About the Saturday Afternoon Matinee Playset Pt.3 – Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann:

By the time of World War II, biplanes were largely outdated. Instead, sleek monoplane aircraft made of metal that utilized retractable landing gear had supplanted them. However, biplanes were still seen in use by many nations. In the case of the German Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann, that use was in training. Designed by Carl Bücker, the Bü 131 Jungmann was introduced into service in 1932. The Jungmann, or Young Man as translated into English, came about before the formal creation of the German Luftwaffe. As part of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, Germany’s defense forces had been reduced in number, essentially eliminating possible threat to its bordering nations. Provisions in the treaty only allowed for a small standing army and navy—the Reichsheer and Reichsmarine. The addition of an air force was banned. It wasn’t until 1935 with the passing of the “Law for the Reconstruction of the National Defense Forces” that a free-standing military, including air forces, was brought back into existence, albeit against the desires of onlooking European nations. The German Luftwaffe needed to quickly expand and train its forces, though much of that had been going on in relative secrecy since the ascension of Adolf Hitler. Carl Bücker’s Bü 131 Jungmann was the perfect candidate to train Germany’s future pilots.

The Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann was a typical biplane of the interwar period. It used a mixed construction where the fuselage was a steel tube attached to wings made of wood and covered with fabric. It had fixed landing gear and had a tandem seat cockpit. Various engines were used but eventually the Hirth 504A-2 105 hp engine was selected. This gave the Bü 131 excellent handling characteristics. After the formal establishment of the Luftwaffe, the Bü 131 was sent to all its primary flying schools and trained many of the pilots that fought in the Second World War. It even saw use harassing enemy combatants at night in units such as the Nachtschlacht Gruppen. Its excellent reputation as a trainer gave the Jungmann longevity. The aircraft flew under license for various nations during the war and was used as a primary trainer by Spain into the late 1960s. Over two hundred still exist today and are flown by private collectors. Even a famed archeological father and son duo are known to take one out for a spin.

Model Statistics:

Designed by Andreas Eggen
274 LEGO®, Brickmania®, & BrickArms® elements
2x custom minifigs
Custom printed elements
Full-color printed building instructions
1/35th scale to match other Brickmania kits
Intermediate Skill Level (4-6 years building experience recommended)

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