RS Models' 1/72 scale Dornier Do 17 K by Aleksandar Andri?

RS Models' 1/72 scale
Dornier Do 17 Ka-3

by Aleksandar Andric

Dornier Do 17 K

Academy's 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.XIVe is available online from Squadron

Introduction

This is one of my models built to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the April war and all the Yugoslav aviators who gave their lives to protect the homeland.

Axis attack began on April 6th 1941, overrunning the country in just two weeks. Among the pilots, who put up a valiant resistance, were the men of 3. Bombarderski puk (3rd bomber regiment RYAF), equipped with Do-17K. This version was developed specially for RYAF, and was also built under license at Drzavna fabrika aviona (State aircraft factory) at Kraljevo.

The model depicted is an Do-17Ka-3 (easilly identified by long engine nacelles and modified cockpit glazing to equip with FN 13.7mm machine gun) of the 206. Eskadrila (squadron), which were identified by a white triangle on the fuselage.

Aircraft No.3364 was a personal mount of the squadron commander, capt II class Mihajlo Djonli?. His aircraft had a white outline around the 206.E triangle. This machine was among those captured (almost intact) at Preljina airfield. It was later transferred to the newly-formed axis ZNDH (Croat air force), where it was overpainted in green uppersurfaces and received new markings - No.0106. Eventually, it was destroyed at Borongaj airfield on February 22nd 1944, in a B-17 raid.

Construction

The RS 1/72 scale Dornier Do 17 K is a typical short-run kit: beautiful detail and reasonable accuracy, but plagued by poor fit.

The most problematic things were the panels (most of which needed rescribing) and tedious masking (of both the glass and camo). Also, most parts needed cleaning from flash and ejector pin marks.

Modifications:

scratchbuilt framing added to the interior (cockpit and wheel wells)

back of the instrument panel detailed with stretched sprue
tail elevators repositioned (which created problems - upper "forks" were now too short and had to be scratchbuilt, and lower ones shortened)
mudguards thinned and tires "flatened" a bit over hot stove
the circular covers between engine gondola and nacelle modified

flap lines modified
DF loop on top scratcbuilt from thin wire
antenna cable made from stretched sprue

Work-in-progress pics (in Serbian):
http://www.maketarskikutak.com/index.php/topic,10287.0.html

Painting and Markings

Colors were mixed to my own preferences.

interiors: Hu-31 with some green
undersurfaces: Revel white 371, matt 55 blue, and matt 76 gray in 6:1:1 ratio
ochre: Revell matt 16 and matt 93 in 3:1 ratio (should have been somewhat darker...)
green: Revell matt 361 slightly lightened
brown: Revell matt 84

Decals are a combination of Lift Here set, stash left-overs (serials) and sprayed markings (206. E triangle).