa kit are recessed and the wing mounted 37 mm cannons are historically accurate in appearance. The kit includes the swirl marking decal that will go on with some Microsol decal solvent solution. The kit has a green house canopy that is extremely complicated to mask. Therefore a diecut canopy mask, after-market set is highly recommended for this build. The kit does not contain seat belts or crew figures to correct this deficiency, so a PE seatbelt set is recommended. If using the stock wing mounted cannon barrels, the bore openings require careful hollowing out with a pin vise. Although not shown on the marking and painting guide or on the kitbox art, the kit does include white outline swastika decals for the horizontal tail plane. Due to the complex masking of the greenhouse canopy and the masking for the exterior camouflage pattern, this kit is recommended for intermediate to advanced modelers. Application of paint by airbrushing is highly recommended.

I have built two Hasegawa kits, this my first. It has good detail and was one of my best efforts. The cockpit did not fit snuggly but I have that situation with most kits. I have learned a few modeling skills but not this one. I hung this one from the ceiling since it has fixed landing gear but have since taken it down. When I watch videos of this evil looking plane and hear its' screaming dive, I can understand why this plane was so feared.