To 217M-1 WWII German Bomber 1:48 ICM 48274

Plastic model airplane to assemble: Do 217M-1 WWII German Bomber 1:48 ICM 48274

The plastic model of the Do 217M-1 WWII German Bomber in 1:48 scale from ICM is an excellent proposition for model-making enthusiasts and aviation history lovers. This detailed assembly kit allows you to recreate one of the key bombers used by the German Luftwaffe during World War II.

Model features:

• Scale: 1:48
• Manufacturer: ICM
• Catalog number: 48274

History and development of the Do 217M-1:

The Dornier Do 217M-1 was created in response to the shortage of BMW 801D engines, which were originally intended for the Do 217K-1 variant. In 1943, when the territory of the Reich was being heavily bombed by Allied air forces, these engines were urgently needed for the production of day and night fighters for air defense. As a result, Dornier engineers adapted the design of the Do 217K-1 to use alternative DB 603 engines, leading to the creation of the new Do 217M-1 variant.

The DB 603A engines, with a power of 1750 HP and equipped with four-blade propellers, significantly improved flight performance, increasing the maximum speed to 557 km/h. However, the operational range was slightly reduced. The defensive armament and bomb load remained the same as in the Do 217K. The Do 217M-1 aircraft were produced alongside the Do 217K-1 and remained in service in bomber and reconnaissance squadrons of the Luftwaffe until the end of the war.

Significance and use of the Do 217:

The Dornier Do 217 was an evolution of the earlier Do 17 model, known as the "flying pencil." Designed as a heavy bomber, the Do 217 had a larger bomb load and range than its predecessor. In later variants, experiments were conducted with dive bombing capabilities and maritime strikes using gliding bombs, which achieved significant successes.

Early variants of the Do 217 were more advanced than their contemporaries, the Heinkel He 111 and Junkers Ju 88, offering greater speed, range, and bomb load. As a result, it was classified as a heavy bomber. The Do 217 served on all fronts, performing various roles, from strategic bombing to tactical operations, such as direct ground attacks or strikes against shipping during the Battle of the Atlantic and Normandy.

This aircraft was also used in anti-shipping units in the Mediterranean Sea, attacking Allied convoys and naval units during the Battle of the Mediterranean. In 1943, the Do 217 was the first aircraft to use precision-guided bombs in combat, when radio-controlled Fritz X bombs sank the Italian battleship Roma in the Mediterranean Sea.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. To assemble, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g., Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.