AmTech 1/72 Ju 88H-3/H-4 By Chris Banyai-Riepl

Overview

The Ju 88 was one of the most versatile aircraft utilized by the Luftwaffe during World War Two. Operated as both a strategic and a dive bomber, a reconnaissance aircraft, and a heavy fighter, there was little that the Ju 88 could not do. This was driven home when the Ju 88 was chosen to be the parent aircraft for a parasite Mistel arrangement. The ultimate in the Mistel progression was the Ju 88H-3/H-4 variants, which featured a stretched fuselage both in front of and behind the wing. Designed as a long-range pathfinder or remote-controlled bomb, only a handful were produced before the war's end.

The Kit

AmTech continues to build off of their nice Ju 88 series with this new release. Utilizing parts from their Ju 88G kit, AmTech has added a couple of new sprues to make this ultimate stretch version of the Ju 88. Since this kit uses parts from their existing kits, I'll refer you back to previous reviews of their Ju 88S/T kits and speak of the new parts.

The new sprues provide the stretched fuselage, the central pogo landing gear leg, fuel tanks, and nose pieces. The nose pieces take two forms. The first is a slip-on radome for the pathfinder variant. The other is a two-piece explosive warhead. The plastic for these new parts is darker and much harder than the original pieces, which bodes well for future releases by AmTech. They have finely recessed panel lines throughout, and the cockpit detail on the sidewalls of the nose is finer than that in the original release.

The decal options provide for three aircraft. In addition to the same decal sheet included with the Ju 88S/T kits, this release has an additional sheet with extra crosses and code letters. There are two pathfinder aircraft and one Mistel bomber aircraft detailed in the instructions. One of the pathfinders is coded G2+BH, while the other carries no codes. Both have a non-standard camouflage pattern consisting of a mix of late-war and early RLM colors. The Mistel option also has no codes and has a somewhat simpler camouflage of RLM 75 mottling over an RLM 76 base. The decals are nicely printed and should pose no problems in going down.

Conclusion

This kit is a great addition to the Ju 88 family. While there were only a few built, there is enormous what-if potential. If a Ju 88H-4 looks good with a Fw 190 on top, just think how it would look with a Tempest or a Mustang on top.

My thanks to AmTech for the review sample.