Gazzas Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 (edited) Hi Everyone, Once in a while, a kit you've wanted forever comes along. For me, it was the Dornier Do-217N. That's the nightfighter variant of the bomber. The N version originally had defensive guns in a dorsal turret and ventral tub which was faired neatly into the fuselage. The AIMS Conversion set provides the fairings that cover over those defensive positions like the plywood fairings used historically. The Conversion also supplies some very nice Photo Etch which I will endeavor not to stuff up. The first photo etch I dealt with were the seat belts. I annealed them hoping to get natural shape and droop. A good modeller might have thinned the seats before adding the PE belts. I used formula 560 Canopy Glue to hold the belts before zapping them with CA. Unfortunately there are very few Dornier resources, and I couldn't find the attachment points for the belts. So, I took my positioning from JU-88 pictures. Did I say I'm very inexperienced with PE? It looks rough, and I'm sure someone else would do better. I used white glue to thicken the heads of the control knobs. The rudder pedals were part of the conversion, too. I took a guess on the control knob colors. White, brown, and black. I used various shades of RLM 66 for the interior. My reasoning is that the components would have been delivered from different factories and then assembled into a complete cockpit at the Dornier factory. Finally the exterior fairings. The resin parts fit pretty good, and there are no bubbles to be found on my set. The kit is pretty nice. Great details but soft plastic. The usual ICM weakness. There are some sink marks, but nothing heart breaking. Thanks for looking! Gaz Edited October 26, 2019 by Gazzas RadBaron, mpk, Fanes and 11 others 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mywifehatesmodels Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 Great start! I'll be following this one, for sure. Lord knows I have enough 1/32 German twin projects to keep me more than busy for awhile, but I''m hoping that ICM (or somebody) decides to do a 217M. That's one 1/48 kit I could see myself buying! John Out2gtcha and Gazzas 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzas Posted September 9, 2019 Author Share Posted September 9, 2019 Thanks John. With the release of this kit, ICM has opened the door to the entire E to J Do-217 series. There is enough of a Bomb bay and realistic doors. Also the engine nacelles are completely separate from the wings, allowing for either engine configuration by simply changing Sprues. Doing the K-M will require new main sprues, so I’m hoping that Pastor John will make a conversion for them in the future. Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrish Posted September 10, 2019 Share Posted September 10, 2019 Looking good! Gazzas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmayhew Posted September 10, 2019 Share Posted September 10, 2019 looking good God I wish ICM would enter the 1/32 market! Gazzas, Out2gtcha and Wurzacher 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monthebiff Posted September 10, 2019 Share Posted September 10, 2019 (edited) Cool project Gaz, really love the 217N's, nice progress and if only someone came up with one in 32nd scale......if only. I know there is a vac form option out there but life is to short for going down that route. Regards. Andy Edited September 10, 2019 by monthebiff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzas Posted September 10, 2019 Author Share Posted September 10, 2019 12 hours ago, nmayhew said: looking good God I wish ICM would enter the 1/32 market! Thank you! My main wish is that they would change the formula of their plastic. It quickly gums up sandpaper and makes thin parts extra fragile. Another problem is texture. At least the clear parts look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzas Posted September 10, 2019 Author Share Posted September 10, 2019 6 hours ago, monthebiff said: Cool project Gaz, really love the 217N's, nice progress and if only someone came up with one in 32nd scale......if only. I know there is a vac form option out there but life is to short for going down that route. Regards. Andy Thank you, Andy! I fear that this is another that will never be seen in large scale injection moulded. It never would have the fame that came with any big actions. I should never say never, though. I never imagined a Ki-45 being made. Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 On 9/10/2019 at 10:25 AM, nmayhew said: God I wish ICM would enter the 1/32 market! They already have, Gladiator next. nmayhew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmayhew Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 1 hour ago, Kagemusha said: They already have, Gladiator next. indeedy, I had forgot about that! I'll be getting one of those for sure. what I meant was their willingness to plunge into the German twin market... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 I hope they do in time also, a 215/217 of the quality of their other 1/32 kits would be fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ringleheim Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Aside from the bad plastic, are your overall impressions of this kit positive, Gaz? I will be following this build closely as I love the German bombers and have plans to build all of the ICM 1/48 kits...He-111, Ju-88, and the flying pencil. I've heard they are basically solid kits. Your cockpit is shaping up nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzas Posted September 12, 2019 Author Share Posted September 12, 2019 22 hours ago, ringleheim said: Aside from the bad plastic, are your overall impressions of this kit positive, Gaz? I will be following this build closely as I love the German bombers and have plans to build all of the ICM 1/48 kits...He-111, Ju-88, and the flying pencil. I've heard they are basically solid kits. Your cockpit is shaping up nicely. Thank you! It’s a fine kit. I certainly plan on another which I’ll build as a straight n1 someday. Hopefully the J with BMW radials appears in a year or two. The radar aerials are thick and unrealistic. So, count on buying AM or making your own. Hopefully I’ll do justice to the set that come in the AIMS conversion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monthebiff Posted September 13, 2019 Share Posted September 13, 2019 Got to say Gaz, I'm tempted to build one of these but hang back hoping for someone to release a 32nd 217, now that would be awesome especially if aims released an N conversion followed by an M, now that would be cool. Regards.Andy Gazzas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzas Posted September 15, 2019 Author Share Posted September 15, 2019 On 9/14/2019 at 7:56 AM, monthebiff said: Got to say Gaz, I'm tempted to build one of these but hang back hoping for someone to release a 32nd 217, now that would be awesome especially if aims released an N conversion followed by an M, now that would be cool. Regards.Andy Well... I'm fifty three now and have been waiting on this one for a long time. I don't think I'm going to hang back for anything. mpk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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