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Revell Monogram Do 217E

First Impressions

Text and modelbuild by Andreas Beck
Images by "Det" Detlef Hoffmann

I received three kits of Revell-Monogram's new Dornier Do 217E-5 two weeks ago. Two models are already under construction (one with Andreas Duda), while a third is a test shot (last 9) with Olaf Krabbenhöft. The first impressions are typical RM grey styrene, good surface detailing, and some panels missing. This kit will result in a real beauty after careful building!

Fuselage:

The fuselage is split up like the Koster vacform kit with two lower halves. The top incorporates the top horizontal tail and the wings to the outer engines.

Two of my three samples were misformed due to early removal from tooling! If you have this problem, be sure to correct the big part with boiling water. The top skinning of the wing must be absolutely horizontal - do it now before starting gluing. I strongly recommend gluing on the outer top wings now - do not follow the instructions in this matter! 

Now the lower fuselage halves may be glued with the cockpit area left open for later installation. Most examples will show that the open top of the fuselage is more narrow than the top part. Measure out and build in spares so that the top aligns correctly.

Consequences for wing mounting.. In this area the fuselage will be a bit too broad. It will push out the wings and bring them into a positive v-adheral. This MUST be avoided. Two ways:

1. Build in spares in the fuselage in the wing area for stabilisation in 1+2. Cut out the alignment area for the joining with the fillets from the lower wing so that the combined top with all wing parts fit in smoothly.

2. Glue on the top without the lower wings and cut back the lower wing filets for clean fitting. Both methods will require filling and sanding. 

Missing Details:

Signal pistol opening front right, first aid hatch (left), opening for antenna(?) (left) at the Balkenkreuz (forward top bar).

Wings:

Follow my suggestions as described earlier. 

On photos on the real thing taken from below/front, you can see through between ailerons and wing!

Propellers and Spinners:

Propeller blades have nearly the correct outline. Diameter is okay but the cranking/twist is not pronounced enough (don´t use blades from Ju88-BMW801 though - they were different). The holes in the spinner for the propeller blades are a bit too big.

Undercarriage:

First glue the main struts (for the wheels) into 90° position to all three main datum lines (axis) of the plane and let them dry.

Retraction devices should be added after that. 

Struts okay, hydraulic lines should be added.

Main Wheels: Diameter is okay, tyres 0.75mm too narrow. If you fill in a 0.5mm sheet the struts will take them without problems. The typical German plates on the wheel (brake protection) are missing. Rare photos show planes without them. A.Duda will do new wheels (ready for Telford).   Click Thumbnail to right for full-sized image

Armament:

Missing are MG FF or MG 15 for nose glazing. Some planes also wore fixed MG151 in the bottom (missing). 

The visor guides inside the cockpit from rests of decals cut-out to size and attached

There exists an alternative sprue for an early E with long tail and MG FF. Look for the Koster arms! 

Canopy / Clear Parts:

Only minor filling is required at the top of the glass nose and under the windshield; however the bottom-aft gun position needs a lot at the end (too wide-nearly 1mm each side!) 

Tailplanes:

There is a gap between the horizontal and vertical tailplane on the top side. I filled it with putty and it looked fine, but after one week there was a shrinking and the vertical surfaces fell to the middle. I had to break them again, replace them into a vertical position and to fill the gaps with superglue. 

Spinners:

They are too long (more than 1mm).

Decals: Printed in register, superb carrier film, too few stencils, two II/KG100 machines with "Mäander" (after Nettuno). All identification letters and the German crosses on my model were applied using a template and airbrush.

Text Copyright © 2000 by Andreas Beck
Images Copyright © 2000 by Detleff Hoffmann
Page Created 21 October, 2000
Last updated 09 November, 2003

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