Dornier Do.217N-1 Italeri 1/72

[Bruno P]

I already had the box of another kit (with related sets) on the table that I was "analyzing" before tackling the assembly but my eye fell on an old, dare I say very old, box that had been lying there for I don't know how many years. BOOM!!!! Lighting on the road to Damascus!!! Only we modelers know this strange experience which I don't know how to define with a single word but it is a sort of sudden falling in love with a certain subject. Yet I must have picked it up and looked at it who knows how many times over the last few decades: I don't even remember how I came into possession of it. I'm talking about the Italeri kit code 72-125 dedicated to the Dornier Do.217N-1. As I read on the web, the release dates back to the end of the 70s!!!!!! But when the sacred fire is lit there is nothing to do, you have to get to work.

The box is side-opening (which I hate) with what I would call vintage depiction of an N-1. Inside there are three molds: two in black plastic and one for the transparent ones which I would define as decent given the age of the kit. The moldings for the parts of the aircraft are substantially correct in shape with positive paneling. Instructions and decal sheet, which has been preserved very well at least at first glance, complete the kit. The level of detail is what it is: do I need to explain it? I do not believe. And the study phase begins. As a bibliographical reference I use Manfred Griehl's book dedicated to the 217, 317 and 417 variants of the Dornier. Very comprehensive in explaining the origins and evolution of the aircraft. There are also many photos, including interiors although it is not the walkaround that every modeller would have. It's just a shame that the manufacturer's original triptychs are too small to be really usable. And then there is the inevitable web where you can find everything or almost everything (always BE CAREFUL of what the image you observe reproduces given also the good number of versions and subversions experienced by the aircraft).

And I start from the cockpit. Some extraction marks have been removed and the side walls are clean. The Extra Tech 72-111 photo-etched set, dedicated to this kit, certainly comes in handy to add a bit of detail. In the lower part, the area corresponding to the cockpit access hatch has been removed and is reproduced from the Extra Tech 72-114 set (actually dedicated to the K version but several parts are common).

 

 

 

I continue navigating by sight since several points remain completely uncovered, as i.e. the bulkhead located towards the back of the machine gunner/radio operator that I built from scratch: it would have remained a chasm rather than a void. Various radio equipment will then be mounted on this bulkhead.

 

 

Also in this area, the seat offered by the kit is unwatchable. I used a white metal one from Airwaves dedicated to the WWI which, with some modifications, reflects the correct shape well. The seat was then further detailed. Below it, and intersected by the support structures, there is a concave cartridge case collector. I reproduced it using a drug blister:

 

 

The foldable armourer's seat is the photo-etched one from Extra Tech.

 

 

[Bruno P]

The first elements that will make up the cockpit.

Some are ready, some are not yet.

 

 

[Hook]

Awesome work so far - chair pulled up and beverage poured!

[Bruno P]

Gradually the individual parts begin to find their place in the interior of the Dornier. The 217, especially in the night fighter version, is one of those aircraft that allow you to learn about Luftwaffe radio equipment. In fact, the N version was equipped with:

• FuX con TZG10 (Don't ask me what its exact function was as I have no idea but I think it was the radio receiver or transmitter)
• FuG 16 (radio VHF)
• FuG 25 IFF system
• FuG 101 radio altimeter
• PeilG V radio direction finder
• FuB1 instrumental landing system
• FuG 202 radar

The Aires 7047 set came to my aid which offers a large part of them; for the missing ones I resorted to scratch build even if I don't claim to have reproduced them all correctly (unfortunately the documentation in my possession is not exhaustive).

Then searching the web I saw the cockpit of other models of the same subject painted in RLM02: I think this is a gross mistake because the N version was put into production starting from the spring of 1943, by which time the RLM66 had largely replaced the old color. The interiors are therefore in RLM66 Mr.Hobby H416 lightened by 20% with white. The painting on the starboard side of the radio operator/machine gunner was created with a masking obtained with a spare photoetched piece and in fact they are not all perfectly straight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[KDB]

Very nice detail and highlighting, Bruno! 
Cheers - Karl 

[Bruno P]

The cockpit is almost complete.

The instrumentation on the port side has been redone (the previous one didn't convince me). Furthermore, the truss that supports the radio operator / gunner's seat was only tacked with a micro drop of white glue: it will be definitively fixed with the half-fuselages joined.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sandros]

Very nice job. I think it would be benefited from some highlights, to make the inner structure pop out.

[Bruno P]

Hi Sandros!!

In fact I've highlighted all the parts with white to give the max contrast on a RLM66 whited of 20%.

Bye!!

[New Tool]

12 hours ago, sandros said:

Very nice job. I think it would be benefited from some highlights, to make the inner structure pop out.

He has clearly highlighted it in a way which nobody can miss !!!

Almost nobody, evidently.

 

Edited August 23 by New Tool

[sandros]

15 hours ago, New Tool said:

He has clearly highlighted it in a way which nobody can miss !!!

Almost nobody, evidently.

 

It seems highlighting is affected by the amount of light at some photos.

This effect needs to be bold enough, to give the proper contrast, after the fuselage is closed.

[Bruno P]

On 24/08/2024 at 11:40, sandros said:

It seems highlighting is affected by the amount of light at some photos.

This effect needs to be bold enough, to give the proper contrast, after the fuselage is closed.

Exactly Sandros, it's a desired effect, performed with white rather than a light grey, in order to give the greatest possible contrast given that very little will be seen with the semi-closed fuselages.

Bye!!

[Bruno P]

The half fuselages are finally ready to be joined. The ammunition boxes have been repositioned in accordance with the version represented, three on one side and one on the other which has been duplicated in resin starting from the photo-etched one by ExtraTech:

 

 

The individual elements that will complete the cabin have been prepared separately:

 

 

The pilot's handwheel has been partially redone in the grips and with the addition of the clock and relative light in the center while the bulkhead towards the nose has been detailed with four cylinders and the return of the pilot handwheel in addition to the return which, on the nose side, allowed the housing of the machine guns:

 

 

The instrument panel is the photo-etched one from ExtraTech to which the Revi C12/D collimator and the illumination light have been added. The photoetch was positioned on the relevant part supplied by the kit, suitably reduced in height, which however was perfectly straight rather than folded towards the pilot on the right side. Joined halves of the fuselage will serve to fill the gap between the instrument panel and the front part of the fuselage

 

 

The machine gunner/radio operator's seat:

 

 

 

The pilot's side armor, handles and curtains on the windows as well as the instruments placed on the ceiling were added inside the Squadron's canopy. There are still some caveats missing but most of it is done:

 

 

 

 

[Bruno P]

After joining the semi-fuselages it was necessary to fill the space between the pilot panel and the upper area of the fuselage which follows the lines of the canopy. Plasticard and cyanoacrylate....

 

 

[Stressy]

Did the vacform canopy set also include the ventral gun position transparency - I've lost the one from my kit and am trying to find a replacement.  

Nice work so far - I  couldn't hope to match it!

[Bruno P]

Just now, Stressy said:

Did the vacform canopy set also include the ventral gun position transparency - I've lost the one from my kit and am trying to find a replacement.  

Nice work so far - I  couldn't hope to match it!

Hi Stressy! and thanks for you kind words.

Yes, the Falcon set includes the main canopy, the ventral station and the turret lens. I'm sorry about the piece you lost: have you thought about building a mock-up and then vacuforming it?

Bye!

[Nanond]

Impressive job so far.

[Herb]

Lovely internals! Enjoying watching this come together...!

[Hunker]

Totally amazing. This is what we ascribe too when starting a model but the reality turns out different for most of us. 

[Bruno P]

Problem!!!

The Squadron turret transparent has an extraction mark in the center. It wouldn't be a serious problem if it weren't for the fact that at that point the thickness of the transparent is very thin and the relief has practically the same measure. This means that you can sand it but be very careful not to go beyond that. The risk of making a hole is enormous.

This is what I managed to do: the first image represents the transparent before the treatment

 

 

The second one after treatment (sanding, polishing and immersion in Gauzy Agent AK):

 

 

Externally there is no longer any relief (you can feel it by touch) but the bubble you see is the depression that remains in the internal side and I don't know what to do.

 

Amen

 

It's impossible to use the kit one as it's terrible. I also tried to remake it in acetate (heated over the flame and pressed onto the original piece) but given the elevation of the turret, some ripples remain on the edges.

[Bruno P]

The Squadron transparent for the ventral machine gunner's position has an error: the opening for the hole from which the MG.131 emerges is positioned too low given that the lower part was actually armoured. I had the same problem as the turret with a relief that needed to be eliminated/attenuated. This is the before:

 

 

and this is the after (sanding, polishing and immersion in Gauzy Agent AK):

 

 

The weapon, as well as the upper turret, was an MG.131. There are adequately detailed productions on the market but I already had old, or rather very old, Aeroclub reproductions at home and sometimes you have to make do. The close-up image is merciless. However, the gun barrells will be replaced with spare resin parts:

 

 

[Bruno P]

The main canopy was equipped with armor on the side and above the pilot's station as well as the console on the top of the cabin, various boxes, handles and curtains (all scratch-built):

 

 

 

Then this was fixed to the model and it was necessary to fill in some small gaps. Everything was painted with RLM66. Any further imperfections will be taken up after priming.

 

 

 

 

Before I could fix the transparent of the ventral station I had to work on the MG.131s which were mounted both on this station and in the upper turret. I discarded the Aeroclub ones and used those supplied with the kit which, unlike what usually happens where these parts are immediately discarded, proved to be sufficient for the purpose. In any case, for both, I will replace the barrell gun with spare parts from an Aires set. The latter will only be fixed during the finishing phase of the model.

 

 

The transparent of the ventral station was then fixed after having redone the invitation for the barrell gun of the MG.131 as the Squadron proposes it too low. I also added the door in the lower part that allowed the ejection of the cartridge cases:

 

 

 

The next phase involved the detail of the upper turret. That of the Squadron was cut at the exit of the barrell gun of the MG.131. In reality, the turret did not have a simple window but in the upper part and on the sides there were plexiglass protections that I wanted to reproduce. Since in reality there were no metal reinforcement structures to join these plexiglass parts, I joined the various pieces with vinyl glue:

 

 

 

To be complete, the turret requires the internal ring which was made of plasticard of appropriate diameter and thickness which was detailed with plasticard, copper and lead wires:

 

 

 

[Mattlow]

Lovely work on your 217...

 

Your issue with the middle of the turret glazing - I think you'll find that there is a small vent right in that location. You could hide the 'bubble' with a small disk of acetate maybe. Do a Google of 'Dornier 217 turret' and you'll find some images that show what I mean..

 

Matt

[amos brierley]

I’m liking this build, coming along nicely.     😉

[Bruno P]

12 hours ago, Mattlow said:

Your issue with the middle of the turret glazing - I think you'll find that there is a small vent right in that location. You could hide the 'bubble' with a small disk of acetate maybe. Do a Google of 'Dornier 217 turret' and you'll find some images that show what I mean..

You're right Mattlow!

Thanks so much for your tip!!!

[Bruno P]

As suggested by Mattlow (THANKS again!! sometimes we have the solution right under our noses but we don't see it) the turret has been corrected:

 

 

I also completed the internal ring supporting and driving the turret:

 

 

 

Finally, in some images you can see armor protecting the machine gunner which I reproduced with a suitably shaped spare photoetched part: