Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
Online reviews
IPMSUK Magazine
IPMSUSA.org
Reviewed By Phil Pignataro, IPMS# 17254
Well known
to modelers, the Stuka is synonymous with the German Blitzkrieg of WWII.
This aircraft performed admirably in the close support mission as long
as the Luftwaffe maintained air superiority. It contributed to victories
in the Low Countries of Europe, the Soviet Union, and in North Africa.
However, RAF fighters exploited its slow speed and lack of defensive
armament in the air war over England and it was withdrawn from the
fighting. The development of this important aircraft is extensively
covered by the authors of this 6.5"x 9" soft covered book of 152 pages.
The first part goes into the background of dive bombing and the
development of the Stuka prototype. In the next fifty pages Michulec and
Willis discuss all versions of the Ju-87 from the A-1 through the H. In
addition to the extensive text, there are numerous photographs, drawings
from technical manuals, and 1/72 scale drawings of each version. At the
end of this section there is a two-page chart giving the specifications
and performance data for each version. Further along are several pages
of B&W photos highlighting details of the airframe. Again, these
pictures are supplemented with drawings from technical manuals of the
Ju-87. Details of the two aircraft on display at Chicago's Museum of
Science and Industry and Hendon's RAF museum are extensively covered
with color photographs. Here too are drawings and photos from the
original manuals for the aircraft. The final section of the book has
twenty-five pages of color profile drawings of the different camouflage
schemes that appeared on different versions of the aircraft.
From my perspective, this is exactly the kind of book modelers need when
looking for additional reference material on a particular aircraft. A
wealth of detail is provided not only by the numerous photographs, but
also by drawings from the aircraft's technical manuals. The color
profiles offer many different camouflage schemes. All of this is very
useful information for any modeler building a Ju-87.
I highly recommend this book.
SAMI
by Paul E. Eden
Mushroom
Model Publications maintains the high standards of its Yellow
Series of monographs with this fine volume on the Ju 87. As ever it is
targeted firmly at the modeller, but it also contains much to recommend
it
to the serious enthusiast of combat aircraft or air warfare.
As usual with these MMP books, this title cover's the subjects's origins
and
evolution, variants and technical features. This time around there is
very
little mention of operational use and given that these monographs are
essentially technical in nature that seems no bad thing. When an
aircraft
has a combat history as long and complex as that of the Ju 87, it is
probably best to either report on it in full, or not to touch it at all.
It
could be that Mushroom's detailed 1:72 scale drawings have reached a new
level of quality with this new book, multiple views of multiple variants
being enhanced with carefully chosen scrap views. The colour artwork is
also
to a higher standard than we have been accustomed to of late from this
publisher, which is high praise indeed. It runs to 29 pages and covers
only
German subjects - other operators' Ju 87s are covered elsewhere in MMP's
extensive catalogue.
This superb book can be purchased for ?12.99 from your favourite
specialist
retailer, or for ?14.00, including postage and packing in the UK and
Europe,
direct from the publisher at 36 Ver Road, Redbourn, Hertfordshire, AL3
7PE,
UK.
InternetModeler.com
Reviewed by Chris Banyai-Riepl
The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka is to attack
aircraft as the Spitfire or Bf 109 is to fighter aircraft. With its
arrival, Germany could no longer claim that their Luftwaffe was strictly
a defensive force, and its usage in the opening stages of the Second
World War proved its offensive capabilities. As the war progressed,
though, its slow speed coupled with rapid advances in fighter aircraft
rendered it obsolete on the Western Front. The Stuka found plenty of use
on the Eastern Front, though, where it operated in close concert with
ground forces. In the role of close air support, the Ju 87 redeemed
itself, and the type soldiered on successfully to the end of the war.
This latest title from Mushroom Model Publications presents a detailed
type history of the Ju 87, from the early beginnings with the Ju 87A
through to the ultimate Stuka variant, the Ju 87D/G. Like other titles
in the Mushroom Yellow Series, this book is packed with plenty of useful
information. The text is quite well written, with a logical breakdown
according to types. For those wanting the operational record, look
elsewhere, as this is purely a description of the aircraft and the
thought processes that led to its development and progression.
In terms of illustrative material, this book truly shines. Spread
throughout the pages are many great photographs, some of which I have
not seen before. The coverage on the early Stukas is particularly
impressive. Coupled with these period photos are several pages of detail
shots showing close-ups of surviving museum examples. These will be of
great use to the modeler. Finally, like most Mushroom books, this one
leaves the last couple dozen pages for color profile illustrations.
These cover everything from the Ju 87A to the Ju 87G, and every theater
of operation: France and Britain, North Africa and the Mediterranean,
and the Eastern Front. Notably absent, though are any foreign nations
that flew the Ju 87. All the profiles presented (and the photos, for
that matter) are of Luftwaffe aircraft.
This is a great addition to Mushroom’s growing Yellow Series, and a nice
single-point reference for the developmental history of the Stuka.
Hyperscale.com
Reviewed by Brett Green
F i r s t
R e a d
The subject of Mushroom Model Publications' latest publication in the
Yellow series is the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka.
This new book by Robert Michulec & Matthew Willis focuses on the
development of the Stuka, from the concept to the prototypes and Ju 87 A
model, through to the more recognised wartime variants, the B, R, D and
G; plus the developmental cul-de-sacs - the C, E and H; and even the
uncompleted developments such as the Ju 87 F, Ju 187 and Ju 287.
The authors cover these developments succinctly using text, line
drawings and historical photographs in the first 64 pages of the book.
The next section comprises 35 pages of detail photos of surviving Stuka
examples, images from wartime manuals, drawings and photos from the
factory.
The book is wrapped up with 19 pages of very attractive colour profiles
of the Stuka in Luftwaffe service. A variety of colours and markings are
covered on variants from the initial "Anton" production version to the
Ju 8 G, which saw service until the last weeks of the war.
Scale drawings and scrap views are used to good effect throughout the
book to distinguish variants and specific features.
This book covers the developmental history of the Ju 87 Stuka very well
in text, diagrams and photographs. Please note that operational history
is not discussed in any detail, but Mushroom's newest title will be
useful to modellers wanting easy identification of variants and tehnical
details, or inspiration from the many attractive colour profiles and
well-captioned photographs.
Recommended.
ModelingMadness.com
Reviewer: Scott Van Aken
Probably
the most effective and successful dive bomber ever produced, the Junkers
Ju-87 is the subject of this new book from Mushroom Models Publications.
Far from the failure that many have portrayed it in the past, the Ju-87,
like any other bomber, required air cover or local air superiority in
order to be able to perform its mission effectively. It was shown that
when those conditions were met (which was most of the time), it was a
devastating, precision weapon. When confronted by an aggressive air
defense, it was a sitting duck. So the answer was not to use it where
there was an aggressive air defense and so it made its mark in the early
days of the war, over the deserts of North Africa, in the Balkans, and
even more so in the Russian campaigns.
This latest Mushroom Models book takes a good look at the Stuka,
following their normal format. First there is a full history of the type.
This includes a number of quality drawings that help us differentiate
between the various sub types and even the differences added during
production. It then goes into a photo-essay using the extant aircraft,
of which there are very few. The Chicago Museum's Ju-87R is used for the
second generation Stuka and the RAF Museum's D/G for the third
generation version. The A model's photo essay is completely from period
sources. Fortunately, Junkers did not destroy everything in sight at the
end of the war so their aircraft are fairly easy to research as these
things go. In addition to the walk-around images and superb period
photographs, there are page after page of full color profiles.
This all makes for a most complete book that is an excellent asset for
both the historian and the modeler alike. If you have only one book on
the Ju-87 for your shelves, this one should be it.
Cybermodeler.com
By Ray Mehlberger
Mushroom
Model Publications (MMP) is based in the UK. They have their books
printed in Poland in cooperation with Stratus there in the English
language.
This new book is in MMP’s usual 6 ½” x 9” page format with soft cover,
that they use for all their aviation books. This book has 152 pages.
The Junkers Ju 87 “Stuka” was the spearhead of the German Blitzkrieg. It
was a feared and infamous weapon used by the Luftwaffe from the Spanish
Civil War until the end of WWII. A superb dive-bomber, later used as a
close-support ground attack and anti-tank weapon, the Stuka thrived when
air superiority could be guaranteed – but suffered badly when faced with
effective fighter opposition, as in the Battle of Britain. Perhaps the
most renowned aircraft used by the Luftwaffe, the Ju 87 is the one
aircraft brought to mind when “dive-bomber” is mentioned.
All versions of the Ju 87 are described and illustrated in this new book,
from the initial production “Anton” A model to the tank-busting Ju 87G.
The book is profusely illustrated with 113 black and white wartime
photos, 41 line drawings in 1/72nd scale,
78 full-color walk-around type photos of Ju 87’s that are in the Museum
of Science and Technology, Chicago USA, the Museum Lotwictwa Polskiego
in Krakow Poland and the RAF Museum in Hendon UK. There are also 33
illustrations out of German tech manuals and 52 color profile paintings
and 3 top view paintings of Ju 87 variants. The last page of the book
has a bibliography.
The profile paintings are all in Luftwaffe markings. No illustrations of
Stukas that served with other air forces are shown. Nor is foreign
service mentioned in the text. It would have been nice if these had been
included.
(MMP
published a separate book on Foreign JU 87 Stukk see here Ed.)
Chapters in the book are:
Introduction
Background
Ju 87 Genesis
Junkers Ju 87A
Junkers Ju 87B
Junkers Ju 87R
Tropical versions
Junkers Ju 87C
Junkers Ju 87D
Junkers Ju 87D night versions
Junkers Ju 87E
Junkers Ju 87G
Junkers Ju 87H
Uncompleted developments: Ju 87F, Ju-187 & Ju-287
Junkers Ju 87 production
Technical data
Detail photos: Ju 87A, Ju 87B & Ju 87D-G
Color profiles
Bibliography
On the back cover of the book are illustrations of the covers of 3 other
books by MMP. One is titled “German Air Projects, Vol. 3”. It is
reviewed elsewhere here on Cybermodeler. The other two are future
releases: “Henschel Hs-126” and “Messerschmitt Me-163B Komet”.
This is one neat book about the famous Stuka. It will be of interest to
both air enthusiasts and modelers alike. Highly recommended.