Darren Baker takes a look at the Ju 88C-6b WW2 German Night Fighter from ICM in 1/48th scale.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Darren,
Thanks for the review. This one is on my Christmas wish list, so I'm going the cowling problem isn't universal.


Gaz

It is an issue I have found before and is due to packing everything in one bag. So it really is a case of 50/50.

Hi Darren

I think these reviews really do need a test-fit, because the difference I've found between the early and more recent mouldings is like the proverbial chalk and cheese - shockingly different. I've actually not gone ahead with a couple of reviews because they were so far off my initial take on the '88 that I began to question whether I'd simply received a dud.

All the best

Rowan

I do not have the time now I am doing two full time jobs to provide build reviews in anything like a timely manner and so I get the in box review done in order that the item is not stale and the provider is happy.

Hi Darren

I fully understand the pressures and sympathise with you (try running an Oxfam shop and putting in double the hours you're paid for - so I know where you're coming from ) - but you state in the review that "Construction all appears straight forward" when the moulding problems with ICM's Ju 88s have been evident for some time and the review photos honestly don't look encouraging.

It would definitely be worth spending an extra 15 mins in a case like this because, if the nacelles etc. all lined up properly again, it would be important news and would encourage modellers to have renewed faith in a kit series that many are understandably shying away from. That alone would be the core reason to buy the kit (or not) for many modellers.

For me it's a crying shame that a great kit of such an important aircraft went off the rails somewhere because of production problems. Whether it's down to a change in styrene (the colour has changed compared with the early kits), or simply not allowing the sprues sufficient time to cool, ICM really do need to nail this issue.

All the best

Rowan

I have made two of their Ju 88's and met no issues and so I am stumped as to why they were troublesome. If I get time I will have a play with the major parts of this one.

Maybe you guys need to find some people who aren't working two jobs or running his own business to do some reviews.

Hi Gary

Sorry for the late reply (work, you know... ) - but, seriously, we've always sought to get as many new reviewers on board as we can. When I was in charge, the only pre-requisite that I set was to demonstrate a willingness and ability to meet Aeroscale's standards by contributing a few reviews of items before requesting any samples.

I've already passed on the vast majority of the contacts I've made over the years to others, so I don't receive things often these days. I know Darren makes plenty of samples available, so he doesn't really deserve a dig.

If you fancy reviewing some stuff in any genre, just check the sample lists for each Kitmaker site - I can see at a glance that there's some interesting stuff on the Aeroscale section that Kevin's added: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nTzqFHkdJretXNguGngdsK4ZL4y0fwdMOfLRk_FDpHI/edit#gid=11

All the best

Rowan