If you are tired of big building projects and long for a quick and easy fix…Zvezda has just the right medicine. It’s a 1/200 scale snap kit of the venerable old Junkers Ju 52, complete with a model stand and a war game playing (movement) card. Yes, the main reason this kit exists is as something to be used by the war game segment of our hobby.

The Junkers Ju 52 (nicknamed Tante Ju – "Auntie Ju" – and Iron Annie) was a German transport aircraft manufactured from 1932 to 1945. It saw both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. During WW II it was used by the Luftwaffe as a troop and cargo transport and served briefly (earlier, during the Spanish Civil War) as a medium bomber.

This 1/200 scale kit can be assembled in a few minutes to serve its primary purpose as war game piece. Or, with a little care and tweaking, it can become a very nice little replica of the Tante Ju to add to any 1/200 scale collection. It comprises a mere 17 parts (plus a two-piece stand molded in black). Because of its small size, the fuselage is provided as a single solid piece and the wing also is rendered in one piece. The tail planes, engine cowlings, intakes, propellers and landing gear are simplified snap parts that fit well. The only clear part is a snap-in-place windshield that includes a bit of the top of the fuselage that can be painted to match the rest of the finish. I found most parts actually did snap into place with a little click to confirm they were seated in their proper place. Decals are generic and include everything except the swastikas.

There are no painting instructions, but the box art suggests a suitable scheme (which the decals don’t exactly match)...or, the model builder can find any number of options for this aircraft in books or on the Internet. The plastic is a little slippery and should be primed before any hobby paints are applied. I sprayed the review sample with a coat of Mr. Surfacer for the photo below in preparation for Gunze Mr. Color paints to finish the model. The decals that are provided appear to be printed crisply on thin film.

This model is designed for Zvezda’s Art of Tactic war game system but might be a good candidate for that young potential model builder in the family who needs a good experience with his first project to be “bitten by the bug.”

This kit is recommended. My thanks to IPMS USA and Dragon Models USA for the opportunity to take a break from the big projects to enjoy snapping together and reviewing a truly fun kit.