Scale Plastic & Rail

1:48 Junkers Ju 52/3m Decals, 'Auntie Ju' from AIMS

1:48 Junkers Ju 52/3m Decals, 'Auntie Ju'
AIMS
Catalogue # 48D008
Available from AIMS for £9.99

For some reason, I never got around to purchasing Revell's 1:48 Ju 52, despite my hankering for all things 'Luftwaffe'. I did once try to make a concerted effort to do so, but at the time, I could only find the various civilian versions of this kit, and that simply would never have done! For those that do have the military version, which may be easier to get now, AIMS have released this set to accompany that kit.

The new 'Auntie Ju' set from AIMS has only two schemes contained therein, but the schemes themselves are quite unusual, and will certainly make a change from the regular splinter camouflage patters with their mid/dark green colours.

One machine operated in the Balkans, has a 3-colour splinter camouflage, with RLM02 being the majority, base colour. A brief note is given to say that AIMS have supplied the unit emblem on a shield background, but closer research shows that this should be situated on a plain white rectangular background. An image is shown to represent this, should you wish to go with that option. The second machine also has a rather unusual 3-colour splinter camouflage consisting of grey, green and brown, with black undersides. This aircraft also carries red-cross ambulance markings alongside regular Balkenkreuz.

Colour reference is given on the double sided, colour instruction sheet, along with scheme explanation and reference notification. Unusually for this release, AIMS have also supplied the pattern for the regular green splinter camouflage which isn't needed for the contained schemes.

The decals are printed by Fantasy Printshop onto a single sheet which, supplemented by standard kit decals, would be enough to build both schemes supplied. The decals are beautifully thin and are printed in perfect register. The colour is both solid and authentic, with the white portions of the national markings not being overly vivid. I have used Fantasy Printshop decals with setting solutions and know them to work well, which is just as well with the corrugated exterior of the Ju 52.

The two schemes given are:

• Ju 52/m3 g4e, IV. Grupppe Stab/KG.z.b.V.1, Balkans, May 1941
• Ju 52/m3 g4e, Sanitätas Flugber. z.b.V 'Wehrmacht/Luftwaffe'

So what do we think?
Pastor John of AIMS really has an eye for excellent Luftwaffe schemes, and again has picked two unusual and highly interesting machines from which to choose. There is enough reference material provided in this set so that the modeller doesn't need to source extra, and the decals themselves are of the very highest quality. I sure hope my next trawl for a Ju 52 kit comes up trumps!

Very highly recommended

Our sincere thanks to AIMS for the review sample used here. To purchase this directly, click THIS link.

James H.

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