Hobbycraft 1/48th Dornier Do. 17Z "Flying Pencil". Luftwaffe ETO WWII
In between graduating from USC, then Navy and trying to build a Navy, I would pick up kits here and there. Not building for a few years. Still the urge was with me, but once I started to build back in the early 90's the 5th model to start was this HobbyCraft Do.17Z. The info on this was scarce, nothing really available aftermarket except for some True Detail wheels. Which is the only AM part is on the kit. Very basic cockpit, plastic was brittle if I remember correctly. Early WWII scheme of RLM Dunkel Grun 71 Schwarz Grun 70 over Hellblau 65, props are black. Decals were a mixture of kit decals and Aeromaster national markings and swastikas. Aeromaster acrylics were used. Though who knows how accurate this kit was at the time, really who cares, it represents a decent looking Do.17Z when finished. An unusual plane in that served as an airliner in it's humble beginnings. As Hitler's Germany started to build for war, several aircraft such as the Dornier's and Heinkels were converted into light fast bombers. The slender fuselage and short wingspan earned the nickname the "Flying Pencil", though none exist today in flying condition, one was recovered recently off the shore of Kent, England. So someday one will be restored as part of world history. The only one left to exist. Thanks for viewing.
Chuck
Fly Navy
Kudos to you for getting this one together and having it turn out decently. I once considered doing this kit, but as you already mentioned, not a lot of aftermarket and this kit needs a lot of aftermarket. Wonder when one of the major manufacturers will produce a decent 1/48 Dornier Do-17
If you go track down the Classic Airframes Do-17Z, it's a good kit. Pricey now, but if a Do-17Z is what you want, that's what you get.
Thank you Seamus, there is the Classic Airframes Do-17Z now. Much more accurate but pretty expensive. One Flying Pencil is good enough for me though I may build a different variant for comparison. I do have the Do. 217 from Pro Modeler though a different airframe really, you can see the heritage of the earlier Dornier in it's design.
I actually own the Classic Airframes Do-17z and yes, it is a very good kit. I am just wondering why a company like Tamiya, Hasegawa, Revell, etc never produced a Do-17z in 1/48. Every other iconic Luftwaffe aircraft seems to have been covered over and over again, wh not a Do-17?
it is what it is, we have been asking for an updated B-17 for many years, as we know now that kit whoever now decides to do that project unless it is Revell to maybe do a series, that kit will be well over 100.00. These newer companies have produced some kits that never been done before or now their version of existing kits (new molds). Who knows if they have a B-17 in the works or even a Dornier. I was happy when Revell/Monogram did the He-111 and the D0.217. The wish list is getting smaller though.
Those airplanes may have "started" as "civil airliners" but any connection between their designs and something that would have been useful in civil aviation was non-existant. They were what they were from the git-go.
Nice work on what is generally considered a box full of scrap plastic. It does look like a Do-17Z. I gave up on the one I had back in the 90s.
Chuck: here's a tip I use to keep up with the ever-active battle with dust. As we all know it's hard to dust a model without the risk of knocking something off. I have two old spray bottles - one I fill with water and then pour in some diswhasing liquid - you don't want it to bubble and foam, just be inert in the water. Fill the other one with clear water. Thoroughly spray the model with the soap solution, then rinse thoroughly with the second and allow the model to air-dry. You can dust off rigged biplanes this way and never harm a thing.
Thanks Tom, I am aware of a better technique that is much safer, these images were taken over 15 years ago with the intention at the time of not ever being posted. This is the 1st time of ever posting these images on any site. I took them for just a record sake in case the plane was ever destroyed or damaged beyond repair.
Nice build, Chuck...think of the dust as "natural weathering" - 🙂
Interesting story behind an interesting, and good looking model.
Thank you George
Chuck very good job on a not so good kit looks great would you mind sharing your dusting technique?
Thanks for the comment, honestly Steven it was just leaving the model out on the shelf as it gathered dust. There is no WIP images on this kit as it was built long before I started any WIP shots. The dust in the images is more of me not be more thorough in dusting it off before taking the pics.