ICM Do 17Z-2 WWII Finnish Bomber - 1:72

[Paul A H]

Do 17Z-2 WWII Finnish Bomber

1:72 ICM

 

 

The Dornier Do 17, nicknamed the Fliegender Bleistift or flying pencil due to its slender shape, was a light bomber designed by Dornier Flugzeugwerke in the mid-1930s. During the early design period the aircraft was euphemistically referred to as a high speed mail plane, but it's highly likely that it was always intended to fulfil a combat role. The Do17 was able to carry a bomb load of 1000kg, but range was limited when carrying heavy loads. Defensive armament was comprised of MG-15  machine guns carried in various positions in the forward fuselage.

 

This is the fourth or fifth iteration of the newly tooled Do-17 family from Kiev-based outfit ICM, although it is almost identical to the original Z-2 boxing (only the clear sprue has been revised). Inside the very sturdy top-opening box are three largish frames of light grey plastic and two of clear plastic which together hold a total of nearly 200 parts. The airframe is covered in crisp, recessed panel lines which look very good indeed, and the mouldings are crisp and clean. The instructions are an A4 stapled booklet which has been printed in colour and the decal sheet is clear and well printed. The overall impression is of a well-executed kit which looks as though it should be enjoyable to build. 

 

 

 

Construction begins with the very well detailed cockpit. Interior detail includes the crew seats, rudder pedals, control column (moulded in two parts), radio gear and other sidewall details and a large number of spare magazines for the defensive machine guns. The instrument panel is made up from two parts and is beautifully detailed. Internal frames for the bomb bay and wing spar are also included, as is an optional fuel tank for the forward part of the bomb bay. The upper wing is moulded as a single span, complete with interior detail for the main landing gear bays. The ailerons are moulded as separate parts, which is always welcome. The rest of the flying surfaces follow suite, with the rudders and elevators all moulded separately. The elevator balance mechanisms are also included. 

 

With the major parts of the airframe complete, construction turns to the bomb bay and landing gear. Twenty 50kg bombs are included, although whether you use them all will depend on whether you have installed the optional fuel tank first. The landing gear is nicely detailed, although construction is somewhat unconventional. You have to install the interior parts for the landing gear onto the undersurface of the completed wing and then build the engine nacelles around them. This is quite a clever way of approaching this stage of the build and it should work well. The exterior parts of the nacelle have to be constructed with the firewall and engine sub-frame fixed to one half of the nacelle. The engines themselves comprise six parts and include options for different exhaust arrangements.  

 

 

With the engines in place, the rest of the build is occupied with finishing details. The canopy is nice and clear and includes an option for the DF loop, or the later streamlined fairing. Six MG15s are included. The bomb bay can be finished in open or closed positions, and for once you aren't required to simply cut the bomb bay doors apart to finish it in the open position as separate parts are included for that option. 

 

 

Decal options include:

• Dornier Do 17Z-2 3/LeLv 46, Finnish Air Force, February 1942. This aircraft is finished in a partial white distemper; and
• Dornier Do 17Z-2 2/LeLv 46, Finnish Air Force, February 1942. 

 

 

Conclusion

We waited a while for a nice, modern kit of the Do17/215 family. ICM's effort looks to be slightly ahead of the Airfix kit in terms of detail, and of course they have offered a wider range of variants from their moulds. Speaking of which, the mouldings are high quality, there is plenty of the aforementioned detail and surface structures are fine and crisp. Overall this is a well executed and carefully designed kit which is rich in detail. Highly recommended.

 

Review sample courtesy of

 

[gavingav1]

i have built two airfix do 17's and the icm do 17z-10 and it is a very hard toss up to call a winner, icm offer much more variants so they have that going for them , the airfix engines are slightly better in that the engine support harness is more accurate- i don't know what icm were thinking on that point but it is not a deal breaker .

 

 

[vppelt68]

It´s getting more and more difficult for me to postpone building a Finnish Do 17! But, there must be some marketing conspiracy between ICM and aftermarket decal manufacturers... 1) I just couldn´t imagine myself assembling that national insignia from the supplied strips and 2) to my eyes the blue looks incorrect anyway, but 3) fortunately I have a decent stash of said aftermarket decals! V-P

[JOCKNEY]

I have to agree with my esteemed colleague V-P, and without igniting the whole argument about that particular symbol, if you don't want to use what was after all the original symbol for this aircraft at the time either don't buy the kit or buy different decals for it and discard the symboled ones.

Apologies for the rant it's been a long week, and it's nearly beer o'clock 

 

cheers Pat

 

[vppelt68]

I couldn't help myself but went and bought the kit. It is a beauty. As a group builder-only I must now find a suitably themed GB to be able to do it. But wait! I just cross-checked; this bomber boxing includes all the bits and pieces for the Z-10 night fighter too - all it thus needs are decals, no problems with me, and the instructions are available on-line thanks to Revell. V-P