Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: tc2324 on March 16, 2013, 09:13:44 PM
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Been away for a while committing the cardinal what if sin of building real world aircraft, but luckily the meds have now run out so I`m back with a whif created for the World War Two 1944-1954 what if GB over on MMM.
Ju 88P-5
Developed from the Ju 85, a twin-engined bomber aircraft prototype in 1935, the Ju 88 entered service with the Luftwaffe in late 1939. With the invasion of Poland stalled for the foreseeable future, Luftwaffe bomber units trained with the type in preparation for the upcoming conflict. This also gave the Junkers design team time to refine the design and upgrade many systems.
One offshoot from this period was the idea of creating a tank destroyer to counter the build up of heavy tanks produced by the Soviet Union.
By 1943 three prototypes using increasing higher larger caliber weapons had been developed and test flown. This culminated in the P-5 variant which used the powerful 88mm weapon, had a two man crew, (pilot and weapons loader), and redesigned cockpit and canopy for better visability. The 88mm could also depress by 30 degrees so that it could be fired in straight and level flight without the need for a head on attack.
In late 1943 tests were conducted on the viability of using this design in the field and while the weapon functioned perfectly, the accuracy of hitting a small moving target proved troublesome.
By now however jet aircraft had started to enter service and replace older propeller driven types. All Ju 88 types were now relegated to second line training units, sold to `friendly` nations or in the case of the older airframes, scrapped and smelted down. Having put time and money into the `tankbuster` design, yet knowing that newer aircraft types and German armor were better suited to the task of containing the Soviet forces, the Junkers team marketed the new aircraft for the anti shipping role. This proved to be a very clever move as the Luftwaffe had not fully appreciated the role of maritime operations, concentrating more on the land battles due to start. It was suggested that high explosive shells could be used on merchant vessels with little or no armor protection although the provision to use anti armor shells was kept. Also the Ju 88 had a better range and could loiter in a combat area far out to sea than any of the new jet types.
The Luftwaffe high command accepted that this was an area that they had not envisioned in their plans but were happy to order the production of 96 aircraft equipping eight squadrons to fill in this much needed gap.
Come March 1st 1944 and the commencement of `Case White` and the invasion of Poland, P-5`s were used in anger for the first time and with great success against allied shipping. By January 1945 however the U-Boats of the German Navy were starting to make a huge impact on the Atlantic convoys and the P-5, which was also suffering from losses from convoy escort fighters was retired from service by March of that year. While the types operational service had been short, the impact on allied shipping in the first six months of the war had been devastating and had caused real concern among the Allied navies.
(http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac81/tc2324/038-1_zpsb4e02faa.jpg)
(http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac81/tc2324/031-14_zpsb718de70.jpg)
(http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac81/tc2324/025-3_zpseb93f4e1.jpg)
(http://i888.photobucket.com/albums/ac81/tc2324/018-30_zpsbe576609.jpg)
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Wow! Frightening! while surprisingly beautiful with this bubble canopy... Which kit(s) did you use?
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Very interesting! I like the splinter pattern
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:)
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It never ceases to amaze me how one small change can completely alter the look of an aircraft!
Adding the bubble-top makes your Ju-88 look wicked fast!
We must be on some sort of wave-length because I have plans to do something similar to a Mosquito.
A real stunner!
Brian da Basher
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It never ceases to amaze me how one small change can completely alter the look of an aircraft!
Adding the bubble-top makes your Ju-88 look wicked fast!
We must be on some sort of wave-length because I have plans to do something similar to a Mosquito.
A real stunner!
Brian da Basher
You said it! That canopy change really makes a difference.
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Very interesting! I like the splinter pattern
What he said!!!! What colors did you use?
Love it!!! 8)
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Cheers for the comments chaps. :)
Wow! Frightening! while surprisingly beautiful with this bubble canopy... Which kit(s) did you use?
Used the Revell Ju 88, F-16 canopy from the spares box and Airfix Tiger tank 88 gun. Kept it pretty simple.
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Very interesting! I like the splinter pattern
What he said!!!! What colors did you use?
Love it!!! 8)
All brush work using Tamiya IJN Grey for undersides, Sea blue and dark grey for the topsides.
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Used the Revell Ju 88, F-16 canopy from the spares box and Airfix Tiger tank 88 gun. Kept it pretty simple.
Using a F-16 canopy on an airplane of the 1940s and judging it "simple"... hehehe ;) Good work!