the one with a little bit of cross-kitting - CASA 2.217

[Captain Canada]

Sure looks different already !

[kitbasher]

Dave, if you go for the "Battle of Britain" idea, we can have a mini theme at Telford next year.

If I had the markings Lee I'd consider it, but I've not - and I do have suitable Spanish decals - so am sticking to the plan.  The model is built (the props are just popped into place dry (no glue) and in any case need filing/sanding to remove seam lines), but painting is still to happen.

I'll do what between now and the end of the GB but the canopy framing will take a bit of effort and I'm not convinced all will be complete in time.  I think I will shy away from masking and instead paint up and apply some appropriately painted decal sheet.



I have to say it really is a dinosaur of a kit, very much of it's day so mustn't grumble.  That said, the voices in my head are suggesting I get two more and create a 4-engined 'Do417', inspired by the Ju488.  Might just use Italeri 217s if the moment comes (and they are cheap enough!).

Next GB will see me using an equally ancient Airfix MiG-15.

[The Wooksta!]

Use the markings from an Airfix Do 17Z.  Actually, I've a set of BoB He 111 decals you can have which may be ideal.

BTW, do you still want that Frog Me 262?  Found it a few days back.  I'll bung the two in a bagn and get it off in the next few days.

[NARSES2]

I'll do what between now and the end of the GB but the canopy framing will take a bit of effort and I'm not convinced all will be complete in time.  I think I will shy away from masking and instead paint up and apply some appropriately painted decal sheet.

Sensible. I use 0.5mm wide masking tape painted in the appropriate colours, much simpler, especially with the current eye problem. I buy the tape in rolls of that width so don't even need to cut it 

[PR19_Kit]

Sensible. I use 0.5mm wide masking tape painted in the appropriate colours, much simpler, especially with the current eye problem. I buy the tape in rolls of that width so don't even need to cut it 

Who makes that 0.5 mm tape Chris and where do you get it from please?

[kitbasher]

Sensible. I use 0.5mm wide masking tape painted in the appropriate colours, much simpler, especially with the current eye problem. I buy the tape in rolls of that width so don't even need to cut it 

Who makes that 0.5 mm tape Chris and where do you get it from please?

...and can it get here later this afternoon!!??

[TheChronicOne]

Lookin good! I love bombers.   

Damn, that's a hell of a tip on the tape!  I'm on that! I can see perfectly but can't paint worth a flip on canopies.   

[NARSES2]

Sensible. I use 0.5mm wide masking tape painted in the appropriate colours, much simpler, especially with the current eye problem. I buy the tape in rolls of that width so don't even need to cut it 

Who makes that 0.5 mm tape Chris and where do you get it from please?

I used to get it from Little Cars (or whatever his trading name is now) but I stocked up at Telford (can't remember who from), the tape it'self is produced by Jammydog http://www.jammydog.com/index.htm . Their site has a stockists list.

Tape it'self is very good. Low tack, about the same as Tamiya.

Just found a card in one of the envelopes. I got mine from Affinity Models of Stoke. http://www.affinitymodels.co.uk/Search/0

[PR19_Kit]

Magic, thanks very much. I'll get some. 

[Later] Grrr, too many people reading this thread, they're sold out of the 0.5 mm stuff. 

[kitbasher]

Thanks Chris.

Teeny tiny bit of progress - tidying up the wheel hubs  bit (not quite finished) and refixing the tailwheel.  Oh, and researching the framing for the glazing - no way I can get this finished by the extended deadline so it's time to take the pressure off, ignore the deadline and enjoy finishing the build.

[kitbasher]

So very little modelling done since the start of the year.  Here's the sum total of work on the 2.217 since the last post:



Primed overall, rudders undercoated white and that's it.  Framing up the canopy and other glazing is a potential nightmare so a bit of cheating with decal stripes appears in order.  Something for May - not saying which year!

[TheChronicOne]

Nice! Damn glad to see this progressing!

[NARSES2]

Framing up the canopy and other glazing is a potential nightmare so a bit of cheating with decal stripes appears in order.  Something for May - not saying which year!

I use 0.5/0.75mm masking tape suitably painted on a lot of my projects, especially where there are loads of frames and they aren't that well moulded. Probably get me drummed out of I.P.M.S. but I definitely find it easier.

[kitbasher]

CASA 2.217G B.9-14 26-4 'la mula enojada', Ala 26, 1958

During the Spanish Civil War, the Spanish Nationalist Air Force received a number of German bomber types, notably the Ju86, Do17 and He111.  Following the end of the War the Ejército del Aire (EdA) sought to consolidate its bomber resources; the Ju86 and Do17 were gradually phased out of service in favour of the He111E, additional stocks of which were received from Germany as the Luftwaffe replaced these with He111Ps and He111Hs.

However, there was a need for more modern and capable aircraft, so in 1942 CASA sought to licence-build the He111H; however negotiations with Heinkel soon floundered.  CASA then turned to Dorner and negotiated a contract to produce 200 examples of the Dornier Do217E in Seville.  The EdA quickly realised this type would far better serve their need for a single, multi-role aircraft to fulfil its bomber, reconnaissance and maritime patrol/anti-ship/anti-submarine roles than the He111 could.  Setting up production was, however, slow, with relatively little support received from Germany as World War II continued.

Spain managed to locate a store of BMW 801 radial engines in France, and this allowed completion of 120 BMW-powered examples. These were produced in three versions: the 2.217A bomber; the 2.217B reconnaissance bomber; and the 2.217C, a maritime patrol aircraft.  The Spanish Air force designated the type the B.9.

The first Spanish-built aircraft flew in early 1945.  Following the end of the war, access to the German-built BMW engines became a major issue, threatening to ground the entire 2.217 fleet.  Daimler-Benz 603s were also unavailable, precluding production of a version equivalent (at least in powerplant terms) to the Do217M.  Fortunately, CASA found an alternative in the Bristol Hercules. In April 1952, 200 Hercules engines were ordered and installed on the aircraft in a "power egg" nacelle of a type originally used on the Handley-Page Halifax, Vickers Viking and Vickers Valetta.  These drove four-bladed de Havilland propellers that were usually seen fitted with Viking/Valetta-style spinners.  The new Hercules-powered versions were renamed the 2.217D, E and F respectively by CASA, although the service designation remained B.9. 

The CASA 2.217 served the Spanish well in each of its roles, being seen as something of a 'jack of all trades' and affectionately know as 'The Mule' (La Mula).  The success as gunships of the North American B-25J Mitchell and Douglas A-26B/B-26B Invader prompted the Ejército del Aire to look at an equivalent for use in its North African post-colonial campaigns.  The USA would not sell either type to Spain, nor would Britain sell refurbished Mosquitos, forcing Spain to look to a home-grown solution.

Fortunately, as part of the licenced production deal Dornier had included detailed drawings for the solid nose fairing fitted to the Do217J.  In its original form this was intended to be fitted with four forward firing 2 cm MG FF cannon and four 7.92 mm machine guns.  Post-war, however, these were not available and were thus replaced by four Browning .303 in machine guns and four Hispano 20mm cannon.  It could still carry up to 8000 lbs of bombs, and in this CASA 2.217G form was used in combat in the close air support role during the 1957-1958 Ifni War. 

B.9-14 was one of the longest-serving 2.217s.  Originally a 2.217A built as part of the initial 1945 batch, it was re-engined as a 2.217D in 1953.  In 1956 it was, along with 19 other 2.217Ds,  further modified to 2.217G standard, serving exclusively with Ala 26.  Nose art was extremely rare amongst EdA aircraft, B.9-14 being very much an exception.  The fire-spitting mule graphic and name - 'la mula enojada' ('the angry mule') reflected both its gunship role and the 'Mule' nickname.

The CASA 2.217 was finally retired in the late 1960s, with B.9-14 saved for the Museo de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica at Cuatro Vientos, where it can be seen today.







So – the build.  As per previous posts except after having masked up the canopy with a Montex set the thought of masking the nose glazing was proving too much – I really wanted to finish the build but really couldn't face all that masking.  Fortunately, I still had the night fighter 'solid nose' (sans armament and aerials) in the spares box – off came the glazing and on when the solid nose!  I ummed and aaahd about the props, in the end opting for some Aeroclub Mosquito four-bladers I'd had since planning to make a Mosquito TR.33, as these provided the Viking/Valetta look I'd decided to go for only a few weeks ago.  The Brigand props still reside in the pending box – I have a cunning plan for them which led me to regret offloading a certain Airfix twin-engined US bomber, but I can sort that out!  Oh yes, the beam MGs – decided they wouldn't be needed by a Spanish 'Mule' operating in Spanish Africa, so removed them.

Wrung my hands a bit over the decals.  When I bought them there wasn't much choice in terms of Spanish markings, but that was then and five years on there's much more choice.  But waste not, want not – even though the upper wing roundels are a tad smaller than I'd like them to be they don't look too out of place.

Speaking of decals, they are from Kora sheet 7290, which is intended for Ju86s, except the serial number and nose art which are home-made.

Another 'shelf queen' done!

[TomZ]

Looks fabulous! Great idea and excellent model!

TomZ