by: Peter Allen [ ]
UNICRAFT
The Unicraft Model Company is basically a one-man-band based in Ukraine making kits to order.
Orders usually take a few months to complete but Unicraft are trustworthy and reliable.
They specialise in experimental aircraft and have a good range of German, Japanese, British, Russian and American examples, plus a new range of UAV’s.
BACKGROUND
Around the time of the Battle of Britain, the good old Ju 87 Stuka began to show its age and in response to a RLM directive a new design for a replacement was started named Ju P178. The design retained many of the distinctive features of the Ju 87 including the typical gull-wing but added retractable undercarriage and a novel tail that was able to rotate, during flight, through 180 degrees to give an unobstructed field of fire for the rear remote-controlled gun turret. The powerplant was to be the Jumo 213A 12-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. Work progressed to encompass wind tunnel models and a full size mock-up before it was realised it would not have given any great degree of improvement. Also at this time the Luftwaffe discovered that both the older Ju 88 and the Fw 190F could admirably carry out the role of dive bomber, so the Ju P178 was cancelled.  |  |
THE KIT
Generally needs more clean-up and prep than say models from more main-stream resin manufacturers but the roughness is generally superficial. The surfaces need a little smoothing but do have well defined panel lines and very subtle detailing.
For extra detailing, some small parts may need to be found or scratch-built.
And be prepared for gap filling and probably a little re-scribbing where the fuselage halves join.
RESIN PARTS
38 parts. Buff coloured resin throughout. Detail on bigger parts very good but all parts need some clean-up. Included in the total number of parts is a buck to make spare canopies in the traditional “heat and pull down” method.
CLEAR PARTS
1 vacuform clear part, with a buck provided to produce copies.
DECALS
Look ok, nice and thin and good register.
INSTRUCTIONS
No instructions as such, but a colour profile by the superb artist Gino Marcomini and key-line detail illustrations are provided.
VALUE
Considering Unicraft Models are exclusive very limited edition kits of unusual aircraft, made-to -order, they are very good value. They are up to 30% cheaper than kits from other resin manufacturers, which offsets the extra cleaning-up necessary and finding various small extra parts.
CONCLUSIONS
This kit should not be different than other Unicraft kits in that with a little more than usual care and attention a nice model will be the result.
A good price for a limited edition resin. More of a challenge than most kits of its type but not too difficult. Be warned, they are habit forming.
As it says on the box, for experienced modellers only.
About Peter Allen (flitzer) Greetings to all.
My real name is Peter Allen and I have recently returned to UK from working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as a creative director in an advertising agency.
My home town is Wigan in the north of England.
I’m married to Emily, a Polish lass who tolerates my modelling well.
I’ve wor... Copyright ©2021 text by Peter Allen [ ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.
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