Dornier Do 215B-4
Here's my build if the ICM Do-215B-4 in 1:48 I completed a couple of months ago and just got around to getting some photos when the sun finally came out of it's winter hibernation. A nice kit, but with some minor issues. The multi-piece engines, mounts, and cowlings were a challenge to put together with the engine prop shafts exiting the cowling properly aligned and centered. The landing gear support legs were a bit delicate and were broken in a couple of places while still on the sprue trees. Not a problem, I used white metal gear structure from SAC. I used Eduard Zoom in the cockpit and Reskit exhausts. The rest was easy, the fit was good. I finished it in the scheme of a B-4 in service with a photo reconniance unit based at Luonetjarvi, Finland in July 1941.
The success of the Do-17 bomber drew the attention of foreign air forces. A Do-17Z was sent to Yugoslavia for demonstration purposes in July 1937. Dornier then prepared a pre-series Do-17Z-0 as a demonstrator for export customers, which was identical to the Do-17Z. The RLM assigned the designation Do-215 to the export version.
The first prototype, Do-215V-1 retained the nine-cylinder Bramo 323 Fafnir engine of the Do-17, which crashed during flight testing. The second prototype was equipped with the Gnome-Rhone 14-NO. Flight testing revealed no performance increase over the Do-17Z. Dornier then experimented with Daimler-Benz 600 engines in the Do-17L and M models. The DB601 Ba was installed in the third prototype, the Do-215 V3 and the first test flight in the spring of 1939 demonstrated a noticeable improvement in performance.
Series production of the Do-215A-1 began in early 1939 with an order of 18 aircraft for the Swedish Air Force. However, the order was stopped in August of 1939 due to the deteriorating political situation and the embargoed Do-215s were pressed into Luftwaffe service. Some 105 Do-215s were produced between 1939 and 1941. The B-4 was a long range photoreconniance bomber.
Very good looking build!
Beauty
Nice outside picks, looks great.
Rod
Excellent result, Chas!
Great looking build Chas! I like how the two inline engines make the Do-215 look more attractive compared to the Do-17.
Very nice result, Chas @chasbunch
Beautiful!
Superb work, Chas @chasbunch!
Chas, you met the challenge admirably. The informative series history is a nice addition.
Super work Chas. I've had this kit in the stash since it came out and this motivates me to get it into the to do pile.
G’day Chas (@chasbunch),
I have a soft spot for the Do 17/215/217 family.
You have picked one of the more obscure types to model here and you have done a first class job.
Liked!
Great job mate. I'm glad it went together well. I have one coming up soon and was curious if it fitted well.
Great to see another "airworthy" 215.
Excellent result on this kit, the extra effort sure paid off.
The outside pictures made me think I was looking at the real thing!
Well done, Chas.
Looks great! The Dornier family of bombers sure have a unique shape about them.