Junkers J.I J.857/17 of FA(A) 263 (Wingnut Wings)

WINGNUT WINGS WN3001 JUNKERS J.I BOX ART

JUNKERS J.I THREE-VIEW

This 3-view drawing is credited to J. D. Carrick or F. Yeoman and appeared in Reconnaissance & Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War compiled by W. M. Lamberton and published by Harleyford Publications Limited. The heavily armored Junkers J.I was prized by the crews that flew it on dangerous infantry contact patrols. It was the only German armored warplane that could not be fitted with effective downward-firing machine guns because of its under-powered engine which already required an excessive takeoff.

THE MODEL TO BE BUILT J.857/17 PHOTO

This photo is taken from Windsock Datafile No. 39 by P. M. Grosz, published by Albatros Productions in the UK, 1993. This photo appears on page 22 and is accompanied by a front view photo of this same aircraft. This may have been the first production model finished with an all-metal fin. The line that appears on the lower wing is an infantry contact patrol identification streamer necessary when over-flying ground positions at tree-top level where the friendly ground observer may not have time to identify the wing insignia and take the aircraft for an enemy ground attack machine.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #1

FUSELAGE INTERIOR BEGINS: Once I got started on the fuselage interior, I couldn't stop! I skipped ahead and completed the engine just to get this photo. I used Vallejo paints throughout: 982 Cavalry Brown for the anti-rust paint on the engine compartment walls, my own Vallejo mix of Grey-Green, 909 Vermillion for the red piping, 837 Pale Sand for the seat belt fabric, 864 Natural Steel for all bare-metal parts, and 824 Orange Ochre for wood components. Seat covers were painted Vallejo 818 Red Leather and stained with 985 Hull Red. Before gluing the pilots seat/gas tank into position, I pre-fit the left fuselage half to be sure of alignment.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #2

FUSELAGE INTERIOR ANGLED VIEW: This photo shows a bit more of the interior detail. The gray box in the observer's cockpit is the radio and the copper device above it is the copper wire aerial on a reel. I was a bit surprised at the simplicity of the pilot's instrument panel.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #3

FUSELAGE HALVES JOINED AND MORE: I dry-fitted the fuselage halves a couple of times to be sure there were no obstructions. When glued, I used several rubber bands to hold the halves together overnight. The tail unit was added with the vertical stabilizer going on first followed by the two small reinforcing pieces on each side. The horizontal tail was put together, upper and lower halves for each horizontal stabilizer and elevator. These were then glued in place. The next day, after all had dried, I glued the rudder and three-piece tailskid in place. The lower wing center section required several pre-glue fittings and some trimming to fit. After gluing it in place, I added the support struts.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #4

MAJOR WORK ACCOMPLISHED: I got carried away on this model and forgot to take intermediate step photos. I think what happened, I did not intend to paint up to this point. I was excited about trying Humbrol colors as suggested in the instruction manual and once I started, I couldn't stop. The landing gear and the lower wings just sort of went together. I painted the upper surface in Humbrol 78 Cockpit Green. When dry, I applied the purple camouflage using Humbrol 42 Purple. The underside was painted Humbrol 65 Aircraft Blue. I over-sprayed the model with polyurethane gloss and when that dried I applied the decals. After the decals were set, I over-sprayed the model with a clear satin finish. I originally intended to leave the engine compartment doors open but decided against that and glued the doors in place. The top wing and struts (not shown) are completed and painted waiting to be assembled. The rudder was removed, painted white, and had the iron cross decal applied to be attached later.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #5

MORE WORK ACCOMPLISHED: The rudder was attached but I had to drill a hole for a brass rod to make the connection at the top of the fin sturdy. Although difficult to see because I used undersized .005 MFT, all of the tail unit control line rigging was completed. The engine covers were glued in place and painted. Flare racks were added to both sides of the fuselage. The gun ring is tightly fitted into place.

I pre-painted the wing struts added them to the lower wing as shown. The top wing was glued to these four struts, the result being an unsteady top wing. I carefully worked my way through the first of four additional wing struts (not shown) but decided against proceeding with the upper wing attachment. I am going to have to make brass tube and rod wing struts. The model has to be shipped on completion and the plastic wing struts will simply not hold the wings together.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #6

FINISHED!: Several construction surprises delayed completion. 1) The greatest challenge was re-construction of the wing struts using brass tube and rod. This was necessary so the model could be shipped - the plastic struts were inadequate. 2) the tailskid could not support the model and broke. I reinforced the stem that attaches to the fuselage with copper strip and wrapped it in fuse wire. 3) the landing gear axle was so weak, the wheels sagged. I cut the ends off, made a brass tube bushing, drilled out the bottom of the landing gear, and inserted brass rods. These fit nicely into the bushing and were glued in place. 4) the observer's machine gun was a delicate nightmare and took several fittings using brass tubing to support the rear cradle.

In review, the model was fun to build and paint until it came time to attach the wings. But, it's done and came out to my satisfaction.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #7

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #8

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #9

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #10

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #11

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #12

COLOR TABLE

Vallejo VC0824 Orange Ochre	Interior wood panels and engine mount
Vallejo VC0982 Cavalry Brown	Engine compartment interior
Vallejo German Gray-Green Mix	Interior metal components and panels
Vallejo VC0864 Natural Steel	Unpainted metal components and panels
Vallejo VC0837 Pale Sand	Seatbelt fabric
Vallejo Dark Gray, Brown, Pink Mix	Tires
Vallejo VC0909 Vermillion	Cockpit fuel piping
Vallejo VC0818 Red Leather	Leather (base color)
Vallejo VC0985 Hull Red	Leather (thin wash on leather)
Vallejo Semi-Gloss Black Mix	Engine cylinders
Andrea ANCX01 White	Rudder
Vallejo VC0878 Old Gold	Brass components
Andrea ANAC01 Field Grey	All struts
Humbrol HUM042 Purple	Top surface camouflage over green
Humbrol HUM065 Aircraft Blue	Undersides
Humbrol HUM078 Cockpit Green	Top Surface camouflage
Vallejo VC0847 Dark Sand	Fabric interior

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Duiven, Rick and Dan-San Abbott. Schlacht-Flieger! Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 2006.

Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War. London: Putnam & Company Limited, 1962.

Grosz, P. M. Junkers J.I, Windsock Datafile 39, "Colours and Markings" section by Ray Rimmel, color profiles by Ray Rimmel, scale drawings by Ian R. Stair, cover art Brian Knight, Albatros Publications Ltd, Berkhamsted, UK, 1993.

Owers, Colin A. Junkers Aircraft of WWI, Volume 1, Junkers J.1 to J.4. Aeronaut Books, 2018.