Eduard Dornier Do/215B-5 Nightfighter Updates (for ICM 1:48)

[Mike]

Dornier Do/215B-5 Nightfighter Updates (for ICM)
1:48 Eduard

ICM's new kits of the long neglected Flying Pencil in 1:48 have filled a void, and Eduard have been busy releasing sets to upgrade the detail further than mere styrene will allow, along with masking sets for those complex greenhouse canopies. As usual with Eduard's Photo-Etch (PE) and Mask sets, they arrive in a flat resealable package, with a white backing card protecting the contents and the instructions that are sandwiched between.

We reviewed similar sets for the earlier Do.17Z-10 here, and if you have those some of the parts will be familiar.


Interior Set (49745)
This set includes two brass frets, one of which is nickel-plated and pre-painted, which contains the majority of parts for the cockpits, such as instrument panels and seatbelts, which didn't much change from the earlier Do.17. These are installed over the original kit panels after removing the moulded-in details, and will vastly improve on what most mere mortals can achieve. The pilot's position is also detailed with tread-plate at his feet, and rudder pedals, plus many additional instruments and parts on the sidewalls. Another set of instrument boxes are built up from scratch and installed in the canopy part before it is glued in place, although as they lack backs, it might be an idea to put a piece of styrene over the hole.

Lastly, a couple of parts are included for the engine bays, such as lifting eyes, radiator cores, and sides to the cooling louvers.

Landing Flaps (48867)
Consisting of one large brass fret, this set requires you to first remove the flaps from the lower wing panels either side of the engine nacelles, and thin down the upper wing from the inside, taking care not to damage the lip, which is retained. The flaps are then built up from a single part, with the sides folded up, and the ribs twisted a quarter-turn, then folded back into etched slots in the bay, and glued down. A stringer is then glued across them, having 50% slots in both parts to allow them to fit together easily. There are two bays on each wing, so you will build up four bays in the same manner, after which the flaps themselves are built up. The flaps replace the kit parts, and fold up in a similar manner to the bays, but need a length of 1mm styrene rod to form the pivot-point. With the flap made up, a number of strengthening webs are added to the intersections between the ribs and stringers. Two of each type of flap are built up, and attached to the underwing at their hinge-points, which are shaded on the diagrams to assist you.

Radar Antennas (48868)
ICM's attempt to replicate the delicate antennae of the Lichtenstein 202 B/C Radar are laudable, but they are necessarily thick, and look out of scale as a result. This set replicates the assembly at a much more realistic thickness, using just the main support rod from the kit. Using a razor saw you must make two perpendicular cuts in the end, deep enough to accept the two main support posts with their antennae, which are bent to shape before being slotted in. A length of 1.4mm styrene rod is added to the end of the kit part, and a pair of braces are fitted across to the H-shaped antennae to hold them steady. This is repeated three more times to complete the set, and two small "towel-rail" antennae replace the kit parts on the fuselage.

Masks
Even without the nose glazing, there's still quite a bit of glass in the night fighter, so a set of masks may be just what the doctor ordered. In this set of pre-cut kabuki tape masking material, you get enough parts for every pane of the canopy, including the rear gunner's blown window and the additional windows under the nose on the gunner's gondola. As a bonus, you also have a set of wheel hub masks, and that includes the tail wheel.

Review sample courtesy of

[Julien]

As this kit is being re-boxed by Revell they are good for that boxing as well.

Julien