Wednesday, October 30

Preview update: Colours, etch, decals & sprues added to MiniArt's new Junkers-Larsen JL.6 "Military Service" in 48th scale...

Our preview is updated with US Postal, US Army Air & Japanese Army Air colour profiles, with etch, decals & sprue layout to MiniArt's coming Junkers-Larsen JL.6 in 48th scale. 


Preview update: Colours, etch, decals & sprues added to MiniArt's new Junkers-Larsen JL.6 "Military Service" in 48th scale...

Junkers-Larsen JL.6 Military Service
From MiniArt Models
Kit No: 48013
1/48th scale
The kit contains three marking choices in the box.
Full engine & clear parts are included
The Subject: The Junkers-Larsen JL-6
One of the lesser-known versions of the renowned Junkers F-13 was the  American-built Junkers Larsen JL-6. Although only a handful were produced, three of these aircraft were utilized by the U.S. Navy for tests during the early 1920s.

The real life aircraft in this article are the three versions included in this boxing.
John Larsen Aircraft in the USA purchased a production licence, their machines being designated JL-6. The JL-6 was built with the earlier style shorter wings with curved ailerons, on par with the initial German F-13s, which featured the original short wing and curved ailerons. 
Soon after, the wing span was lengthened, resulting in a longer wing (which still had curved ailerons), a feature present in the majority of F-13s. This longer wing configuration was subsequently fitted to most, if not all, German-built F-13s, making the US JL-6s the only aircraft to primarily operate with the shorter wing.
Eight were produced for civil and air mail companies, Three to US Navy [A5867/5869, A6696] and two to United States Army Air Service. The most well-known JL-6's were the 2 aircraft used by Imperial Oil for prospecting in Canada and the US Postal Service aircraft.
Featuring a robust, all-metal structure, enclosed cockpit, and singular wing design, postal authorities had high hopes that the Junkers JL-6 would address numerous operational and maintenance issues. Regrettably, a flawed fuel system resulted in mid-air fires, tragically claiming the lives of several pilots, among them the pioneering civil airmail service pilot, Max Miller - a figure renowned for his accomplishments in this field.

The Kit: MiniArt's 48th scale Junkers-Larsen JL.6 Military Service
The new kit follows on from the P-47D Thunderbolt and Junkers J.13 series from MiniArt in material and hopefully quality. Inside the box you will see plastic, clear and photo-etch. We look at the CADs now to see more of the features of this kit...
There will be three decal choices of this kit, with the aircraft seen in this preview the ones chosen.
Two different nose sections are included in this kit.
For this release, we can expect wheels for the fixed undercarriage. Surely we will see a flat plane in latter editions? We hope so...
The full engine and front structure can be exposed by the modeller if they choose.
The 231 kw (310hp) Junkers L-5 six-cylinder upright in-line liquid-cooled engine is presented here in full.
The flying controls and instrument panel are reproduced in full. The doors can also be posed opened or closed. All of the crew and passenger seats are present with photo-etched seatbelts included.

The Sprues:
The sprues have been added to the preview, showing the layout and break up of the parts of this kit.

Many parts of the interior of the aircraft & notably propellers are on this sprue.
The wing internal structure is here, you can see on this kit you can model the wings on or off in a transport or maintenance mode.
The forward fuselage shows that you can show the engine cowlings off the aircraft.
The full  231 kw (310hp) Junkers L-5 six-cylinder upright in-line liquid-cooled engine is shown here, great to show exposed in a maintenance dio if you wanted to. 
The upper and lower wings with that corrugated surfaces.
Both sides of the rear exterior fuselage
A great view of the underside of the kite, with minimal seams for the modeller to take on - and all along the line of the aircraft, not against it.
The wings spar will keep the wing aligned correctly and give it more strength.
The wheels and gear legs are included of course.
A clear sprue is added for the windows of the aircraft.

Photo-etch
A small sheet of photo-etch is included to replicate the thinner parts of the aircraft, including wheel spokes and seatbelts.

Decals
There is a small sheet of decals covering the individual markings & interior & stencil markings of the JL.6.

Marking choices
The three colour markings of this kit, one in US postal, one in US Army Air Service & a Japanese Army Air Service aircraft give the modeller new options for this aircraft that aren't just European.

This kit is due for release in a month's time
See more about all of MiniArt's kits on their website...