Reviewed by Brett Green

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The Junkers Ju 88 was a remarkable aircraft. It served stoically on all Luftwaffe fronts in roles ranging from heavy day fighter, bomber, ground attack, night fighter, reconnaissance and flying bomb as part of a Mistel combination. The Ju 88 operated from the early stages of WWII until the last days of the conflict.

Modellers have done quite well throughout the last decade or so with Ju 88 kits. Dragon has now produced most variants - including the stretched Ju 88G-10 and Mistel versions - in 1/48 scale; while AMT and Italeri have various kits in 1/72 scale. AMtech is the most recent model company to step up to the plate with their 1/72 scale Ju 88S, T and Fuhrungsmachine offerings.

Even so, we do not see too many completed Ju 88 kits, considering their widespread use and range of colours and markings. Could it be due to lack of reference?

Model Hobby / Trojca has released a new title, "Junkers Ju 88 Vol. 2" by Waldemar Trojca.

The book comprises 224 pages in 8" x 12" format between two glossy soft cardboard covers.

There is no foreword or introduction, but the purpose of the book is crystal clear - to document all variants of the Junkers Ju 88C, D, G, H, P, S and T in text and in plans. The book also focuses on radar and weapons.

The text is purely functional. It is clearly organised to describe each Ju 88 variant from the D and C onward. The text is divided by several sections of wartime photos, including quite a few images of Ju 88As, although they appear to be otherwise outside of the scope of this book. I cannot recall seeing many of these photos before, so they are a welcome asset. Captions are minimal, however, generally being limited to aircraft variant and unit.

In my opinion, the greatest value in the book lies in 114 pages of detailed drawings. Every variant of the  Ju 88C, D, G, H, P, S and T is covered in 1/72 scale four view plans, plus detailed drawings of weapons and radar. The plans in the book are supplemented by three large fold out sheets of plans in 1/48 and 1/72 scales.

The book is topped off with 34 pages of colour illustrations. There are a few pages of conventional profiles, but the majority of these colour pages are devoted to 3D illustrations of some very interesting Ju 88 subjects depicted at various angles. I was especially attracted to some of the high contrast schemes (for example, a splinter grey RLM 75 perhaps - over RLM 76 Light Blue), but there was no text description offered for the camouflage. The illustrations are very well done, and provide plenty of inspiration for modellers.

Waldemar Trojca's Junkers Ju 88 vol.2 is a great reference book for modellers, with the added bonus of inspirational 3D artwork. I especially like the different views of the same aircraft. It would have been nice to have seen wartime photos substantiating some of the more unusual schemes, or even some text describing the camouflage, but they certainly offer plenty of food for thought as illustrations alone.

If a picture tells a thousand words, then the 114 pages of plans represent an encyclopaedic source of information on the Ju 88. With the addition of the larger scale plans of gun packs and radars, plus the fold out plans, these drawings become a fantastic reference.

You will not find an operational history of the Junkers Ju 88 here. What we are presented with is a detailed, hard core reference book that has enthusiastically tackled the surprisingly complex task of identifying all Ju 88 variants from the D and C onward.

If you are a modeller planning to build a Ju 88C, D, G, H, P, S or T, this book will be an ideal resource to help you count every rivet.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Air Connection for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2005 by Brett Green
Page Created 07 March, 2005
Last updated 07 March, 2005

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