July 22, 2025

Preview: MiniArt's Junkers F13 w/Skis in 48th Scale...

MiniArt's newest of the 1/48th scale Junkers F13 kit features the early-production variant with skis! We have art, CADs, sprue layout, & features of the model & the aircraft from this boxing in our preview...

Preview: MiniArt's Junkers F13 w/Skis in 48th Scale...

Junkers F13 w/ Winter Skis (Early Prod) 
From MiniArt Models
Kit No. 48020
1/48th scale
The kit contains three marking choices in the box.
A full engine & clear parts are included
This is the early-production aircraft from Miniart's 1/48th scale Junkers J13 series. The aircraft captured in this boxing are from Danish, Finnish & Latvian service in the 1920s.

The subject: The Junkers F13
The Junkers F13 was developed in Germany by Junkers towards the end of World War I and first took to the skies in 1919. It entered service in 1920, and over the decade, a total of 322 aircraft were produced. The last recorded commercial flight operated by Germany took place just before the outbreak of World War II in 1939.

The three marking choices of this kit are shown here in this article. 
Initially released with a lower tail fin, the F13 was an advanced aircraft for its time. It featured an all-metal skin and was designed as a cantilever-wing monoplane, which was groundbreaking. The aircraft provided enclosed accommodation for four passengers. Junkers themselves established an airline, Junkers Luftverkehrs AG, using 60 of these aircraft, which helped boost sales. Lufthansa also purchased 55 of these planes.

The interiors of two different J13s...
The F13 had a cruising speed of 99 mph, a range of 870 miles, and an operational ceiling of 16,000 feet. However, for passenger comfort, it typically flew well below this ceiling. These impressive specifications contributed to its commercial success.

The rear F13 from this boxing is shown in a rather poor state after an accident.
In addition to commercial operators, many F13s were sold to air forces worldwide. Licences were granted to produce the F13 in the Soviet Union and the United States. The John Larsen Aircraft Company produced the JL-6 variant, which was sold to British, French, and Italian carriers, and some were used by the US Postal Service.

Not sure if it was repaired or not—but this is her in the summer thaw.
A notable feature of the F13 was its convertible undercarriage, which could be replaced with floats, making it a versatile seaplane. This was particularly important during the 1920s and 1930s, when many remote destinations lacked airports. While most F13s were retired by World War II, some remained in operation post-war, with the last known flight taking place in Brazil in 1951. Although many F13s are displayed in museums worldwide, none of the original aircraft are in flying condition. However, in 2009, a German-Swiss company, with the approval of the Junkers family, decided to build new F13s as close to the original design as possible. The first of these new aircraft, built by Junkers-Flugzeugwerke AG, flew in 2016. Four more are being produced, each priced at $2.5 million.

The Kit: MiniArt's 48th-Scale Junkers F13 Early Production
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...

Kit features:
- The wings can be removed to show the aircraft in transport or repair mode.
- The full engine and front structure can be exposed by the modeller if they choose.
- The 231 kw (310 hp) Junkers L-5 six-cylinder upright in-line liquid-cooled engine is presented here in full.
- The doors can be opened or closed.
- The flying controls and instrument panel are reproduced in full.
- All of the crew and passenger seats are present with photo-etched seatbelts included.

A walk-around of the whole aircraft is here below...
A complete interior of the aircraft's cockpit & rear compartment is included.
The sprue layout of this kit:
The skis are the main new part of this kit.
A transparency sprue is included, of course.
Photo-etch can replace some parts of the kit if the modeller wants to opt for that. Though options for spoked wheels and other parts are most welcome.
Markings:
There are three marking choices for this kit. All three saw civilian service in the 1920s, and from German, Swiss, & Polish service.
Decals included in this kit.

This kit should be available next month from MiniArt's distributors worldwide. You can see more about this kit on the MiniArt Website...