First issued as a new tooling in 2014, Airfix’s 1/72 Do 17Z bomber has returned to the range, with new markings.
The provision of an all-new 1/72 Do 17 from Airfix eight years ago pleased many modellers, especially died-in-the-wool Luftwaffe enthusiasts. With reasonably fine engraved panel lines and a wealth of impressive detail across the 170 parts, the kit ensures a pleasing replica of this early war German stalwart.
This fresh boxing (A05010A) offers two new colour schemes for aircraft in the standard Luftwaffe ‘splinter’ camouflage of RLM 70 and 71 over 65. They are:
• U5+BH, 1./Kampfgeschwader 2, Menidi (Tatoi) aerodrome, Greece, May 1941
• F1+DT, 9./Kampfgeschwader 76, Cormeilles-en-Vexin, Northern France. Shot down near Biggin Hill, Kent on August 18, 1940 after a raid on RAF Kenley
Modellers interested in the latter unit should check out Chandos Publications’ re-released Blitz Bombers book, detailed here
If you have yet to take the plunge with Airfix’s Dornier, you are in for a treat. There are four light-grey styrene runners and a clear frame, and noticeable immediately is the level and amount of refinement provided. The cockpit is properly busy due to the inclusion of crew seats, busy floor/framework sections, flight instrumentation, radios and machine-guns/magazines.
Other highlights are detailed undercarriage bays and legs, decent engines and exhausts (the latter with open ends), separate flaps with inner structural features, wings spars and a well-appointed bomb bay with stores and a fuel tank. There are also weighted-effect wheels, and separate ailerons, elevators and rudders.
The kit costs £28.99 direct from the Airfix website, but it’s available from all good Airfix stockists too. Key Model World subscribers can see the original and exclusive 2014 Airfix Model World test-shot build (shown below), here
