GB-47 1/48 Do 335A Pfeil - WW2 D-Day and After - Western Front

[Donivanp]

Username : donivanp
First name : Don
Category : intermediate
Scale : 1/48
Manufacturer / Model : Tamiya Do 335A with Kettenkraftrad
Extras : Dornier Do335 Pfeil Exhausts, 48105 Ultracast, Master Model AM48146 detail set for DO 335A, Eduard 1/48 mask for the Do 335A-12 Pfeil

I am also contemplating the 1/48 Verlinden Dornier Do 335 Resin Detail Set, I have not purchased it as yet. It will take a while before some of this arrives and it is a secondary build but I'm very interested it this subject. I have the Monogram Close Up #21 Do 335 and I have ordered "The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil: A Complete Guide to the Luftwaffe's Fastest Piston-Engine Fighter (Airframe & Miniature #9)" by Robert Franks.

 

[fubar57]

Good stuff Don. If memory serves, most of the builds I read about Verlinden add-ons required quite a bit of work to make fit. These were mostly read in Fine Scale Modeler and in the last century so things may have improved since then. Having said that, they were always great looking. Any thought on aircraft markings?

 

[Donivanp]

Started in 1943 and the first test aircraft flying 1944 with first "production" aircraft coming out in 1944, the D0 335 suffered many of the same issues as the Me 262 from political rivals such as Messerschmidt and Albert Speer trying to have canceled to free up resources for their projects, to not having a defined operational tasking. Hitler wanted as always a high speed bomber, Luftwaffe wanted a heavy fighter to replace the Bf 110/Me 410 and there was a need for a night fighter as well as a high speed high altitude reconnaissance plane.

The aircraft proved to be capable of around 470 MPH making it the fastest piston engined aircraft ever produced. The "A" was built to the bomber configuration and armed with two Mg 151/20mm cannon (200 rounds ea), firing through the forward propeller and a single Mg 103 30MM cannon (70 rounds), firing through the forward propeller hub. The "A" was capable of carrying a variety of bomb load up to a 500 Kg bomb in the bomb (weapons) bay.

The Tamiya kit has markings for two different "A" model aircraft. The first was the second production aircraft and the only serving Do 335, now housed at the National Air and Space Museum outside of Washington DC. This will be my subject, as the most well and widely documented of the series. After the war aircraft A-0 Wr-Nu 240102 (102) was sent to the US where it underwent testing for several years. Afterwards it was acquired by the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum where it was kept in storage until in 1974 it was sent back to Germany for Dornier to rebuild and restore the aircraft and was lent by the Smithsonian to Deutsches Museum in 1976 for display until 1986. It is now on display at National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
Dornier Do 335 A-0 Pfeil (Arrow) Below curtisy of site.

I am really looking at this.

 

[Crimea_River]

Impressive add ons. Looking forward to the build.

 

[Donivanp]

Well some stuff is coming in. This book from Valiant Wings Publishing is GREAT! Like a D&S on steroids. Highly recommend this series.

 

[Donivanp]

I know some of you may have already used these books but for those that haven't here is a sampling.
Aviation Books and Model Accessories I bought this book from Amazon but ai also purchased one on the Spitfire from the company site under their imperfect stock at a reduced price, and it was free shipping to the US.
Historical section

Line drawings

Color profiles

Modeling section discussing all known versions by scale

Building section again by scale.

Type definition point out changes in progression

Detailed photos

Fold out line drawing in the back, (can't call it a "centerfold" but almost as good!

 

[Crimea_River]

This one should be pretty cool. That kettenkrad was included in my Tamiya Me262 kit and it's a nice little model in itself.

 

[Donivanp]

Yeah got on in my 262 also. Great book.

 

[rochie]

Great subject Don, plenty of goodies to go with the kit

 

[Donivanp]

Just ordered

 

[fubar57]

Cool. I did the top one on the left

 

[rochie]

Nice

 

[Wayne Little]

Lot of work ahead of you Don.....go for it.

 

[Donivanp]

Cotton ball and alcohol for a bath on the tree and some vallejo grey primer.

 

[Crimea_River]

Why the primer at this stage?

 

[Donivanp]

Why the primer at this stage?

Because it seemed like the thing to do at the time. Interior and exterior painting to do.

 

[Gnomey]

Nice work so far!

 

[Wurger]

Looking good.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Well some stuff is coming in. This book from Valiant Wings Publishing is GREAT! Like a D&S on steroids. Highly recommend this series.

View attachment 591647View attachment 591648

Wait! Second addition? Damn...

 

[A4K]

Good stuff Don, great choice.