1:32 Horten Ho 229 jet engines Junkers Jumo 004 (2 pcs) for Zoukei-Mura kit

The Jumo 004 for a kit with the structure exposed

The Junkers Jumo 004 engine was the first mass-produced jet engine in the world, and its story is at the same time a story of shortage. Because of the lack of nickel and chromium the blades were made of ordinary steel with a thin protective layer, so the service life was often only a few dozen hours and starting called for careful opening of the throttle, otherwise overheating threatened. Even so, thousands of them were built and they powered everything from the Me 262 fighter to an experimental flying wing.

The kit to which this set is measured builds the model along the real structure, including the internal spars and the possibility of leaving part of the skin exposed. That makes it all the more sensible to replace the simplified engines with a casting that holds the proportions of the compressor stages, of the annular combustion chamber and of the adjustable needle in the nozzle.

What to watch out for

• Two units are enough for both sides of the wing, each standing on its own.
• The diameter and the length are adapted to the model from the Zoukei-Mura brand.
• The castings stand up even to a view straight into the intake.
• It is worth adding plumbing and cables from thin wire for the full effect.

Assembly goes best from the rear forwards, that is fit the nozzle, true up the axis and only then glue the front part into the wing. Painting metal is a rewarding discipline: first an even steel base, then glazes in shades of blue and brown around the hot spots. The model of the aircraft is sold separately. Anyone building the wing with the skin closed will appreciate at least the visible nozzle, because that remains apparent in the outline of the machine even after all the covers have been closed.