Official Dornier 217 Painting Thread

[miscmini]

This is a 1/200 scale resin model of the Dornier Do-217E. It is an Armaments in Miniature reproduction of Ron Crawford's HBM model. I used Vallejo Model Colors and Vallejo Air Colors paints to finish the model. Decals are from I-94 Enterprise decal sheets with the exception of the red "H" which is from a Microscale decal sheet.

162492162493

[matt56]

Wow, Kevin - that's a really nice paint job on your Dornier! This sort of thing is making the Dark Side even more attractive - thanks for the inspiration:)

All the best,
Matt

[flash]

Nicely done Kev :thumbsup:

[Flying Helmut]

Great paint job - well done! :thumbsup:

[Blackronin]

Wonderful, Kevin.

[Guntruck]

Very nice!

[Teaticket]

Great looking plane Kevin!

[Gribble]

Kevin, that is a great plane. Super paint and decals. Class "A" all the way.

Regards,

Mel

[matt56]

Here is a series of pictures of my just finished Dornier 217K-2 from KG100 with its Fritz-X guided anti-shipping bombs. As the title suggests, I had hoped to have this done for the recently ended bomber painting contest, but it was not to be:p

The model was a leftover Ron at HBM had - it's white metal and a nice little model, too! I believe it's since been redone/remolded/recast in resin by AIM.

First picture is the underside of the plane - I ordered the Fritz-Xs from AIM and had to scratch-build their pylons from plastic card. I picked out the ailerons/flaps and bomb bay and engine cowling lines in a medium grey...

182360

Here's the top-down view - standard Luftwaffe splinter pattern overpainted in RLM 76 squiggles and then flaps picked out in black-green with a bit of exhaust weathering in another grey mix I threw together.

182361

Here's the 'business end' of the plane, with the Fritz-Xs ready to release ;)
182362

And then an oblique view from above - probably the sight that a P-47 pilot has as he's getting ready to splash this bugger into the Med in '44...

182363

I have some clear acrylic spinning props on order from the Herrn Oberst, and as soon as those arrive I plan to add the 3-blade versions to this fellow - I really like the look of those on WW2 planes and plan to add them to all of my WW2 acquisitions.

All in all, this was a fun project for my first dip into the Dark Side Hot Tub, and I'm sure I'll find myself here again soon - I have several other WW2 planes to paint up, not to mention a few repaints I'll just have to do as I begin purchasing (only) a few WW2 ARES planes.

As always, thanks for looking!
All the best,
Matt

[Flying Helmut]

That's a beauty! :clap: It would have really pushed into my choices for votes in the bomber competition.
REP!

[Naharaht]

Good work, Kevin and Matt! :thumbsup:

[matt56]

Finally got the prop discs painted and glued on yesterday evening. I really do like the look these add to a model, and I look forward to adding them to my WW2 planes.

184422

Thanks for looking!
All the best,
Matt

[Teaticket]

Wonderful plane Matt. Can't wait to see it in an AAR. :thumbsup:

[Blackronin]

Beautiful, Matt!
REP!

[Teaticket]

Beautiful, Matt!
REP!

Yes, I think the REP flak guns will take many shots at this target!

[Blackronin]

And they're aiming well. ;)

[Jager]

Great looking job, Matt. You're right; the spinning props really add a lot to the look.
:thumbsup:
Karl

[OldGuy59]

I was PM'ed to consider doing up a card for this plane:

186587

So, I assume someone has it painted up. Why isn't it showing up here?

Might be worth a card...
186586
[Draft color scheme attempt]

[matt56]

Ooooh, pretty! That would be a nice model, Mike, and your card for it would be splendid (just like all of your other cards!:)) I may have to look for another 217 with in-line engines to do up as a night fighter...since I want to do night fighter actions with WW2...

If you're in the mood to do 217 cards, I would love one of the version I painted above...;)

All the best,
Matt

[OldGuy59]

OK, this is not in any way vetted by the Unofficial Stats Committee, nor is it in their latest list. So, use at your own risk. Also, PE+AW is not listed as belonging to any unit, and could be a prototype designation for the Dornier Flugzeugwerke. It was never assigned to NJG4. The card is in the second color scheme I found on line for the same plane.

186621
I did this up on a Heavy Fighter template, cause I thought that fit best.

I don't have a good line drawing of a K version, nor do I have any stats for it, nor crew. If a card is needed for that version, please provide some info, and hopefully a decent top-down drawing, if you have one.

[Blackronin]

A masterpiece as usual, Mike! REP!

[matt56]

Wow, Mike, that was quick! Beautiful work - I think I like this color scheme even better...

I shall have to find info on the K version for you.

All the best,
Matt

[OldGuy59]

OK, I need help with this beast...

186623
Factory Splinter camo.

So. How many crew and what positions? This may need a management card, as a bomber. I have five gun arcs: nose 45 degrees forward; two rear cockpit side guns, left and right for 45 degrees to either rear left/right side; dorsal turret with 270 degree rear arc, and a ventral rear gun for 45 degrees. Is that three, four or five gunners (bombardier taking the nose gun)? If it's more than two, we need a management card.

[matt56]

A quick search on the internet suggest a crew of 4 - pilot, observer/bombardier/forward gunner, dorsal gunner/radio operator, and a flight engineer/ventral gunner. With four crew members, we probably need a management card...:p

Sounds like you've got the defensive armament figured properly - for the K-1, armament involved twin MG81Z (7.92mm) in the nose, two single MG81s in beam positions, and MG131 (15mm) in the dorsal turret, and and another MG131 in the ventral rear position.

Thanks for the lovely work on this beastie, Mike!

All the best,
Matt

[OldGuy59]

Bump!

[Jager]

Bump!

Sorry, Mike; I lost track of this one. I'll get looking at things.
Karl

[OldGuy59]

The best I can do for a K-2 is this K-1 composite:

251745

I don't know if there is any real substantial airframe difference, and if not, we could use it for a card.

[Jager]

The K2 and 3 added 5.8m of wingspan.
Here's a couple of pics I found.
Karl
251750

251752

[OldGuy59]

The Comox Air Force Museum library comes through again!

251753
Wingspan extended from 63 feet (K-1) to 81 feet (K-2 and 3).

Now, to Photoshop this into a usable card drawing.

[Jager]

From Warplanes of the Third Reich? I tried to scan that one, but the book wouldn't open enough for a clean scan :hmm:
Karl

[OldGuy59]

The Comox Air Force Museum library comes through again!

251753
Wingspan extended from 63 feet (K-1) to 81 feet (K-2 and 3).

Now, to Photoshop this into a usable card drawing.


From Warplanes of the Third Reich? I tried to scan that one, but the book wouldn't open enough for a clean scan :hmm:
Karl

1970, by William Green. The copy in the museum is a bit more handled, I think. It fit into the scanner with little effort.

Reading through it, I found some definitive info on the use of Bf-109s as fighter-bombers, as well. No mention of E3/Bs.

[clipper1801]

I have a first edition of Green's book, cost me $20 back in 1970, had to mow a lot of lawns to buy it, one of my childhood treasures. Took me 5 years to build the entire volume in 1/72 scale plastic, with a lot of scratch builds to fill in . . . still have them in 5 boxes in the garage . . . this obsession has many roots . . . : )

[matt56]

Things are looking pretty tasty here, gents! Looking forward to the finished product...

All the best,
Matt

[OldGuy59]

And now a modified drawing for a K-2:
251865

PS: Oh! And stats?

[clipper1801]

Love to watch the digital artist at work!

[OldGuy59]

Now I have the right airframe for a Do.217 K-2:

251869

When we have the stats for both the K-1 and the K-2, I'll update the cards. Also, I will get the squiggle camo on the K-2 for Matt's plane.

[matt56]

Awesome work, as always, Mike! I just came across my version of it as I was unpacking - it's been in a box since we moved six weeks ago - nice to see it again!! Once these are done, I will have to take it out for a spin - we'll see how many P-51s or Spit IXs it takes to shoot it down...;)

All the best,
Matt

[OldGuy59]

Here is a series of pictures of my just finished Dornier 217K-2 from KG100 with its Fritz-X guided anti-shipping bombs.

...

Here's the top-down view - standard Luftwaffe splinter pattern overpainted in RLM 76 squiggles and then flaps picked out in black-green with a bit of exhaust weathering in another grey mix I threw together.

182361

...

And an attempt to copy this into digital:

251884

[matt56]

This looks truly lovely, Mike! Well done:sAprvd: Thanks!

All the best,
Matt

[OldGuy59]

I don't need stats for a management card. What do we think of this for crew positions?

251887

PS: I pretty much just used the Do.17 crew configuration as is. There was a ventral nose gun that wasn't installed on the 217.

[matt56]

Looking very nice, Mike! Seems like this will work - that poor gunner switching between three weapons...:p

All the best,
Matt

[OldGuy59]

Looking very nice, Mike! Seems like this will work - that poor gunner switching between three weapons...:p

All the best,
Matt

I'm thinking, with the small area in this cockpit, and depending on the threat, the gunners might be able to fill in gun positions fairly quickly. I'm inclined to allow the ventral gunner or the nose gunner (not both) use the rear quarter guns, while the turret is in use. That way, depending on where the target is, there is a possibility of getting two guns firing at one target. Also, whomever is using the rear quarter guns should be able to switch positions from phase to phase, without a phase pause between firings (one gunner choosing which gun to fire in a given phase). I have no idea how easy it would be to get in and out of the turret, so I'm reluctant to allow instant swapping from that position. Also, I'm thinking that the turret is the best firing arc, so it would be the go-to gun to occupy in a fight. The firing arcs will show whether this is true, or not.

PS: Looking at the Do.17 Plane card (OldGuy59's WWII Axis Bombers & Heavy Fighters Album - Do.17 Plane Card (https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/album.php?albumid=3093&attachmentid=238962)), the arcs would be almost the same, minus the nose ventral gun, and a turret arc in place of the tail gun. So, the rear quarter guns are extra defence, not separate arcs.

[matt56]

Sounds like a good plan, Mike:sAprvd: I think you are probably right about the top turret 'preference'...

All the best,
Matt

[Jager]

I'm thinking, with the small area in this cockpit, and depending on the threat, the gunners might be able to fill in gun positions fairly quickly. I'm inclined to allow the ventral gunner or the nose gunner (not both) use the rear quarter guns, while the turret is in use. That way, depending on where the target is, there is a possibility of getting two guns firing at one target. Also, whomever is using the rear quarter guns should be able to switch positions from phase to phase, without a phase pause between firings (one gunner choosing which gun to fire in a given phase). I have no idea how easy it would be to get in and out of the turret, so I'm reluctant to allow instant swapping from that position. Also, I'm thinking that the turret is the best firing arc, so it would be the go-to gun to occupy in a fight. The firing arcs will show whether this is true, or not.

I'm not sure about this, Mike. Here's a open view I found on the web:
251916

49 is the bombardier/front gunner seat. 57 is the seat for the wing guns; I'm assuming it's the radio operator/ventral gunner. 61 is the rear gunner.
It looks difficult for the FG to get past his seat to get to the wing guns, but just as bad for the ventral gunner to climb back up to the seat.
Given the limited arcs on them, they hardly seem worth it. That said, I would let the front gunner and the radio operator to switch between those 3 gun positions
(with only 1 wing gun usable at a time), but with at least a phase delay.

ADD: Now we have stats: https://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/showthread.php?29803-DO-217-stats&p=480743#post480743

[matt56]

Great drawing to add to the discussion, Karl!:sAprvd: This beastie is coming along nicely...;)

All the best,
Matt