For visitors to my website, my “Build of the Month” (BOTM) Series was created to help those who are trying to get started in building their own Radio Controlled (RC) Model Aircraft.

 "Aerofred.com" and "Outerzone.co.uk" are two of my favorite web sites to obtain free RC model airplane plans for my new builds. Additionally, they like to post images of Builder's models, and both sites have posted my RC model images and build descriptions under the heading of the associated aircraft model. Other good sources for free plans are: "Hip Pocket Aeronautics Builders' Plan Gallery", "Vintage & Old-Timer RCM Free Plans", "James Hatton Blog Free Plans and Articles", "Hlsat Blog RCModeler Free Plans and Articles", and "Don Dewey Memorial RCM Plans Collection."

 If you are currently not an active builder, and you would like to be, my BOTM Series is a great place to start. If you have an RC model aircraft that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which I will then post in one of my future BOTM editions. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

Build of the Month WW-II Mini-Series - May 2025 Edition

 I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM WW-II Mini-Series 7th Edition on the Top Flite Vought F4U Corsair model. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which will then post in a future edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

 Ok, now lets see what I have for the month of May 2025. Continuing with the “BOTM WW-II Mini-Series,” for the 8th Edition we will move back to the European Theater. How about a fighter that is easily recognizable by its inverted gull wings and fixed spatted undercarriage. So given these requirements, this 8th (and final) Edition of my BOTM WW-II Mini-Series features the Junkers Ju-87, a fighter manufactured by the Germany.

Images Source: Wikipedia Junkers Ju-87 Webpage.

Cutaway Drawing Image Source: Cutaway Drawings Webpage.

 The Junkers Ju-87, popularly known as the “Stuka”, is a German dive bomber and ground-attack aircraft. Designed by Hermann Pohlmann, it first flew in 1935. The Ju-87 made its combat debut in 1937 with the Luftwaffe's Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 and served the Axis in World War II from beginning to end (1939–1945).

 The aircraft is easily recognizable by its inverted gull wings and fixed spatted undercarriage. Upon the leading edges of its faired main gear legs were mounted ram-air sirens known as Jericho trumpets, which became a propaganda symbol of German air power and of the so-called Blitzkrieg victories of 1939–1942, as well as providing Stuka pilots with audible feedback as to speed. Stuka's design included several innovations, including automatic pull-up dive brakes under both wings to ensure that the aircraft recovered from its attack dive even if the pilot blacked out from the high g-forces, or suffered from target fixation. One of the Ju-87C's most unusual features was landing gear struts that could be blown off with explosive bolts, to allow the airplane to ditch without the fixed gear digging in and flipping it.

 The Ju-87 operated with considerable success in close air support and anti-shipping roles at the outbreak of WW-II. It led air assaults during the Invasion of Poland in September 1939. Stukas proved critical to the rapid conquest of Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France in 1940. Though sturdy, accurate, and very effective against ground targets, the Stuka was, like many other dive bombers of the period, vulnerable to fighter aircraft. During the Battle of Britain of 1940–1941, its lack of maneuverability, speed, or defensive armament meant that it required a heavy fighter escort to operate effectively.

 After the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe deployed Stuka units in the Balkans Campaign, the African and the Mediterranean theaters and in the early stages of the Eastern Front war, where it was used for general ground support, as an effective specialized anti-tank aircraft and in an anti-shipping role. Once the Luftwaffe lost air superiority, the Stuka became an easy target for enemy fighters, but it continued being produced until 1944 for lack of a better replacement. By 1945 ground-attack versions of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 had largely replaced the Ju-87, but it remained in service until the end of the war in 1945.

 Germany built an estimated 6,000 Ju-87s of all versions between 1936 and August 1944.

• Actual Aircraft Specifications:
• Crew: Two
• Length: 11.5 m (37 ft 8.75 in)
• Wingspan: 13.8 m (45 ft 3.5 in)
• Height: 3.9 m (12 ft 9.25 in)
• Wing area: 31.9 m2 (343.37 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 3,900 kg (8,598 lb) (equipped)
• Max takeoff weight: 6,600 kg (14,550 lb)
• Power plant: 1 – Junkers Jumo 211J V-12 inverted liquid-cooled piston engine, 1,000 kW (1,400 hp) for take-off 1,050 kW (1,410 hp) at 4,300 m (14,100 ft)
• Propellers: 3-bladed Junkers constant-speed propeller
• Maximum speed: 410 km/h (255 mph, 222 kn) at 4,100 m (13,500 ft)
• Range: 1,535 km (954 mi, 829 nmi) at 5,100 m (16,730 ft) (maximum)
• Service ceiling: 7,300 m (24,000 ft)
• Guns: 2 – 7.92 mm (0.31 in) MG 17 machine guns forward firing, 1 – 7.92 mm (0.31 in) twin MG 81 machine gun to rear
• Bombs: 1 – 250 kg (550 lb) bomb beneath the fuselage and 4× 50 kg (110 lb) under-wing

 Images Source: Outerzone Junkers Ju-87B Stuka Webpage.

 This months selection of the Junkers Ju-87B Stuka RC scale model is for 4-5 channels and .61 sized engines. The original plans by Royal Marutaka were updated to the re-drawn version, thanks to Ramses de Looff. The updated plan fixes the problem of the previously missing ribs and formers. His plans were then re-scaled back up to a 166cm wingspan, the same as the original Royal Marutaka kit.

 With much searching of the web, I could not find much in the way of a build article for this months selection. There is an electric conversion article on the Outerzone link below, and I was able to find a April 1972 RC Modeler article on a Stuka model build, but not of the plans selected this month. But, not all is lost. I was able to locate two very nice Junkers Ju-87 Stuka “Build Threads” with lots of images and great information. The links to those I have provided to you below.

 After looking over the updated plans and the build threads I can provide you with a few of my comments. As you will find for most WW-II fighter builds, this is not an RC model for someone just starting to learn how to do a scratch build. The updated plans are great, highly detailed, and provide you with all the wing ribs and fuselage former templates you will need. There also are some assembly steps and additional images showing how to build various structures. I would highly recommend anyone wanting to attempt this build to take the time and go through the build threads I have provide below. They will greatly help you in your build.

• RC Model Specifications:
• Aircraft Type: 1:8.3 Scale Warbird
• Wing Span: 65.45″
• Wing Chord: 15.5″ Root, 3.5″ Tip
• Total Wing Area: 697 square inches
• Wing Location: Low Wing
• Airfoil: Semi-Symmetrical
• Wing Platform: Double Taper
• Fuselage Length: 53.6″
• Stabilizer Span: 25″
• Number of Channels: 4-5 - Throttle, Ailerons, Rudder, Elevator, Flaps
• Ready to Fly Weight: 7-8 lbs. depending on power system selection
• Glow Fuel Engines: .61 2-stroke or .75 4-stroke
• Electric Powered: Output of 1,200-1,500 Watts, 80 Amp ESC, 6 cell 45C LiPo pack of 5,000mah.

 The Junkers Ju-87B RC model in this months edition can be built using a set of plans and article available @: “Outerzone.”

Outerzone Junkers Ju-87B Stuka Webpage.

A Very Nice Junkers Ju-87 Stuka Build Thread with LOTS of Images.

Another Very Nice Junkers Ju-87 Stuka Build Thread.

 I hope you have enjoyed this months selection, and just maybe, I have spurred some interest in trying your hand at building an RC model airplane.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!

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