PACKAGING
Sturdy, oversized box with excellent artwork.
DECALS
Beautifully-done with markings for 3 different
aircraft, perfect registration and spare werknumbers. Easily-applied split (as per European laws) swastikas. Very thin and conformed superbly to the kits corrugated surfaces. Quite an improvement over the Airfix 1:72nd kit of thirty
years ago. Unlike some of the thin decals on the market, they did not exhibit any tendency to fold up
or break apart.
INSTRUCTIONS
11 pages, very detailed with comparative colour
charts for Gunze, Tamiya, Humbrol, Revell and Testors paints.
History, data and 3 colour pages with 4-view presentations for all 3 aircraft.
CONSTRUCTION
Straightforward if you follow the instructions, especially
re: drilling the locating pins for the float struts and antennae. The idea of doing the side windows
as one long, clear piece turned out to be good planning when it came time to remove the painting masks.
I like to used a pointed wooden stick to avoid scratching the clear plastic, and have been known to poke these
windows in. It will be necessary to thin down the hinges for the elevators and ailerons or they won't fit
in the provided slots. I had to drill out the mounting holes for the waist machine gun positions. Because theyre so small, the photo-etched
parts are perhaps the most challenging aspect of this kit. The ammunition drums for the dorsal m.g.15 are a real test of skill and patience, which may explain
why this is one of the spare parts provided!
CONCLUSIONS
Expensive, but a rewarding experience. Makes
up into a real gem of a model with amazing (note that I do not use
the word awesome) detail.
REFERENCES
1. Ju-52 in Action, Squadron/Signal #1186.
2. Warplanes of the Second World War, Vol.
6 (Floatplanes), William Green.
3. Profile #177.
