Junkers Ju88h-3/H-4 "fuhrungsmaine"

[JohnMacG6]

I've just got the AMTech kit of the JU88H-3/H-4 Fuhrungsmachine,, and there's a couple of points that aren't too clear, so I'd appreciate any help you can give.
Now, I know that te H-3 & H-4 were never built, so any info given here is only going to be conjecture, but I'd still be grateful
My problem is -
Both the kit box and instructions show the H-4 with a pick-a-back Fw190A
Was this meant to another Mistel version,
or a defensive fighter meant to protect the "mother" ship,
or, something else entirely.

As I said, I know these machines were never built, but I'd be grateful for your thoughts.

[PMoz99]

I think in this case Fuhrungsmaschine means prototype or test version. And the piggy-back FW190 version would be a mistel. My thoughts here get some traction in reviews of the kit at Aeroscale and Modellingmadness.
Cheers

[ChrisMAg2]

"Führungsmaschine" referrs/ translates to the leading/ guiding or leader's ship.

Here is a quote from Sq-Sig #85, Ju88, pt.1, p54:

"The Mistel 3B was a combination of a Fw190A-6 or A-8 coupled to a stretched Ju88H-4 airframe. ...

The Führungsmaschine was adapted from the Mistel 3B as an ultra long range pathfinder which carried it's own fighter escort. ...

A centrimetric radar was installed in the nose housed in a large bulbous fairing and a third jettisonable landing gear leg was mounted under the fuselage to support the fully loaded aircraft on take-off. ..."

[PMoz99]

I stand corrected, thanks Christian. I must admit I didn't check the Mistel 3B section of the book.
Peter

[rfl51]

Some MISTEL with Ju 88H:



Rudolph

[JohnMacG6]

I think the pics aren't Ju88Hs but Ju88G long -range night fighters

[i]"carried it's own fighter escort" [i]......good enough for me; after all, it was never actually built.