Junkers Ju87 R-2/B-2 Stuka

Plastic model kit of a Junkers Ju 87 R-2/B-2 Stuka dive bomber

• Scale 1:48
• Dimensions (assembled): Length: mm / Wingspan: 288 mm
• 161 parts
• 2 painting options
• Unassembled, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka made its maiden flight in 1935 and became one of the most famous and feared aircraft of World War II. The name "Stuka" is derived from the German word "Sturzkampfflugzeug" (dive bomber aircraft), and this aircraft was specifically designed for precision bombing raids.

Unusually large for a dive bomber, the Stuka was powered by a single V-12 Junkers Jumo engine and weighed over four tons. Despite its size, it could carry a considerable 1,800 kg of bombs and was armed with up to four machine guns. The aircraft was flown by a two-man crew consisting of a pilot and tail gunner in a tandem cockpit beneath its distinctive gull-wing structure.

Among the Stuka's unique design features were a fixed, faired landing gear and its characteristic cranked wings. It was equipped with automatic dive brakes under the wings, enabling steep dives followed by automatic recovery. It was famously fitted with the Jericho trumpet—a siren mounted on the landing gear that emitted a bloodcurdling blast during dives to terrify those below.

The Ju 87 B-2 was the most produced variant and saw action in various theaters of war during the early years. The R-2 variant was developed for long-range missions, particularly anti-ship warfare. Its increased range was achieved through additional fuel capacity and underwing tanks.

The Stuka was extremely effective during the Blitzkrieg campaigns in Poland and France, where it achieved air superiority. However, in the Battle of Britain, the slow and poorly protected aircraft suffered considerable losses against modern fighters. Nevertheless, it continued to prove its worth on the Eastern Front and in the Mediterranean, where Luftwaffe fighter pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel famously flew over 2,530 combat missions in this aircraft.

The Stuka remains one of the most recognizable aircraft silhouettes of the Second World War; its distinctive appearance and infamous reputation secure it a permanent place in aviation history.
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