1:48 Dornier Do 217 M-1 - BASIC Kabuki Masks (for ICM Kits)

The bomber that flew to the British Isles

The Dornier Do 217 came about as a markedly enlarged successor to the Do 17 type and became the heaviest German bomber to reach series production in larger numbers. The M-1 version differed from the radial-powered variants in its liquid-cooled Daimler-Benz engines, which gave it a longer, aerodynamically cleaner nose. Machines of this conversion took part in the night raids on England in the winter and the spring of 1944.

What the mask deals with

The glazing of this machine is extensive and broken up, and on the glazed nose the frames moreover run in several directions. Lining it with tape by hand takes hours here and the result tends to be uneven. A mask of thin precut Japanese film follows the shape of every frame, holds even on curved surfaces and comes off after spraying without any remains of adhesive. In the basic form this is the covering of the glazing and of the wheel discs.

Fitting and building

The parts are lifted off the sheet with tweezers or the tip of a knife and laid onto a clean, degreased surface. Pressing them down with a cotton swab ensures that the paint does not run underneath. Spraying is done in thin coats, as a thick coat will create a step at the edge. The film is best removed before the varnish has cured completely, because the edge then peels cleanly.

Where to reach next

Anyone who wants the inner sides of the glazing and further small details covered as well will find a follow-on, richer form of the same set from the same maker. For an ordinary build with a closed cabin the basic level is amply enough, though. It pays to put the remains of film from the sheet aside, as simple shapes for covering the national insignia while spraying camouflage can be cut from them. The customer obtains the model of the aircraft separately.