DRAGON

DRAGON WINGS

WARBIRDS SERIES

DRW 50200 – JUNKERS-87G-2 Stuka

Oberstleutnant Hans-Ulrich Rudel III.Gruppe Kommander, SG-2, Eastern Front 1944-45

Die Cast

Scale – 1/72

Condition – Stock as Issued

This model is second one in the Dragon premiere Stuka release.   

Discounts are available for regular customers and if purchase along with other aircrafts or military models.

Here is a highly detailed model of the historic plane made by Dragon and it is their first Stuka model.   Dragon’s 1/72 scale die cast plane models have exceptional price to quality ratio.  You can purchase less expensive Stuka models made by other model makers but you will have much less of a model.   And even if you aren’t in planes model this model can be a great addition to your 1/72 scale armored vehicles collection.

“Hans-Ulrich Rudel flew some 2,530 combat missions (a world record), during which he destroyed almost 2,000 ground targets (among them 519 tanks, 70 assault craft/landing boats, 150 self-propelled guns, 4 armored trains and 800 other vehicles; as well as 9 planes [2 IL-2's and 7 fighters]). He also sank a battleship, two cruisers and a destroyer. He went on to become the most decorated soldier in Germany. The combination of a finely detailed scale model, and the markings of an historical fighter ace's plane, makes this a highly prized asset in any model aircraft collection.

This is the link to YOUTUBE showing rare action futage of Stuka w 37 mm guns.  They say it is Rudel's gun cameras footage. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU6OK1zSxKg

Main Features:
- NEW Aircraft Type!
- 1/72 Authentic Scale
- High Quality Diecast Metal
- Historically Accurate
- Removable Weapons
- Detailed Cockpits
- Opening Canopy
- Moving Wing Flaps
- Pre-assembled
- Display In Flight or In Landing Mode
- Approximate dimensions: 6.07"L x 7.5"W x 2.13"H

About the Stuka:
Early in WWII, the German Ju-87 Stuka dive bombers struck fear into the hearts of its prey, and they were a powerful symbol of the new style of blitzkrieg warfare. However, as the war progressed, the Stuka was found to be vulnerable, and so other uses were found for it. One of these was as an airborne tank killer, with the Ju-87G being the final version of this distinctive and ungainly looking aircraft.” Source www.dragonmodelsusa.com

Stuka stands for - Sturzkampfflugzeug / German for dive bomber

Development begins in 1935 and production started in 1936.  During the production cycle according different sources from some 5,700 to over 6000 planes were manufactured with three major production varriants A – 1936-1938, B 1938-1941 and D 1941-1944..  Production ceased in 1944.

Used with stunning effect during the Blitzkrieg in Poland, Scandinavia, Belgium, France, North Africa and Greece replacing the heavy artillery support for fast moving German Forces.  They say it was better, faster, more accurate, higher level of devastation, able to find targets on its own, with much higher range.  It rugged fixed carriage allowed take-off and landing on improvised airstrips located close to the battlefield and provide required air support on short notice, dive bombing allowed a great level of accuracy (at the time no adequate technology was developed yet to provide required accuracy with level flight bombing), the plane was equipped with innovative system that allowed to control diving and at the same time allowing a pilot to aim and automatic pull-off system preventing a pilot from make a mistake while a high g force maneuver.  It was able to follow fast moving German Forces and thus secured the success of the Blitzkrieg.   Nine Stuka Gruppen (wings) with some 336 planes were deployed against the Poland and only thirty-one planes were lost.  Interesting enough the first German kill during this operation belongs to Stuka that shot down old type Polish fighter.  Stuka was also used as psychological weapon few airplanes were equipped with wind powered sirens named ‘Jericho Trumpets’ that produced horrifying noise during a dive frighten its victims.  Sirens produced a strong additional air drag that was very unwelcome on already sluggish aircraft, therefore only a small number of planes were equipped with it.  But effect was dramatic on both sides of the front, boosting moral of Germans and plunging already low moral of their enemies. Even after over 60 years since the war ended the legend of screaming diving Stukas still be a horrifying image.

However it was a huge disappointment during the Battle of Britain where Germans were unable to establish air superiority.  The plane was very slow, even latest variants with much more powerful engine that entered service in 1941 had maximum speed of 354 km/h / 214 mph (speed of G was reduced to 344 km/h / 208 mph) while normal cruising speed was 190 km/h / 118mph, it had very pure maneuverability and was not an agile plane.

The plane was used again with a great success during early years of German invasion in Soviet Union were 290 Stukas were deployed in 1941.  However with losing control in the air beginning from early 1943 Germans were able to effectively use it only is a heavy fighter support was available.  In 1944 air superiority on the Eastern Front shifter to Russians and flying a Stuka became extremely dangerous.  With Russians were able to dramatically increase production of famous T-34 tanks many of survived Stuka were converted to anti-tank role that received designation – G.  The ‘tank-busting’ role of Stuka was pioneered by Hans-Ulrich Rudel, often called as the most highly decorated German soldier, though some say as such was Herman Gering.  Hans Rudel was shot down 30 times, in February 1945 his right leg was amputated but he returned to flying, most of the time Stuka.  The G model was a refitted D for anti-tank role where instead of a bomb load it was fitted with two 37 mm BK 37 cannons in under wing pods.  With this armament the plane was unable to take a bomb load, but if anti-tank cannons was not carried it was able to take up 1,800 kg / 3,968 lbs or gun pods for 6 machine guns. 

Most Luftwaffe Stuka squadrons were converted to Focke Wulf 190 fighter-bombers during 1944-1945 but some units were using their Stukas until the last days of the WW II.

It can be argued about efficiency and ups and downs of Stuka’s units deployments but it is no doubt that the Stuka can’t be separated from the history of the WW II and thus from the history of the 20^th century.