1:48 ICM Dornier Do-217 K-1

[Fran]

1:48

Dornier

Do-217 K-1

ICM

Catalogue number 48273

Price: around 64,95€

 

 

The Dornier Do 217 K-1 was a German medium bomber developed during World War II as part of the broader Do 217 series, which evolved from the earlier Dornier Do 17, known as the "Flying Pencil" for its slender fuselage. The Do 217 K-1, introduced in the autumn of 1942, represented a significant advancement over its predecessors, incorporating a redesigned, aerodynamically streamlined nose and cockpit to improve performance.

The Dornier 217 K-1 was a German WWII era medium bomber, developed from the previous Do 217 E medium bomber series. Unlike the previous Do 217 E, the Do 217 K-1 nose and cockpit was redesigned and aerodynamically streamlined, resulting in lower drag and higher speed. The crew of five was sitting inside the new fully glazed canopy. Compared to the Do 217 E the defensive armament was redesigned as the forward firing 7,92 mm MG 15 machine gun was replaced by twin MG 81 7,92 mm machine gun and the rear facing MG 15s were replaced by a single mounted MG 81. The offensive armament was removed. Maximum bombload of 4000 kg of bombs either in bomb bay or on external racks under the wings remained unchanged, although a single SC 1800 bomb could now be carried inside the bomb bay. The first Do 217 K left the factory in September 1942 and served throught the war as night bombers and against enemy shipping.

The Do 217 is faster than most of other bombers it will meet in battle, being capable of taking out up to four bombing points when utilizing the Flamm C250 incendiary bombs or up to four bases utilizing the four SC 1000 bombs, depending on the maximal battle rating of the said match. Do 217 K is also very capable due to its heavy bomb load and the powerful SC 1800 bomb containing 1000 kg of TNT eq. and 30 metres wide destruction radius. Do 217 can also be used in naval battles as it comes equipped with a pair of F5W torpedoes with 3 km range and 300 kg TNT eq. However these might prove hard to use as the Dornier have to slow down to sub 301 km/h making it an easy target for the naval gunners. Despite being a bomber, the Dornier is also quite maneuverable with maximal structural limit being 700 km/h.[1]

 

 Just a brief history for a very well know aircraft.

So, let`s crack the box to check one of the most wanted and eagerly awaited model of the year of ICM catalogue.

The usual ICM flip top cardboard with a separate card lid showing the artwork. I like ICM artbox, they are quite good. Not my favorites but I like them.

Inside you have sprues separated in two plastic bags and the clear parts in another bag and full protected.

 

Opening the box, you get a total of 13 gray branches and two clear branches.

The clear parts are individually packaged in protective bags.

 There is a lot of parts in this box that you will not use.

The C and D sprues you will use less the 30 % of it.

 

There are also same parts for the night version, that I check the instructions of it (as I don’t have the J version). Is the sprue H for engines, cowlings, and propellers is exactly the same for their radial engines.

 

But let’s check it all.

The first big thing here is the clear parts. This version has its one clear parts (the sprue J) as that is obvious considering the huge front gondola and the upper canopy is also new.

 

 

The clear parts are perfect! Even in this shape…

As usual are pristine and very clear with no distortion at all.

  

Sprue K is also completely new and brings the two new fuselage halves as the largest parts, including parts for the interior, the armament and the fuselage tail.

 

 

As we have both fuselage for the night fighter and this version, we make a little comparation.

 

 

As you can see, the new fuselage is shortened at the front to accommodate the new full glazing, and the rear can be equipped with two different versions.

You get both fuselages. It’s a totally new mold for the fuselage. Kudos to ICM

 

The cockpit is quite big and there’s a lot of glazing to see inside. So, straight from the box, you can get a good cockpit detail has you have in the box side consoles, small instrument panel with three-dimensional components.

So, with some work, the decals and some carefully painting you can get a great cockpit straight from the box, excepted for the seatbelts.

 As usually, for the seatbelts you need to use some aftermarket seatbelts.

 

The sprue W gives 500 and 250 kg bombs very well detail.

 

 

 

Passing on a first general view, is a typical ICM quality plastic, with no distortion, no flash, with very good surface detail.

 

On sprue A, the fuselage halves and tail. Well on this release, these fuselage halves are not used.

 

 Sprue B

On this sprue, full span wings, with upper and lower halves. Really nice molding. A rivet counter could have some extra detail.

 

Sprue C

Mostly all parts on this sprue will not be used. This model will give a lot of extra parts to your spare box. So just a few parts of the undercarriage bay.

 

 

Sprue D

Two sprues in fact, with all the parts for the engine DB603A, propellers and engine nacelles, nothing used on this version that wear the BMW 801D (both with 1700hp each).

 

Well, on this model kit, only the wheels, landing gear are the only parts to be use.

 

Sprue E

This sprue brings us the flaps, upper turret (and all its details) instrument panels, side cockpit consoles and undercarriage bay.

 

 

As for the side cockpit consoles, will not be use as the cockpit detail for this one is on the new K sprue.

The instrument panels are quite good in raised detail and you have a decal set for the instruments bazels.

 

Sprue G

It supplies the engine mounts and undercarriage fairings. The night fighter nose cone is no needed for the build.

The instructions.

The usual standard from ICM with a booklet with the first and last page in satin paper and the rest in normal paper.

The color table chart only have ICM paint range and it start to make some sense (at least in Europe) as you start to have some online store that sell them as Art Scale Kit.

 

 

Anyway, the instruction manual is detailed and easy to follow. It includes step-by-step assembly diagrams, color callouts, and decal placement guides.

 

 

The decal sheet has a good color registration and supply 4 finishing options:

 

Do-217K-1, Luftflotte 2, Mediterrenean area, probably 1943

Do-217K-1, Stab/KG2, Holland, 1943

 

Do-217K-1, 1./KG 66, Chartres, France, Summer, 1943

 

Do-217K-1, 1./KG 2, Rhein-Main, 1943

 

The decals are design by ICM and made for the third party but I have no idea who.

 

 

Conclusion

Well, ICM continues to bring excellent kit to the modelling world and some, like this one, at least for me, was quite wanted. Just love the lines of this aircraft.

 

Cleverly, ICM is delivering all Do-17 and Do-217 series in 1:48, getting all sorted out with common parts and new sprues for the totally new parts and they announced M-1 variant with inline engines

 

A must eager (probably one of the most ones) model that we have been waiting as a 2025 release.

The wait as worth it, no doubt about it!!

The detail out of the box is very good and it will make a very good replica. For the expert and keen modeler some AM will make some extra detail to make this beauty into a total masterpiece. That big clear gondola is begging for it.

VERY Highly recommend this to intermediate modeler

 

My thanks to ICM for making this fantastic model.

 

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[1] https://wiki.warthunder.com/unit/do_217k_1

[Martinnfb]