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Luftwaffe · Sturzkampfgeschwader · Dive Bomber, Ground Attack & Kanonenvogel

Junkers Ju 87 Stuka

Ju 87B / Ju 87D / Ju 87G · Luftwaffe & Axis allies · 1937–1945
Luftwaffe route with Gruppe, Staffel and theatre markings context

The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka was the Luftwaffe’s infamous dive bomber: fixed spatted undercarriage, gull wings, dive brakes, sirens and pin-point attack doctrine. It dominated early campaigns, then survived as a ground-attack aircraft and Ju 87G tank-buster. For modellers it means Battle of Britain greens, Balkan and Mediterranean yellows, desert dust, Eastern Front winter whitewash, underwing cannon pods and filthy operational weathering.

2
Crew
Jumo 211
Engine
Dive
Bomber
37mm
Ju 87G guns

What paints do I need?

Generate a practical starter paint list for this Junkers Ju 87 Stuka build, with common brand equivalents.

Scheme basis: Luftwaffe / RLM. Treat these as modelling equivalents rather than laboratory-perfect matches; always check your chosen aircraft, theatre and date.
ColourUseTamiyaVallejoAKMr Hobby
RLM 70 Black GreenProps and early bomber/fighter greensXF-2771.021AK RC275H65
RLM 71 Dark Green / RLM 74 Grey GreenUpper camouflage by periodXF-61 / XF-24 mix71.015 / 71.258AK RC276 / RC279H64 / H68
RLM 02 Grey / RLM 75 Grey VioletCockpit/early camo or late fighter greyXF-2271.044 / 71.259AK RC273 / RC280H70 / H69
RLM 65 / 76 Light BlueUndersides and late-war light blueXF-2371.255 / 71.257AK RC278 / RC321H67 / H417
RLM 04 YellowTheatre bands, cowls and tactical markingsXF-371.078AK RC267H413
RLM 66 SchwarzgrauLater cockpit interiorsXF-6371.055AK RC314H416
Exhaust/rubber/weatheringSoot, tyres, guns and oil dirtXF-1/XF-64/XF-85Black/Brown/RubberAK weathering coloursH12/H47

Ju 87 Stuka operations · 1939–1945

The Stuka became a symbol of early Blitzkrieg warfare, but its modelling story runs much wider than France and Poland: Battle of Britain losses, Balkans and Crete, North Africa desert aircraft, Eastern Front D-series ground attack and the Ju 87G Kanonenvogel tank-buster. Its fixed undercarriage, dive brakes, siren, bomb cradle and later 37 mm cannon make it one of the most distinctive aircraft pages on the site.

2Crew
JumoInline engine
500kgTypical bomb
37mmJu 87G guns
Ju 87 Stuka real reference
Real Stuka photo route: check B/D/G variant, spats, siren, dive brakes, bomb cradle, theatre markings and weathering before painting.

Role & strengths

  • Luftwaffe dive bomber and close-support aircraft
  • Poland, France, Battle of Britain, Balkans, North Africa and Eastern Front routes
  • Ju 87B classic siren/spatted dive bomber and Ju 87G Kanonenvogel tank-buster
  • Large markings, yellow theatre panels, desert dust and winter whitewash
  • Heavy underside grime, bomb racks, cannon pods and fixed gear weathering

Key theatres

  • Poland, France and early Blitzkrieg campaigns
  • Channel/Battle of Britain operations
  • Balkans, Crete and Mediterranean support
  • North Africa and Eastern Front ground attack

Specification Ju 87B-2

Crew2Length36 ft 5 inWingspan45 ft 3 inMax speedc.242 mphPowerplantJunkers Jumo 211ArmamentMGs, bombs; Ju 87G with 37 mm cannon pods

Survivors today

Ju 87 survivor reference

Surviving Stukas are useful for wing geometry, spatted undercarriage, dive brakes, bomb crutch, cockpit glazing, gunner position and cannon-pod detail.

View survivors

Timeline highlights

Build this Ju 87 as…

Pick the mission route first. A Battle of Britain Ju 87B, a Balkans/Crete aircraft, a desert Trop machine, an Eastern Front Ju 87D and a Ju 87G tank-buster all need different fittings and weathering.

Aircraft identity

✚Balkenkreuz
↓Dive brakes
⚠Jericho siren
▰Spatted gear
37Kanonenvogel
StGDive units
Variant warning

Ju 87B, D and G airframes differ. Check spats, siren, canopy, radiator, racks and cannon pods before committing to a subject.

Loadout warning

Bomb crutches, wing bombs and 37 mm cannon pods must match unit and role. Do not use Kanonenvogel fittings on an early Ju 87B.

Paint scheme cards

Early warRLM 70/71/65

Classic early Stuka route for Poland, France and Battle of Britain aircraft.

Balkans / MedYellow theatre panels

Yellow cowlings, fuselage bands or lower panels need clean masking and careful toning.

DesertRLM 78/79/80 Trop

North African Stukas should show dust, filter grime, sun bleaching and dirty undercarriage spats.

Eastern FrontWhitewash / late greens

Ju 87D/G builds can show mud, snow, cannon grime, exhaust and rough field wear.

Campaign cards

Blitzkrieg

StG 1, StG 2 and StG 77 Ju 87Bs with early RLM 70/71/65, sirens and bomb crutches.

Battle of Britain

Channel Stukas need early-war finish, yellow IDs and restrained but operational wear.

North Africa

Trop Stukas need sand, dust, faded upper surfaces and hard-used undercarriage spats.

Eastern Front / Ju 87G

D/G routes need mud, winter whitewash, cannon pods, heavy staining and rough field maintenance.

Build difficulty and related guides

Overall difficulty

Medium-high. The greenhouse canopy, fixed gear, bomb crutch and wing geometry need care.

Canopy difficulty

Very high. The long glazed cockpit makes masks almost essential.

Weathering difficulty

High. Spats, bomb racks, cannon pods, underside grime and exhaust need layered treatment.

Paint codesRLM 70, 71, 65, 78, 79, 80 and theatre yellowTechniqueCanopy masking, bomb grime and winter whitewashArticleJu 87 kits, variants and weathering guide

Ju 87 Sturzkampfgeschwader and Schlachtgeschwader units

Sortable Ju 87 unit cards covering Blitzkrieg dive-bomber units, Battle of Britain, Mediterranean, North Africa, Eastern Front and Ju 87G tank-buster routes.

Front:Sort:

Ju 87 Stuka operating map

Variant selector

Airfield info

Click a marker to show linked Ju 87 unit cards and modelling notes.

Campaign timeline

Survivors

Books and reference sources

Ju 87 Stuka build guide

Kit choice wizard

Ju 87 Stuka videos, photos and archive material

Media replaces the old separate walkaround tab: cockpit, exhaust, undercarriage, markings, survivor references, archive imagery and video cards are grouped here.