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In-Box Review
132
Junkers J.I
When Moving vans Flew
  • 1/32 Junkers J.I

by: Stephen T. Lawson [ JACKFLASH ]

Kit History,

Along time in the making but it seems the newest aircraft model manufacturer is the brain child of Wingnut productions owner Peter Jackson (LotR) fame. They have opened with a bang and the subject matter is 1/32 WWI plastic model aircraft kits. The prototype of this kit was up on their site for almost a year giving us all a hint of the things to come.

Assembling a group of 3D artists for his movies Mr. Jackson added some of the contemporary greats to his staff. Now we see them contnuing in their service to the lord of the wings. This Rogue's gallery of artists are listed in the info section on the website. One of the most immediately recognizable is the superb fellow Mark Miller. His Virtual graphics in the modeling venue have been the stuff of inspiration for years. Ronny Bar, Steve Anderson and so many others.

Their products are most impressive according to the previews and the review kits they have sent to me. Our future is looking bright indeed.

History of the original,

In late 1916 Idflieg (the German Inspectorate of Aviation Troops) issued the J type design specification for an armoured ground attack and army liaison aircraft. Junkers responded with one of the most revolutionary aircraft of WWI with the Junkers J.I.

Junkers Co.was a pioneer in the construction of all-metal aircraft with their steel monoplane (confusingly also called the J.1) being completed in 1915. This was followed by an improved version called the J.2 and finally the J.3 made from the much lighter duraluminium (aluminium from the city of Dur had a copper base.). This material was the natural choice for use in Hugo Junkers’ revolutionary J.4 designed to meet Idflieg’s J type specifications. This J.4, as Junkers referred to it, was confusingly designated the J.I in service by Idflieg. Roman numerals for aircraft type identification. were the norm for military purchased aircraft)

The Junkers J.1 (J.4) airframe was constructed entirely of duraluminium (dural) tubes almost completely sheathed in corrugated dural sheet. The front fuselage was constructed from 5mm armoured steel to protect the crew from enemy fire. Initially the rear fuselage, fin and rudder were covered with fabric but later production aircraft had the fin and rudder sheathed in corrugated sheet dural. Development was continued post armistice when even the rear fuselage was covered with corrugated sheet dural. This fully corrugated aircraft design would remain a Junkers feature well into the 1930s.

Nicknamed ‘the flying tank’ or ‘the moving van’, the Junkers J.I was the A-10 Thunderbolt of its day, designed to attack enemy ground targets while remaining impervious to ground fire. Despite being heavy, relatively slow and requiring a long take off and landing area, the J.I was popular with its crews due to the protection provided by its armoured front section and all metal airframe. . ." From the Wingnut website with alterations for clarity.

Box contents,

When you crack open the box for kit #32001 you will find ;
1. Cartograf decals included for 5 aircraft.
2. 152 high quality injection moulded plastic parts.
3. Optional parts for early, mid and late production aircraft.
4. 17 photo-etched metal detail parts.
5. Optional Parabellum LMG14 and LMG 14/17 machine guns.
6. Highly detailed Bz.IV engine
7. Highly detailed instruction book/ monograph.

Manufacturer,

Since I have already discussed this in the SE 5a review. I will just give you the reference for it. See;
https://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=submit&req=mod_review&id=4115

Decal profiles,

1. Junkers J.I 100/17, Flieger Abteilung 19, 1917.
2. Junkers J.I 134/17, Flieger Abteilung A (Artillerie) 263, 1918.
3. Junkers J.I 138/17, Flieger Abteilung 17, 1918.
4. Junkers J.I 802/17, 1918.
5. Junkers J.I 857/17, Flieger Abteilung A (Artillerie) 263, 1918.

References,

1. Windsock Datafile 39 Junkers J.I by P.M. Grosz 1993.
2. Canada Aviation Museum, Ottowa, Canada.
3. Deutches technikmuseum, Berlin, Germany. - 1914-1918
4. Aviation Heritage Trust - Private Collections.
5. Windsock Datafile 151 Junkers Aircraft by P.M. Grosz 2008.

In conclusion,

Even as an in the box review you can usually find certain hallmarks in a kit that tell you the build will be enjoyable or filled with tribulations. Everything I see about this kit as it is on the sprue says it is well engineered. The only thing a modeler will really have to be concerned about is where do you display it when its completed. Because it will be the center of attraction no matter where you put it.

Click here for additional images for this review.

SUMMARY
Highs: Most impressive molding and surface details.
Lows: Looks like there is a 3mm shortage in the ailerons. But enough spare material to fix.
Verdict: A great subject and good engineering, what more could a modeler ask for in a basic plastic kit?
Percentage Rating
96%
  Scale: 1:32
  Mfg. ID: 32001
  Suggested Retail: 79.00 USD
  Related Link: Vintage Aviator.com
  PUBLISHED: Apr 23, 2009
  NATIONALITY: Germany
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 90.97%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 93.98%

Our Thanks to Wingnut Wings!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Stephen T. Lawson (JackFlash)
FROM: COLORADO, UNITED STATES

I was building Off topic jet age kits at the age of 7. I remember building my first WWI kit way back in 1964-5 at the age of 8-9. Hundreds of 1/72 scale Revell and Airfix kits later my eyes started to change and I wanted to do more detail. With the advent of DML / Dragon and Eduard I sold off my ...

Copyright ©2021 text by Stephen T. Lawson [ JACKFLASH ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



Comments

Greetings all; As most of you know Mark Miller's name has come up on Aeroscale several times here in Early Aviation. I saw this post from Mark concerning the Junkers J.I Benz motor. ". . .i did the digital masters for the merc and benz and i made it 2 ways..one with the pushrods cast into the side of the cylinders. and then a seperate "clean" cylinder part without the pushrods cast on so those who are so inclined could add them seperately. ". . .the cast on rods stuck in my craw as well. but it is a fiddley task and we weren't sure everybody would want to bother with it. . .so the only answer was to do it both ways and to tell you the truth...when i made a pre-prodution version of the benz I used the cast on version and it looks pretty darn good. . ."
APR 24, 2009 - 07:23 AM
Very cool looking kit. Thanks for the review.
MAY 01, 2009 - 09:59 AM
Greetings all it looks like there is a 3mm shortage in the ailerons. Looking for a good fix on the subject I note there is some spare material if you do not use the early radiator shutters. More as I progress.
MAY 01, 2009 - 06:18 PM
Hi Stephen, This is a kit, even I get weak... I'm looking forward to see your report on it. By the way, didn't you mentionned a Wingnut Wings group build lately? Jean-Luc
MAY 01, 2009 - 06:39 PM
Here is the Copper State Models fix to the WNW Junkers J.I. the set is available at 15.00 USD . Tel. 802 - 867 - 8822.
JUN 09, 2009 - 10:58 AM
Greetings all, And so it begins. As with any kit a washing of the sprues in antibacterial soap and hot water. This helps me become one with the build. . . Ok I am not going to fuse with styrene. This weekend I will sit down and cruise through references and make notes. I am extremely interested in showing some substructure as Mark hamrick has proposed for his 1/48 vacuform version. Will definately have to invest in some bits and bobs. Maybe some Copper State Models instrument gauges. . . The resin aileron updates by CSM are in hand. The only problem with replacing 1:32 parts is what do you do with the ones you replace? Now that would be a bone pile. Here.is my build.
JUL 02, 2009 - 05:53 PM
What ref's will you be using for this build ?
JUL 03, 2009 - 02:41 AM
   
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  • 1/32 Junkers J.I
    All metal aircraft in plastic kit.
  • 1/32 Junkers J.I
    All metal aircraft in plastic kit.
  • 1/32 Junkers J.I
    All metal aircraft in plastic kit.
  • 1/32 Junkers J.I
    obverse side of wing sections. Note molded in supports for the structural integrety.
  • 1/32 Junkers J.I
    All metal aircraft in plastic kit.
  • 1/32 Junkers J.I
    All metal aircraft in plastic kit.
  • 1/32 Junkers J.I
    All metal aircraft in plastic kit.
  • 1/32 Junkers J.I
    All metal aircraft in plastic kit.
  • 1/32 Junkers J.I
    All metal aircraft in plastic kit.
  • 1/32 Junkers J.I
    Decals for kit 32001
  • 1/32 Junkers J.I
    Brass etch for kit #32001
  • Wingnutwings.com
    Junkers J.I
  • Wingnutwings.com
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