Tamiya 1/48th Scale Do 335 Pfeil (Arrow)
This model was done a few years ago as purely a “fun project” and is not meant to be a historically accurate subject, but rather my rendition of what a Do 335 Night fighter from NJG.1 might have looked like. The Dornier Do 335 was an advanced pusher design that resulted in an aircraft with high speed, excellent handling characteristics, extremely high maneuverability for its size (14-17,000 lb loaded- larger and heavier than a P-47) and was a stable gun platform. Less than 70 335's were completed and none saw operational service. It was designed to be powered by either two DB 603 or Jumo 213 V12 engines giving maximum speeds of 430 mph for the night fighter/trainer versions and 472 mph for the fighter versions at 18-21,000 ft. It was probably the fastest propeller-driven warplane of WWII. Standard armament consisted of 1X MK 103 cannon (engine) and 2X MG 151 cannon (cowl) so it packed a big punch. Other innovations for the design were ejection seats and the ability of the pilot to jettison the lower rear stabilizer fin in the event of an emergency landing or landing gear failure.
This model is based on the Tamiya Do335 A12 trainer kit, known by its pilots “auf Deutsch” as the Ameisenbar (Ant Bear or Anteater). The Construction was trouble free and took about 25 hours to complete. Additions to the kit were Eduard seatbelts, radar operator's radar scope from an Academy P-38M kit , plastic tubing used for the MG 151 muzzle flash suppressors, fuselage/wing radar antennae from a Trimaster FW 190 kit, exhaust flame dampers from a Tamiya He 219 kit and the decals were from the spares box. The model was painted with Model Master Enamels; RLM 76 over all with random RLM 74, 75, 70 and 02 squiggles on the top surfaces. This project was really fun and the final model looks good sitting on the shelf next to my other “What-if” Luftwaffe models
Happy Modeling,
Erich
You did a nice job on that paint scheme, Erich - it turned out well.
Nice work Erich, I like your scheme, and I would like to add that I think that great minds think alike. I did the same bird myself, with the same colors, just a slightly different scheme. Great work on your interior, and overall finish.
Stellar job Erich! I love the detail!
Very nice, very, very nice work and an original subject.
Congratulations!
B
Great camo, excellent work and such a bizarre plane!
I've always been fascinated by this bird since reading about it in Pierre Clostermann's "le grand cirque". He and his group of Tempests were unable to catch up with one they caught in the air somewhere above Germany late in the war.
Nice one!
Regards
Magnus
Very nice Pfeil especially the 'pit. Looks like the kit instrument panel which is a better choice that P-E in this case (IMHO)- it has nice texture/raised detail. May I ask- What did you use for the instrument faces?... decals?... which ones?
Hi Stan, I’m glad you liked the 335. I used some of the kit instrument decals and a couple of dials from an old monogram US Navy instruments panel decal sheet. I used a Waldron punch to remove individual dials and applied them to the individual dials on the kit panel that was pre-painted. The individual dials were coated with Future Floor Wax to allow the decals to form easier into each bezel. I re-applied some Future over the decal to simulate glass.
Thanks all for the kind words about the 335.
man...that is spectacular work...amazing cockpit and radar array