I mentioned recently the Dornier 17z I have been working on.
As with all Classic Airframes kits, there's considerable input to be made, but the rewards are always worth it.
The cockpit was mostly resin and built up very well, with some convincing detail. I just added the seat belts. The canopy was one thing I thought would be tricky, as is often the case with a limited run kit. I need not have worried - the fit was perfect. The wing and fuselage fit were also fine. The landing gear was more ponderous, and I had to watch out with the front forks.
There is always plenty of rubbing down with these kits, and then the rescribing of the last panel lines.
The bomb bay deserves particular mention; Classic Airframes made a lot of effort to provide detailed resin parts and two 1000lb bombs. These are a nice touch to finish off a lovely model.
The kit offered four aircraft markings in the paint guide - the most colourful scheme is the 3/KG2. This has its spinners, cowlings and rudders in yellow. The decals are thin, the register is good and they responded well to setting solution.
Here are some photos. It's a really rewarding kit of an eye-catching plane.
9 comments:
As the proud owner of the Dornier I can say it is fantastic job Phil. The problems you note (about the landing gear) I would never have guessed were problematic!
The Do 17 is my favourite Luftwaffe bomber, but unfortunately it gets ignored in the mainstream in favour of the Ju 88 and He 111.
On top of that, until recently, it was extinct. However it appears one has been found in a seal sanctuary off the coast of the Netherlands. The Dutch have recovered the DB engines (which replaced the Bramo 323 Fafnir on the 215) and a portion of the cockpit. The rest of the wreck is all in one place and mostly intact, although the tail is lying behind the main "hulk". Let us hope that the Dutch will allow its recovery!!!
Again the model is a demonstration of a high level of skill. This bomber is difficult to build, particularly with "those" Luftwaffe canopy designs. A must have for any Luftwaffe fan.
Thanks for those kind remarks Daniel. It was a demanding but rewarding build, the best kind. I enjoyed your background info on it too - not something you find in the usual reference material. Looking forward to our next joint effort.
I just want to say congratulations on a brilliant model. The Do17z is also my favourite Luftwaffe B. of B. aircraft.
I notice you haven't attempted to fit any engine cowling bracing, which Classic have missedout of their kit.
Have you any ideas or source of info. on the design of the bracing, as no photo shows a clear layout.
By the way the rear cockpit seat is the rear dorsal gunners seat & should be facing to the rear.
Hi Landon,
That is incorrect. The "dorsal gunner" operated all three machine guns in the rear and side of the cockpit. The seat was a swivel seat so it could be moved around to enable him to fire the guns without having to relocate.
It is also my understanding bracing was not used on may 17s.
Hi Daniel,
I would have to disagree with you regarding the rear gunner's seat.
In all the drawings & photos I have studied, the seat on the Do17z
is definately a fixed type facing the rear. You may be confusing the rear gunner's seat in the Do217E-2 type onwards, which is a swivel seat.
Regards Landon
Landon,
Do you have Chris Goss' ''Dornier Do 17 in Focus''? A gunner is seated in the said seat, turned to his right. This indicates a seat which is moveable. According to Manfred Grhiel's ''The Do 217: an Operational Record'', the swivel seat was introduced into the turret compartment of the Do 217 only - to rotate with the turret. It was not designed for hand-held gunners. So I am not confusing it with the Do 17.
Regards.
Regarding your latest comments, yes I agree that the rear gunner in the photo on page 25 of "Dornier 17 in Focus"is seated looking to the port side of the aircraft. This does not prove that the seat has been rotated, only that the gunner is sitting sideways on a rear facing seat. In your favour, I can't see where the back of the seat is, perhaps it was able to be folded down?
Please look at the photo below on page 25, that seat is nothing like the Do217E-2 rotating seat.
Your comment that you are not getting the Do17 seat confused with the Do217 swivelling, only helps to support my point. The swivel seat was only fitted in the Do217E-2 onwards, when the rotating turret first appeared. The Do217E-1 and earlier had a fixed rear gun position, and a fixed rear seat as the do17z had.
To further support my point, I list below books that show photos and drawings of the Do17z fixed rear seat.
1- Squadron/Signal book Aircraft No.3 Luftwaffe Bombers in Action. pages 5&6 (photo on page 6 shows a gunner with a steel helmet seated sideways facing the starboard side)
2- Vom Original zum Model: Dornier Do17. drgs. on pages 19,34,35,37&92
3- Wydawnictwo militaria book No.39Do215 (same cockpit layout as
Do17z) drg. page 22.
4- Warbirds fotofax Dornier Bombers by Manfred Griehl
drg. of Do215
5- Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia 2
(Finish) Dornier Do17z & Junkers
Ju88A-4
drgs. pages 6 & 7
With respect Landon, I did not say the two were alike. The two seats are unrecognisable from each other anyway. To objects do not have to look the same to produce the same function. Again, I'm confused when you say "Your comment that you are not getting the Do17 seat confused with the Do217 swivelling, only helps to support my point." How is this so? Given I've made a clear distinction between them? I am aware of the swivel seat in the Do 217 E-2, I have a detailed picture of one, so I couldn’t confuse them if I tried. I am also aware the same format used in the Do 17Z was the same as the 217 E-1. This has no bearing, nor does not prove whether or not the two later types were or were not adjustable.
I have the number 5, and there is no indication beyond doubt that such a seat can't be moved. I guess one can infer anything one likes from a diagram although the drawings do picture seat facing backwards – but that is standard isn’t it? The ball turret on a B-17 is always parallel and behind when grounded, that doesn’t mean it can’t move any other direction – sorry for the crude example. But I don't read Finnish, nor is their any explanation in the book. When you say Griehl's War Birds, do you mean Do 17 Z-Z and Do 215B Combat Aircraft Photo Archive?
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