Junkers Ju-52

The legendary “Tante Ju” first flew in 1931 and more than 5000 were eventually built. SAA took delivery of 15 aircraft between 1934 and 1938. Up to 18 passengers were carried on internal routes and on regional routes to East Africa. The range of Ju-52’s allowed SAA to inaugurate a regional air service ranging as far as Kenya and Uganda. In 1937 3 of the initial delivery were sold and left South Africa to South America. When WWII was declared the Ju-52’s were used on a limited airline schedule until the remaining 11 aircraft were transferred to the SAAF in 1940 (ZS-ALY having been destroyed in a crash in 1937) and used for troop transporting purposes. None saw service after the war.

The first 3 aircraft ordered were standard Ju52/3mgme fitted with 550 Hp Hornet motors. The South African purchasing commission, when at Junkers had become aware that the Swedish Airways purchasing team had requested their Ju52’s to be delivered with the engines and nacelles parallel to the fuselage (the standard Ju-52 had the wing mounted engines splayed out to compensate for engine torque) and decided to order the SAA aircraft with the same modification. 450 Hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp motors were fitted to theses aircraft and these had different engine cowlings to the BMW/Hornet fitted aircraft. The fuselage cowling was also similar to the wing mounted engines and there was an extension of both nacelles and fuselage when compared to the standard Ju523/3M. 3 of last batch of 6 Ju52’s delivered to SAA were fitted with 750HP BMW132 Hornet motors.

A 16th aircraft, a CASA 352L, a Spanish license built Junkers Ju 52/3m, was donated to SAA for restoration to flying condition to take part in the Airline’s 50th anniversary celebrations on the 1st of February 1984. This aircraft was painted as ZS-AFA and is fitted with P&W Wasp motors and formed the basis of the SAA Museum.

Normal passenger load: 14

SAA’s Ju52/3ms were various sub-types

ZS-AFA AFB, AFC, AFD, AFD (were there two?) Ju52/3m ge (all 550HP P&W Hornet)

ZS-AJF, AJG, AJH, AJH, AJI, AJJ Ju53/3m (specific sub type not listed but photographic evidence shows some of the aircraft fitted with P&W Wasp motors thus most likely Ju52/3m sa1)

ZS-AKY, ALO, ALP, ALR, ALS, ALU Ju52/3m sa1 (all 450HP P&W Wasp except for AJG, AJH and ALU which had 750 HP BMW Hornet motors)

The Wasp engined aircraft also had 3-blade propellers fitted vs. the two blade props of the standard Ju-52’s.

Aircraft names at end of article.

Modelling

The following kits have been produced over the years that will allow the modeller to build a model of this aircraft.

Airfix, Heller and Italeri have all released 1/72^nd scale kits of this classic pre-WWII airliner and widely used WWII Luftwaffe transport. The Italeri kit, number 1234, is of a civilian airliner variant and is the best basis for a SAA aircraft. It is unfortunate for the modeller of most airline versions of the Ju-52 that both Italeri and Heller have moulded their starboard fuselage halves to include the freight loading door of the military transports. Although the Italeri kit provides you with the insert to correctly depict the window arrangement for an airline the new parts corrugations do not match up with the fuselage. To rectify this is difficult and will require some careful work to match the corrugations in this area.

 To build one of the Ju52/3m sa1 aircraft much work is required to modify the engine nacelles and cowlings. Suitable cowlings could possibly be sourced from the Italeri Ju86. For the modeller willing to tackle this conversion the result will truly be different to the standard Ju52 models.

Other scale kits are available from

Eduard 1/144^th scale Ju52

Revell 1/48^th scale Ju52

Colours

The Ju52’s operated in at least 2 basic schemes with variations. The original delivery scheme was natural metal with black cowlings, fuselage and wing trim. The national coat of arms appeared on the fuselage below the last window.

ater the coat of arms was relocated from this fuselage position and moved to the vertical tail fin.

 At least the first 4 aircraft were re-finished in a blue trim and cowlings. Also the portion of the wing that was painted black had a pin stripe applied. The wheel spats also changed colour. This scheme was only in existence for approximately 18 months from mid/late 1935. Artwork (and a period model), suggest that  ZS-AFC had a blue top to the fuselage as well as scalloped design on the tail fin and possibly blue wing leading edges but this has been difficult to confirm from photographic evidence.

 In 1937 the Ju-52’s reverted to the black trim. As to date no photographic evidence has come to light the later deliveries ever carried the blue trim colour it is possible they were delivered ex-factory in the black scheme and never carried the blue colours at all. The wheel spat trims were different to the original trim pattern, consisting of an additional portion of black. The registration codes are in black.

Decals

At the time of writing no dedicated decals have been produced to allow the modeller to build an SAA operated aircraft.  The early aircraft should be reasonably easy to reproduce in model form as the registration codes and airline titles are in a simple black style. The most difficult part would be to reproduce the Union Coat of Arms for the vertical tail. The later aircraft are going to be more difficult as to date no decal manufacturer produces the early SAA winged wheel with a Springbok in it.