History

The Ju88 was the most versatile German World War II aircraft in service. Several applications were: dive and high altitude bomber, night fighter, torpedo bomber against shipping, tank buster, as well as reconnaissance.

Items in the Box

The model is made from injection molded plastic – grey in color. The plans were in book format, printed both sides. I had an issue with the landing gear assembly – the procedure could have been more definitive. Clear molded plastic windows were supplied. An extensively detailed decal sheet was also included.

From time to time, Hasegawa blesses us with a new high quality tool that seems like just the thing that model builders need to make their tasks a bit easier. The most recent item in Hasegawa’s Trytool line is exactly that. It is a set of precision stainless steel tweezers with a pair of small flat tips that should hold anything firmly during parts assembly or painting.

AIRfile’s Operation Overlord provides a detailed description of the “Distinctive Markings” carried by Allied aircraft in Northwestern Europe. Volume One is dedicated to RAF and Commonwealth aircraft, with USAAF machines to be covered in a later volume.

The production and research quality of this book is first-rate. Stiff card covers enclose over 70 glossy pages printed on thick stock. Full-color profiles are present on almost every page.

The first section of this book covers those “Distinctive Markings” carried by RAF aircraft during the portion of the War prior to the invasion of Europe. The specific markings carried by British aircraft are described and illustrated. General RAF markings practice (such as the ½-black undersides used for recognition from the ground) is covered. Also, of particular interest, markings relating to specific aircraft such as the Typhoon and Mustang are shown.