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Dornier Do 17Z-2/3 Mark1 Models - 1:144 Scale The Dornier Do 17 was a twinned-engined light bomber which had a long narrow fuselage, giving it an outline that was often referred to as the "flying pencil". The initial requirement of this design was for a cargo or mail plane for Deutsche Luft Hansa [DLH] (no connection or legal association with the modern day Lufthansa) with the intent of expanding their airmail delivery service; there was also speculation that it could be utilised as a passenger plane with seating for four to six passengers; however, due to the long and narrow shape of the fuselage, it is highly improbable that this could ever have become a passenger aircraft for the airline. The initial prototype made its maiden flight on November 23rd 1934; however, Deutsche Luft Hansa rejected the design and it, with the other prototype Do 17's, was abandoned and stored in Dornier’s hangar. Few years later, a liaison officer from the German Air Ministry, who was a former test pilot with DLH , discovered that the prototypes still existed and, after test flying the aircraft, recommended that they should be purchased and modified to bomber standards for the military. One major modification was to replace the standard tail fin arrangement with double tail fins and rudders which, along with uprated engines, provided a top speed of 245 mph and matched any fighter speed at that time. Production of the Do.17 aircraft commenced in 1936, in time to be in service against Rupublican fighter aircraft during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. German Luftwaffe units formally took operational service of the Do.17 from 1937 onwards and became heavily utilised in the Battle of Britain and early years of World War Two. By then, the aircraft was deemed vastly under powered when carrying a full payload, thus giving a very limited range, and was superceded by the more powerful Junkers Ju.88 and a higher spec. version which became the Dornier Do.217. The Kit: The kit comes in Mark1’s typical, and immediately recognisable, yellow box with end opening and a very nice box-art rendition of a Do.17Z 2/3 on the Eastern Front. The back of the box shows illustrations of four aircraft; two Do 17Z-2 and two Do 17z-3 versions in colour profile; any of which can be produced using the decals provided. Within the box are two see-through jiffy style zip-lock bags; the larger contains the kit sprues, instructions, decals and a smaller bag that contains the clear sprue. There are 67 components attached to the sprues; 11 are clear parts and 65 are grey pieces, although 2 of these are not required in this version. The grey sprues are of a fairly rigid plastic, not too soft but not brittle either, and should be easy to cut and glue the pieces together. Panel lines are engraved and distinct which should allow them to be visible under a coat of primer and top coats. Sprue A holds the main fuselage, lower main wings plus some of the engine and cowling parts. The definition of the panel lines are crisp as can be seen below: Sprue B has the remaining items, including the cockpit area, upper wing, tailplane and rudders, main and rear wheel assemblies and the twin-engine cowlings and propellers: The clear sprue has all the glazing elements; for the canopy and nose glazing, the bomb-aimers window and the underbelly gunners position. The nose glazing is a complex set of fittings and the designers at Mark1 appear to have made the assembly as simple as possible by providing it as three separate components to ease the fit. Having said that, I am not looking forward to masking up all those glass frames at this minute scale. An initial count shows up 55 individual glass panes, although there could be more! Decals: The decal sheet has been produced in-house by MKM Mark1 Models and, although the sheet measures only 10cm x 5.5cm, it is stuffed full of over 40 individual decals, including complete swastikas for the rudders. The registration and colour is good and each decal has minimal clear backing surrounding them. The whole package is completed with the inclusion of an eight-page set of instructions, colour markings and decal placement guides. The first page shows the components breakdown on each sprue and is followed by three pages of assembly instructions, which are in illustrative form only. Painting of parts before assembly or insertion into the fuselage etc., are described with RLM colours. The remaining four pages, which are printed on the other side of the same sheet, provide four full-colour plan and profile drawings; each depicting an aircraft that can be produced with the enclosed decals. Conclusion: This looks to be a nice little kit; the panel lines are nicely recessed and there all that glazing should allow for some additional detail to be added into the cockpit and bomb-aimers areas. Whether built out of the box or by adding extra detail, this lovely little kit should build up to a great model of the formidable 'Flying Pencil' of the Luftwaffe in WW2. Well done to Mark1 Models for producing a kit of this light bomber at 1:144 scale in plastic. Highly recommended. Mark1 Models can be purchased from mainstream model shops or on-line retailers. Review sample courtesy of: