RS Models 92078 1/72 Junkers 86 R

Junkers Ju 86 was a German bomber and transport aircraft, which originated in the early 1930s. The civilian version of the Ju 86B could carry 10 passengers; two aircraft were delivered to Swiss Swissair and ten Lufthans.

The bomber had a defensive armament of three MG 15 machine guns and could carry a load of 1,000 kg bombs. The early Ju 86D-1 (1936) was powered by two Jumo 205C-4 diesels of 600 hp; the Ju 86E had star-powered BMW 132F engines. Several machines were delivered to Sweden, South Africa, Manchuria, etc. Ju 86K was an export version that was also built in Sweden with Bristol Mercury XIX 905 hp engines and remained in service in the Swedish Air Force until 1956. The bombers were also tested in Spain , where they proved to be worse than Heinkel He 111 aircraft and were soon eliminated after the Polish invasion.

In January 1940, the Luftwaffe tested the prototype Ju 86P with a larger span, pressurized cabin, turbocharged Jumo 207A1 and two-man crew. This version had a ceiling of up to 12 km, which provided it with security from enemy fighters. Luftwaffe, satisfied with the newer version, ordered 40 older versions of the bomber, which were rebuilt to the height type Ju 86P-1 and fotoprůzkumnou version of P-2. These aircraft have served for several years successfully over Britain, the USSR and North Africa. In August 1942, one such aircraft was shot down by a high-altitude version of the Spitfire V over Egypt. Ju 86P aircraft then served until 1943. The Luftwaffe also developed the Ju 86R with an even larger span and newer engines, this aircraft then reached heights of up to 16 km, but production was limited to prototypes.