Elegance and Versatility - Junkers Light Aircraft K 16 to A 50 Junior
By Matt Bittner
Author: Lennart Andersson
Publisher: European Airlines
ISBN: 978-82-93450-24-5
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 247
As an avid reader of between-the-wars ('tweeners) books, it's always excellent when one is released on a subject you know little about. It's been said you should learn something new everyday; everday I read this book, I definitely learned a lot about Junkers' 'tweeners light aircraft. The book is broken up thusly:
- Introduction
- For Travellers in Style - The Junkers K 16
- Two-Seaters for Private Flying and Training - The Junkers T Series
- Specially Made for the Red Air Fleet - The Junkers J 21 and J 22
- Two-seat Fighter and 'Stuka' - The Junkers K 47
- The Private Aircraft Owners Dream - The Junkers A 50 Junior
- Conclusion
- Specifications and Performance
- Drawings
- Sources and Bibliography
- Index
Each Junkers type is given ample coverage, with excellently reproduced photos throughout. Naturally, the A 50 Junior has the largest section due to it being a little more in the public light.
German companies, after WWI, had interesting ways of getting around the Inter-Allied Commission of Control, which was set up after the WWI Armistice to ensure Germany wasn't making "war machines". These companies - such as Junkers - would export their "civilian transports" to another country - such as Sweden - then modify them there. In addition they would set up factories in other countries to create "war machines" for them, such as Junkers when making the J 21 and J 22 for The Soviet Union.
An interesting twist is that Junkers has recently resurrected the A 50 Junior and is creating a modern version of it. From the outside it looks almost exactly like its 1920's brother, but I bet the insides - especially the engine - have truly changed.
If I had to complain about the book - and believe me, these are very small complaints - it would be two areas: first, the drawings of the aircraft types aren't to a constant scale; secondly, there are no color profiles. But both of these are minor annoyances when thinking about the overall publication. Definitely purchase this if you're interested in any of these types, or if you just enjoy learning about more 'tweener subjects.
Modeling-wise it appears none of these have been made into kits until recently. Dekno Models has recently released an A 50 Junior in 1/72, with one in 1/48 to follow soon. Unfortunately, howerever, no other kits of these Junkers types exists. Maybe Dekno will release more; maybe someone will step up and produce these as a 3D print.
Many thanks go to European Airlines for the opportunity to review this stunning book.