Kagero Top Drawings 16 – Ju-88 Bomber Variants

[Mike]

Top Drawings 16 – Ju-88 Bomber Variants
Kagero Publishing

Another in their successful line of Top Drawings books, which as the name suggests is heavily weighted toward those of us that love to pore over plans and compare their latest acquisition to check its accuracy. After a page devoted to a preamble in both English and Czech, the next 15 pages of three-view drawings cover the following variants:

Ju-88A-1
Ju-88A-2
Ju-88A-3
Ju-88A-4
Ju-88A-4 Torpedo
Ju-88A-5
Ju-88A-6
Ju-88A-8
Ju-88A-14
Ju-88A-17

Scrap diagrams show different antennae fit for radar installations, weapons fits, torpedo placement where appropriate, plus cross-sections along the airframe to assist with correct profiling. The middle four pages and back cover are filled with profiles and three-view drawings of four examples done in incredible detail, with more scrap views showing areas hidden from view by engines etc. These aircraft are the subject of the decal sheet, which is printed as always by Cartograf in good register with excellent colour density and sharpness. The decals are covered by a close-cropped carrier film that is both shiny and thin, so should go down well on any gloss surface. All three major scales are catered for from 1:72 through 1:48 and up to 1:32, to entice owners of the new 1:72 and 1:32 kits in.

As well as the bound plans within the book, there are also four sheets of plans held loosely in the centre of the book, covering the A1/4/5 in 1:72 on a double sided sheet of A3, the A-4 in 1:48 on double sided A2, and the immense 1:32 plans of the A-1 and A-4 covering two double-sided sheets of A1. If you could iron out the necessary creases they'd look great framed on the wall, but are more realistically of use to measure up your latest purchase, giving a full layout of the rivet lines that are usually missing from even the modern kits, in case you feel like adding them yourself.

Conclusion
A very nicely presented book with plenty of plans for the avid viewer/reader, some interesting profiles with decals in three scales. Very well done!

Highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of