March 18, 2026

Preview: MiniArt's 48th scale Junkers F13 (mid-production) in military service.

MiniArt's newest 1/48th-scale Junkers F13 kit features the mid-production variant in military service. We have art, sprue layout, colours & features of the model & the aircraft from this boxing in our preview...

Preview: MiniArt's 48th scale Junkers F13 (mid-production) in military service.

Junkers F13 mid-production in military service.
From MiniArt Models
Kit No. 48005
1/48th scale
The kit contains four marking choices in the box.
A full engine & clear parts are included
This is the mid-production aircraft from Miniart's new series of 1/48th-scale Junkers J13. It features military aircraft from several different countries in the marking choices from the 1920s & '30s.

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.

This F13 aircraft is featured in this boxing.
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 ground-breaking. 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 interior of two different J13's...
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.
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.

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 mid-production in military service.
The new kit follows on from the P-47D Thunderbolt series from MiniArt in material and hopefully quality. 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 featuring the sprues of this kit:
-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) The 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.
The alternate tail for the mid-production aircraft is included.
Mid-production fuselage is included.
Wheels & tyres
Clear parts included
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 (photo-etched seatbelts included.)

Markings:
There are four marking choices for this kit. All three saw military service in the 1920s & '30s and from Czech, Spanish Republican, Chinese Republic & Argentinean services.
Decals are printed in-house by MiniArt...
This kit should be available next month from MiniArt's distributors worldwide. You can see more about this kit on the MiniArt Website...