Italeri 1/72 Dornier Do 217N-1

ITALERI 1:72 DORNIER DO 217N-1

Reviewer: Dave Godden (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 22 January 2002

The Aircraft:
The Do217 in its first form was first flown in 1938 and was developed for the need for a larger derivative of the Do17. It was employed in various roles until the end of the war. This kit is of the N-1 which was the second nightfighter variant and differed externally from the J by the change in powerplant from radial to inline engines.

The N-2 dispensed with the lower gun position so may in theory be a reasonable challenge for conversion from this kit together with the addition of the Rustsatze quadruple upward firing cannon arrangement. These aircraft were operational from the Low Countries and Southern Scandinavia against the British Bomber threat and made regular incursions over Britain hunting for victims in the latter half of the war.

Parts:
The kit contains around 100 injection parts including 4 clear parts for turret, canopy landing light and lower gun posion. The parts come on two sprues of black plastic ( just to make painting a longer job!) with raised panel lines and engraved control surfaces and one of clear parts. There is no flash at all and all parts are easily removable from the sprues.

Instructions:
The instructions are on one fold out sheet of A5 paper . A very sparse history is on the front with a black and white photo of a completed model. The instructions contain a numbered view of all parts and then the assembly begins. There are 7 exploded stages which show internal and figure painting reference numbers relating to the guide on the reverse of the box. The painting guide is on the box although the colours are given in Modelmaster and RLM numbers only

Construction:
Construction commences with the normal cockpit area which has a reasonable representation of the original layout with 3 crew with separate arms, control column, instrument panel and unlike the Revell kit of the K-1 there is no side panel detail moulded in the fuselage halves. There is a decal for the instrument panel . The third crewman is the turret gunner which in a nice touch is seated below the open bottomed turret. The turret and cockpit detail is then placed in the fuselage and the sides cemented together. The assembly of the canopy is next and was the only point on attachment to the fuselage where a small amount of filler was required. The bottom gun position is also assembled and all cemented to the fuselage.

The rear wheel well is enclosed and the closed door arrangement has to be cut in two if gear down is selected. The engines have half relief detail which, when painted and enclosed in the close fitting cowling is sufficient. The cowlings and exhaust assemblies then mount on the rear bulkhead which forms the forward mounting points for the main undercarriage. The main wells are also enclosed with a tyre shaped cut out being the only detail in the upper internal roof. The undercarriage is finely detailed and there is finely detailed tread on the tyres. Finally the whole wing and tail assemblies are attached and presto one complete kit.

Options:
There are 2 options for 2 night fighter versions. It is the upper camouflage of one option which sets this apart. One version has the standard splinter scheme with high demarcation above the 76 lower scheme and sides are camouflaged with large altrnate mottles of the uppersurface greys. This version is of 6NJG/4 in 1944. The other version is also from NJG/4 but 1943 and in the then standard overall black scheme. I chose the first and used Humbrol paints 127 for the 76 ( about 3 coats to cover the black plastic) and 144 and 145 for the upper pattern and mottle. This gave a good finish and extended my painting time to days as opposed to hours but the finished result was well worth it. The views on the instructions for this version and the photo’s on the instruction sheet are so clear that the mottles can be drawn by hand from the plan.

Versions:
The N-1 was only produced in two versions but the other is not considered although could be converted merely by deleting the defensive guns and sourcing MG151’s instead of the MGFF cannons.

Decals:
These appear to be produced by the company and do not include Swastikas. They are easily applied and have no silvering. The colours are right even down to the unit badges and look good.

Accuracy:
The kit's dimensions are exact when compared with those published. The antenna and air intakes are all provided. The nose guns and radar array are all supplied and do not look too over-scale although care has to be taken for this stage as it is fiddly and must be done after painting the main nose section with Superglue being the best adhesive for the job here.

Overall:
This kit is excellent although it bears a striking resemblance to the Revell kit of the K-1 and even the armament of the K-1 is still present although some mouldings have changed to accommodate the nose section and the inline engines. The fit of the parts is such that little filler was used and no cleaning up was required. Thoroughly recommended and it looks excellent next to the Revell K-1showing two later developments of this varied machine. It could also form the basis for the other two variants of the N series if desired.

Note: the following related reviews links have not been updated since early 2000's - more kit reviews of this aircraft may now be on SMAKR, not reflected below. Refer to the Index for other kits of this type.

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Revell (Italeri) 1/72 Do 217K-1

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