Landing Gear

Airfix JU-88 landing gear bits.

I replaced the bits and kept the original wheels.  Here they are propped up while they dry.

Plastic coated wire was bent to hold the wheel.

The wire was inserted into a plastic rod which went into a plastic square rod.

Then I used Goo rubber contact cement to hold it all together.

Airfix JU 88 1/72nd Scale

The landing gear legs were too weak in my opinion.

So I cut them down and replaced them.

I used a few different types of plastic, including plastic coated wire.

Plastruct Plastic Weld was needed for the plastic coated wire.

Here is the landing gear opening, looking a bit like a bomb bay.

The End

 

The government forces held off from engaging the Cubans, but fired many long range shots at the invader.  The heavy tanks, stationary, firing at the invader from the side knocked out several enemy vehicles with no damage.

Government troops set up a HQ and disgorged infantry to infiltrate the western forest.

The Cubans were nearly wiped out by the invaders, and the Cubans had to give up protecting the eastern end of the guano mines.

The invaders popped smoke to help obscure themselves from the government attacks.

Larry the invader moves the last of his forces onto the table.

Joe Cubano lost half of his forces and was likely to lose the rest soon.

COL Jim the Victorious commander of the Government forces sits on his throne.

Guano Overwatch

A second government BRDM goes up in smoke as the invaders hit it at long range.

Government tanks move up to over watch positions to pick off the invaders as they move forward.

Government troops move through the bushes towards the Cuban positions, screened by the trees.

Government mortars set up to pound the enemy.

More tanks move up to take up better over watch positions.

Battle Continues

Cuban infantry and a BRDM wait for the government forces to approach.

Invaders in a technical drive up the road towards the Cuban positions.

Government forces fan out on each side of the road.  Troops prepare to dismount into the woods at the top edge of the photo.

Another hit on an invader armored car.

The players discuss strategy.

One government BRDM goes up in flames, but the invaders have suffered three destroyed vehicles.

The cotton wool has a little blinky light inside, very cool.

Guano War

The national forces approached slowly from the northeast.  Two BRDM in the lead.

Tanks backed them up, followed behind by APCs full of infantry.  The plan was to move slowly, allow the invaders and Cubans to fight each other first.  That would weaken the defenders and cause the invaders to show their hand.

Invaders and Cubans exchange fire, a technical goes up in pink smoke.

All roads lead to guano.  The Cubans have been busy and have fortified their position, including barbed wire.

The Cuban artillery opened up on the invaders.

Cubans, Guano, Africa and Invasion

Joe, Doc Grey and Larry played a wargame with me, Tom and COL Jim.  A small African nation had Cuban mercenaries holding a guano mine here on the left side of the picture near the intersection of the two roads.

A neighboring nation has decided to invade and take the guano.

The invader lead their forces with light armor and technicals.

They were fast and made good time up the road.  BRDM, Jeeps and trucks with large caliber machine guns.

The Jeep took up an overlook position as the light armor moved towards the guano mine.  They Cubans took up defensive positions to resist the incursion.

JU 88

The Junkers JU 88 was a very common bomber used by the Germans in WWII.

This is an old kit, I got it used at a kit show, probably ten years ago.

I used Tamiya XF-19 sky grey as the interior color.

Heres all the tools I used, I like to have several knife blades so I always have a very sharp one handy.

I used an Olfa cutting mat.  I get them at Michael's and Joann's.  It protects my work surfaces.

These Tamiya and Testors colors are what I used for the pilots and other interior parts.

I mark my paint bottles with a small sticker with the paint number and color on top for easy inventory.

JU 88

I painted the interior and crew during assembly.

The model is very old but fits together pretty well.

I used some epoxy to help hold together some reinforcements for the landing gear.

I used this glue for the "glass" parts.  It does not fog windows like regular model glue can do with windows.

This is my regular model glue for styrene kits. Very strong and one bottle will build a lot of models.