1:72 Dornier Do J/F Wal

Dornier Do J/F Wal 1:72 — Amodel

An injection-molded plastic kit of the German flying boat Dornier Wal in 1:72 scale from the Ukrainian company Amodel. This release is marked for machines of the Dutch colonial air service in the Dutch East Indies. The box holds the plastic sprues, clear parts and a decal sheet. It is a short-run mold, which calls for patience over the fit.

The real subject

The Dornier Wal, meaning whale, was a twin-engined flying boat designed in the first half of the 1920s. The engines were set in a single nacelle above the wing in tandem, one tractor and one pusher. The hull carried characteristic side stabilizing floats along its sides, which were called sponsons. Corrugated metal on the upper side of the hull and the wing gave the structure stiffness at low weight. The Wal served military as well as transport users, and polar expeditions made long-distance flights with it.

Building and painting tips

The hull of a flying boat is sizeable and the parting seam runs along the keel, so fill and sand it carefully once glued; an irregularity on the bottom of the hull shows at first glance. Seat the side floats and the struts of the engine nacelle according to the instructions with the help of the auxiliary jig part, so that the nacelle sits on the center line. Sand corrugated metal only very carefully, as the scribed grooves are easily rubbed away. Give the surface a gloss clear coat before the decals.

Who the model is for

• Enthusiasts of interwar flying boats
• Collectors of colonial aviation equipment
• Experienced modelers used to short-run molds
• Builders looking for an unconventional subject in 1:72

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.