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Mark Hedrick
11 articles

JU 87 - G takes me down memory lane

July 25, 2023 · in Aviation · · 16 · 454

I saw this old, classic kit and decided to give it a try. Glad I did, but not for the reasons I expected. This is my first post mainly because I have only picked up modeling again after a many decade absence and I don't this k my skills measure up to the posts I see here.

This is the 1968 kit that others have built and posted here. By todays standards it's simple with few parts and less detail than we get now, especially in the interior. The canary is a challenge. But my final result as you can see is not why I am posting.

Thinking about a kit from 1968 took me back in time to some memories I had forgotten-or thought I had. My first models were started around 1960-61. I was in about third grade. I used white glue and my mom would not allow me to use paint so they were all gray with crooked decals. Mustang, Thunderbolt, Lightning, Dauntless, Corsair, Fortress, Liberator, Mitchell, Black Widow - all hung overhead with kite string and a thumbtack. I loved lying in bed and seeing them fly.

Next I discovered the Aurora Movie Monsters. I talked my mom into letting me use paints. A few spills occurred. Frankenstein, Wolf Man, Dracula, the Mummy, the Creature, Phantom of the Opera and the Hunchback all sat atop my dresser.

Then I discovered hot rods and graduated to rattle can of paint. Duce Coupe, Bucket T, TV Tommy Ivo's dragster, 1966 GTO, XKE, the Ford GT that won Le Mans, even the Munster Mobile.

By the end on the 1960's my interest in models waned as my interest in real cars and girlfriends grew. I only started modeling again in these past few years to fill up some of my retirement time after being a lawyer for 42 years. A recovering lawyer as the saying goes.

So I post this because its age and my own took me back in time to all these models that were such a part of my childhood and until now long forgotten. I sure loved those Movie Monsters.

Enjoy your memories.

Reader reactions:
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5 additional images. Click to enlarge.


16 responses

  1. Looks great! I took the opposte route in modeling. Aurora Monsters and Hawk Weirdohs were first. Then it was Revell 1/72 kits, then my favorites, Monogram 1/48! I have this exact kit in the stash right now.

    Brian Riedel

  2. That is VERY good for a return model. Hope the Bug gets ya good. When you post let us know-paint types, rattle can/airbrush/brush, tool/materials used, like that. You can learn a lot here especially in the Work in progress areas. Also check out the You-Tube, there are so many builds on there by incredibly talented types who reveal all. Welcome to the iMod.

  3. I appreciate your replies. I did not mean to imply this is my first return model. Itโ€™s actually 13 including a Sherman tank. I am making progress.

    Primer and Matt finish are Vallejo. All colors are Vallejo Model Air. Tried to use proper German colors and only fudged on the spinner going white and red instead of black and white as per another photo I found. All sprayed with an Iwata eclipse air brush.

  4. Well done, Mark - your Stuka looks very impressive! Welcome!

  5. Nice build, Mark! This kit takes me back to my 9th birthday in August '68 when this kit was first released. I got 3 of them at my birthday party, all bought at the same TG&Y 5 & Dime!

  6. Great looking Stuka, Mark.

  7. Beautiful Stuka, Mark! And great to read your modeling history!
    Welcome aboard!

  8. Your skills are definitely still there, Mark @markhedrick
    An amazing entry to this great community with this beautiful StuKa.
    Glad to see you are back into the modelling hobby.
    Welcome.

  9. Great kit, great scale! Welcome to the site, I can truly say it is one of my favourite place on the internet.

  10. Welcome to iModeler, Mark @markhedrick! And thanks for the memories! My modeling journey was much like yours, and I probably built many of the same kits, with probably close to the same results. ๐Ÿ˜‰ The very first model for me was the ancient, yellow Aurora Japanese Zero, and my grandmother sat on it. My progression was much like yours and I abandoned the hobby when real cars and girls came along too. I returned to scale models in the late 1980s and still make a little progress along the way.

    Your Stuka looks really fine and I like your paintwork and markings especially! ๐Ÿ‘ I know we would enjoy seeing more of your work, sir! ๐Ÿ˜

  11. Nice, Monogram set the standard back in the day, it took Tamiya years to catch up. I also believe had Mattel not bought Monogram they would have continued to set that standard.

  12. Welcome to iModeler Mark, lots of friendly and helpful folks reside here. Nice looking Stuka, and you demonstrated with a little skill and patience one can build a great looking model from older kits. Are stories are much the same, a passion for models when we're young, cars and girls intervene, followed by careers and kids. Now it's back to the future and models once again.

  13. The Stuka looks great ! Looking forward to seeing more of your models posted on imodeler.

  14. Welcome back to a fantastic hobby Mark and I'm sure you will enjoy imodeller. The Stuka looks like a great clean build ๐Ÿ‘ Great peeps on here too so you should have fun ๐Ÿ˜Š

  15. Hey - lawyer or not - you are welcome here! Nice build, and glad to have you join us in the hobby again at long last! I too started early, but got to junior high and used firecrackers and bb gun to destroy my 100+ collection. Came back to it as a stress-relief hobby in my late 20's and will build until they claw the exacto knife out of my cold, dead fingers!

    iModeler is a great place to be! Welcome aboard.

  16. I remember getting my first Monogram Stuka at K-mart in Bremerton... they were $1.76 back then. I have several in the stash now, for nostalgia...

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