RSS-Hobbis 1/72 Junkers J.2
By Matt Bittner
Overview
According to Wikipedia:
"The Junkers J 2 was the first all-metal aircraft intended as a dedicated military aircraft design, the first all-metal aircraft meant to be a fighter aircraft, and was the direct descendant of the pioneering J 1 all-metal aircraft technology demonstrator design of 1915."
There were six J.2s produced, but since the design was made out of iron, the performance numbers were not as good as other aircraft. It was primarily because of that the J.2 was never put into production. There were three 1/72 J.2 models produced before this kit: Merlin Models in injected plastic; Blue Rider/Phoenix in vaccuum-formed plastic; and in resin from Classic Plane.
The Kit
The RSS-Hobbis 1/72 Junkers J.2 consists of 23 pieces of cream and white resin (some 3D printed), and a decal sheet with markings for the second Junkers J.2 prototoype, E 251/16. Decals consists of separate white surrounds for the crosses, the black crosses and all aircraft numbers. The molding on all RSS Hobbis kits is first rate and some of the best I've ever seen. I need to apologize for the one photo showing detail parts, but they're very delicate and in separate ziploc bags and I didn't want to disturb them until I'm ready for assembly. In the past this has bit me bad and I've lost parts because of taking them out of the baggies before I'm ready to glue them on.
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This will not be a difficult build, even for myself. The main part of the aircraft will go together quickly but be careful with the smaller parts. The one-piece landing gear is a modeling inenuity RSS Hobbis currently has no equal, but take care and have patience so you don't mess it up. Trust me on this.
Once all parts are painted and glued into the cockpit (the fuselage is one piece with a separate part that goes over the cockpit area) then construction will be quick. Glue the one-piece wing to the one-piece fuselage, along with the ailerons, then follow up by adding the tail surfaces. The one-piece stab part includes a molded-in model pin that aligns with a hole in the fusleage. Paint the inside of the radiator then glue the two pieces for it together while adding those pieces to the fuselage. Glue the landing gear, prop, "roll bar", exhaust and gun on, and after you add your own control horns and rigging (the only thing not included with the kit), you have a completed Junkers J.2.
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The one thing that is uncertain is the final finish. RSS Hobbis has you leave the kit natural metal, but I have seen models in the past painted in a pale blue. Since the references don't state one way or another, the finish is entirely up to you.
Conclusion
I have built RSS Hobbis kits from their first - the DOBI-I - and further on, and their Junkers J.2 has shown how much they have grown. An excellent kit from an excellent manufacturer, and a kit that could be assembled in little time. Even for me.
If interested in obtaining any of the Hobbis models, email them direct at rss.hobbis@gmail.com.