Revell 1/144 Junkers G.38
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Hi everyone!
This is my Revell 1/144 Junkers G.38, finished wearing its last scheme.
It was a large German four-engine transport aircraft which first flew in 1929. Two examples were constructed in Germany. Both aircraft flew as a commercial transport within Europe in the years leading up to World War II.
During its early life, it was the largest land plane in the world. Passenger accommodation was sumptuous by today's standards and was meant to rival that found on the competing Zeppelin service offered by the "German Airship Travel Corporation" (DELAG).
The second G.38, named General Feldmarschall von Hindenburg, was built with a double deck fuselage and capacity for 34 passengers and was initially used on a scheduled service covering the cities Berlin, Hanover, Amsterdam, and London.
With the outbreak of World War II it was pressed into military service as a transport craft by the Luftwaffe. It was initially left in aluminum color, later painted in the typical splinter camo. It was destroyed on the ground during an RAF air raid on Athens on 17 May 1944.
Interestingly, during the 1930s, the design was licensed to Mitsubishi, which constructed and flew a total of 6 aircraft, in a military bomber/transport configuration, designated Ki-20.
With only two planes built, It is hard to believe that Revell took the industrial risk of producing such a kit, let alone a very good one of this nevertheless iconic plane (yes! thank you Revell!).
This model will be a part of the "First and Last" build idea, suggested by Paul Barber @yellow10, with the first entry made by Gary Sausmikat @gwskat. More to come soon!
Should you wish to read the specific model's full build review, please visit my beloved Modelingmadness:
https://modelingmadness.com/review/axis/luft/ju/peng38.htm
Below there are some in-progress pics.
Happy modeling!
Gigantor (if anyone remembers the 60's cartoon) even in 144th scale it's huge. Impressive in working with the corrugated skin. The decals seem to have wiggled nicely in between the ribbing. The weathering looks good. Incredible machines the Germans had before the war. Great job on this beauty Spiros, one rare bird, and the only I know to date I have seen built. Well done
Thanks my friend @uscusn!
An incredible build, Spiros @fiveten
To be honest, I was not aware of the existence of this aircraft.
Not in real and not as a model.
I will definitely do some reading about this aircraft, especially because the way you presented it and described it.
Your build is beautiful as always, especially the weathering. The decals do look nice as well from the pictures.
Well done.
Thanks my friend @johnb!
Whereas only two machines were built (and another 6 Ki-20s) this "flying wing-ish" plane is a distinctive design.
I guess 1/144 is the best scale for this monster, just imagine it in 1/72 or even 1/48... It must have been a unique experience flying in one. As always, you've made a great job of this Revell kit, thanks for sharing with us. Definitely liked.
Thanks my friend @chinesegeorge!
1/144 is an excellent scale for this monster of the skies kit, let alone being rendered by Revell in such a good way!
Nice job on this interesting subject, Spiros!
Thanks my friend @gwskat!
Very nice Model and build Spiros and An amazing piece of aircraft history. I had the kit in my stash but sadly sold it as the stash just got too big !
The build pictures are great and thanks for sharing them. Studying them will help in another corrugated sheet aircraft by same manufacturer. The JU-52. That one I kept !
Thanks my friend @bernardbedeur!
Who knows? Maybe Revell will reissue it with fresh thin decals!
And, how about a Ki-20 conversion?
Looking forward to your Revell Ju-52!
This is awesome, Spiros (@fiveten). Even in 1/144 it has to be huge. Well done.
Thanks my friend @gblair!
Yep, it's huge, maybe 1/144 is about the perfect scale for such beasts!
Well done Spiros, like several others I was not aware that such an A/C existed until your build. Some rather interesting engineering features were incorporated in her design, which made her really unique. Can you imagine looking up and seeing her fly over? What a sight.
Thanks my friend @tom-bebout!
Indeed, a very interesting plane, engineering wise, a sight to remember forever, as well!
Very nice build @fiveten, I have not seen this one before a very interesting aircraft and good build. That must have been incredible to see in the air or even more to ride in. Nice work on what looks like a fun and intersting build.
Thanks my friend @luftwaffe-birdman!
I too new nothing about this plane, till I bought the kit, then, by building it, interest rose, so I learned quite a few things about it: the magic of modeling!
Indeed, it must have been a unforgettable sight to see this giant flying!
Very cool Spiros. Love these oddball airplanes and you've done a wonderful job on it!
Thanks my friend @dtravis: I too love less modeled subjects!
Excellent build and write up Spiros, and nice to see your MM post also.
That’s one beast of an aircraft, first realized it’s existence while watching the movie - ‘The Wind Rises’ and had to look it up.
Thanks my friend @georgeswork!
Nice that Revell decided to treat us with this definitely esoteric and utmost impressive subject!
Now that is one I had never seen before today! Looks fantastic. What's with the windows above the engines? That seems odd. What an interesting aircraft.
Thanks my friend @gkittinger!
Those windows were to provide lighting and view to the flight engineer, since the room around and between the engines was "his" room, he would easily monitor and even work at the engines during flight!
Check this stunning schematic:
Ain't that amazing?
Incredible :-O
Thanks my friend @modalex6149!
Really superb work, @fiveten. I only know one other guy who did this kit (in the civil version) and as good as he was with it, this is really a standout.
"liked"
Thanks my friend @tcinla!
The seats looking forward out of the wing roots would undoubtedlyhave spectacular views but I'd hope they had some serious sound insulation otherwise the occupants would be bombarded with the noise from the droning engine! (Thanks for including the cutaway drawing well!)
Thanks my friend @jpatt1000!
What an amazing machine!
P.S. Should I have been the passenger, I would sit with the engineer in his room all the time!
Hi Spiros,
I never heard about this plane and spent some time digging on the internet to know more about it. Fascinating! Yoooo I would book the front cabin 😀
Really nice build and certainly very complicated due to the corrugated fuselage. I think Junkers got a special deal from the manufacturer 😉 I dream to build a Junkers 52 but I am afraid by this kind of fuselage. So, you did it and I am impressed, bravo!
Thanks my friend @modalex6149!
I am absolutely positive that your skills will produce am excellent "corrugated plane" result!
Nice one Spiros!
Thanks my friend @magrus!
Awesome looking aircraft. Such great detail on a 1/144.
Thanks my friend @neillroos!
Indeed, this is an amazingly detailed 1/144 kit!
A great job on an unusual build!
Thanks my friend @roofrat!
Seriously good Spiros.
Thanks my friend @haslam55!
A great post and story and a beautiful model, Spiros! I thoroughly enjoyed the backgrounder on the type and the period drawings with cutaways. I didn't know you worked in 1/144th scale. Although a large aircraft, some of the parts on this build must have been super thin and fragile. You have done an excellent job on the assembly and, of course great painting, weathering and decaling work. Thanks for posting this, including build pics. It's the kind of project that really makes you appreciate how much modeling can teach as well as entertain.
Thanks my friend @coling!
This is such an interesting machine: I kept on joyfully reading its many outstanding (for the time) features!
1/144 is not my usually tackled scale (started as a kid, typically, with 1/72, the moved to the more "serious" 1/48, then to the "dream" 1/32 scale...).
Lately (the last 15 years or so) I find myself not very reluctant in tackling various scales and, slowly, various subjects (ships, sci-fi and figures to come?).
The good thing when expanding my modeling envelope, by tackling "new" things, is that I feel relaxed as to have an excuse for not producing a quality model 🙂
Interesting beast Spiros, nicely done and well presented.
Thanks my friend @kalamazoo!
Cool build. I’ve never heard of this plane before. Looks like something from a 1920s science fiction movie.
Thanks my friend @gwfabian!
Indeed, it does!
Awesome build and thanks for the history lesson too! If only they put seats in the wing root of an A380 these days...
Thanks my friend @doug!
It was because of modeling that I became aware of this giant of the skies! Yep, the view from the wing roots was second to none.
Fantastic model and subject, Spiro! Liked. Really like this paint scheme, and how the larger decals have picked up the corrugated details.
Thanks my friend @eydugstr!
Awesome job! My son loves plane models as much as I do ship models.
Thanks my friend @worldofdarkness!
I bet your son's plane models are equally amazing as your ship models!
Well done Spiros @fiveten , it was a privilege to watch this develop. The weathering has really worked well on this monster! And the build quality was evident throughout. Can you imagine sitting in one of those wing cabins? A sensational 'First', for you in the F & L category!
Thanks for all, my friend @yellow10!
Yep, seating in one of the wings cabins would be a lifetime event!
Great jog Spiros! And thanks for incorporating the historical background.
Thanks my friend @dmeyers!
The G.38 was such an interesting plane!
Very cool project, Spiros. It would be a kick to find someone's diary entries about a flight they took in one of these monsters!
Thanks my friend @robgevev665!
It would indeed be great to find such a diary!
Spiros, great build and subject! I wonder how this aircraft felt to fly it or just be a passenger. Aviation is definitely an exciting field.
Thanks my friend @v1pro!
I bet this giant would lumber beautifully onto the skies; each flight would be an event to remember!
Yes, aviation is an exciting field!