This kit is actually
the Zerstorer version of the Ju-88 C-6 (Dragon kit #5536) with scratch-built FuG
220 SN-2 Radar antenae and Shragemuzik. It is not historically accurate
mainly because the build of this model evolved as it took shape.
I was going to paint
it in a splinter scheme as per the box guide, but then decided to brave a
mottled nightfighter scheme instead and when this paintjob worked out way better
than I thought I could do it, my Ju-88 became a nightfighter. Decals then
became a challenge but I came up with a set from spares that closely resembles
what may have been worn by one of these aircraft.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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The build of this plane was mostly plain-sailing (little things
like panel lines than don't line up on the fuselage were re-scribed) and it
wasn't long before I had to decide how to paint it. Panel lines were
pre-shaded black and then the web was surfed, books read and head scratched
until I decided. Osprey's 'Aircraft of the Aces, German Night Fighter
Aces of World War 2' has a profile on page 27 depicting a standard NJG 2 Ju-88
C-6 (see background of the workbench photo). I think this camo-scheme
looks great so I embarked on my most ambitious airbrushing project yet.
After Googling ju-88 and nightfighter night after night and reading everything I
could find I decided that painting the darker RLM 75 on the upper surfaces first
and then spraying the lighter RLM 76 in a freehand pattern over the top (and
also RLM 76 on all lower surfaces) was the way to go about it.
It took about an hour of squigglework to get it done.
Gunze-Sangyo acrylics and a Paasche double-action airbrush were used. I
was pleased with the result.
Decals were applied over a thinned coat of future and the panel
lines darkened with a chalk sludge. Exhaust stains are airbrushed
Gunze-Sangyo 'soot'.
So, then I had a Zerstorer painted up as an early 1944 Nightfighter.
It at least needed Shrage-musik and in the end I succumbed and set about
scratch-building the radar set-up as well. This has been a good lesson in
the idea that modelling is not so much about skill as patience. I really
didn't think I would be able to get a decent result with the painting and was
even more surprised when my patience with the scratch-building of the radar
worked out.
Eduard German gunsights were used on the rear-facing guns and my
wife supplied a hair for the ariel wire.
I hope you have enjoyed looking at my completed Nachtjager.
Happy modelling.
Murray
Click on
images below to see larger images
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