1:72 Dornier Do-17 & Do-215 - seat belts and gun sights

Photo-etched harness belts and gun sights for the Do 17 and Do 215, 1:72 scale

This is an accessory set, not an aircraft model. It contains photo-etched metal parts for two places in the cockpit where injection-molded plastic falls short: the harness belts of the seats and the sights of the onboard guns. Against plastic, a metal belt has the right thickness, it can be bent and left to hang over the edge of the seat, so the interior gains depth. A sight, in turn, has thin outline frames that a mold cannot render in this scale. The set covers two closely related types, the Do 17 and the Do 215, whose cockpits were laid out in a similar way.

The real subject

The Dornier Do 17 was a German twin-engine bomber with a slim fuselage, which earned it a nickname referring to its slender shape. The Do 215 was derived from it, originally meant for export, and in the end it served in German hands, among other roles as a night fighter. The glazed nose of both types is clearly visible on a model, so detail in the cockpit pays off.

Usage tips

• Cut the parts off the fret with photo-etch scissors or a sharp knife on a hard surface.
• Make the bends over the edge of a rule or in a bender, not between your fingers.
• Glue with a minute amount of cyanoacrylate glue, because any excess clogs the detail.
• Prime the metal parts before painting, otherwise the finish comes off.
• Let the belts hang irregularly, because a perfectly straightened belt looks unnatural.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers who finish off the interior of a glazed nose and want it to stand up to close inspection. Working with photo-etch calls for fine tweezers and calm.

It is not an aircraft model. The base kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.