Group Build feeler: Reich Defenders V: Hunters of the Dark

Ok, I found, not bought, an ICM Do-215B-5. Two questions

1. Is this an allowed aircraft for the build?

2. Has anyone had any experience with ICM or this kit?

I can always find another kit but this one intrigues me.

Hi Brandon,

Yes indeed, that looks like a great subject and quite an unusual one! here's the Wiki page for it:

en.wikipedia.org/.../Dornier_Do_215

ICM is a company that has developed a good rep for having well moulded parts, very crisp surface detail and generally good assembly, though some of their early offerings were quite fiddly. I have lots of ICM in my stash, Spits, Mustangs and so on, so I say bring it on!

Cheers, Mike/TB379

Brandon...

I also have that kit, I have no plans to build (yet) but in my opinion, the ICM/MPM kits are among some of the best detailed kits I have ever built. For the price range they occupy they are hard to beat. Ive heard some say ( not doubting) that they are "flashy" but like  Mike, I have several in stash, and have not noted this problem on any that I have. When examining my 215, I found it a very nicely detailed and molded kit.

Maybe a set of AM decals would be all I would want to look into. But thats just me...

Take care, and cant wait to start this one, I have a CyberHobby Ju88 just begging to be built.

Doug

Mike, when do you plan on putting the build thread up.

Thanks, Mike.

I look forward to this. It will be my 4th GB obligation for 2015. I have some kind of modelling fever and need help. I just ordered another 109, with this build in mind. A 1/32 hassie G-10 nachtjager. Not sure if that will be my build yet...TBD. it would be a good crossover (if allowed) from the upcoming 109GB. That big 110 in my stash, painted up in black(ish) shades would be fun as well.

Only 4 Tom, you got plenty of room for more yet. That big 110 would be nice to see. I would like to do the 32nd He 219, but I want to practice the scheme at a smaller scale first.

Bish

Only 4 Tom, you got plenty of room for more yet. That big 110 would be nice to see. I would like to do the 32nd He 219, but I want to practice the scheme at a smaller scale first.

Good point! You are an enabler . I mean, it is a full year, and at least a few of the GBs end mid year. Doing a bit of research, over time, for nachtjagers has been interesting. It would be easy to just paint a plane black and be done with it, but there are so many shades of "black" out there. Mixed in with dark greys, etc. it seems possible to make quite a presentation.

I am down for 10 GB's that end next year, with end dates that run through the year. So I just try and build for which ever GB ends next.

I do rather like the German NF mottle scheme. But I have not tried it yet. So I figured trying it on one of the Dragon kits first would be a good practice. And there are indeed some very interesting subjects out there.

I recall reading one account which said the pilot knew when was close enough to the bomber when the radar operators voice suddenly went up several pitches as they were suddenly close to it. The upward firing guns must have been very unnerving for the British bomber crews.

Bish -- I'll launch the main thread on the GB forum on October 31st, for a November 1st start -- that might be a day early considering the dateline, but that's okay!

In the last week before launch I'll go through this thread and compile a participants list with proposed builds to list in the inaugural post, and which can then be modified as needed.

Tom -- four? I'm considering building at least six for the 109 GB alone! :-) I'm currently on completions 8 and 9 for this year, with several more well through production...

Cheers, M

I've got a 1/48 Dragon JU88G-6 that I would like to join up with and maybe time permitting a1/48 Pro Modeller Me410 as well . Love the variation in schemes these subjects offer, so many different Mottle combos on the Nachtjagers. Not to mention the later Radar and Schrage Music configurations to choose from! cheers Trey

Welcome aboard, sounds great!

M/TB379

Mike, i'll keep my eyes open for it. I try to stick to just one, maybe 2, builds for any GB as there are just so many out there I want to join and I like to try and vary my builds as much as p[possible.

TREY, glad to see you getting back into it. Always look forward to your builds, I will be really keep my eyes open for the 88.

Thunderbolt,

I'll be in with something, I don't have a clue with what just yet, but something.

When was the start date? I didn't see it in the posts yet.

Steve

Steve, looks like you have caught the bug.

Its 1st Nov and will run for a year.

Bish...LOLOLOL... that would be a great indicator of how close you were!  A good pilot would likely use that before anything else! Funny...

Doug

I know, and it made me laugh. I can't recall where I read it, but it was all to do with how primitive the radar was and how it indicated the location of other aircraft. And I would guess that often the pilot would never see his target as it was a black underside against a black sky.

I just ordered Kurt Tank's Focke Wulf Fw 189A-1 "Night Fighter"  in 1:72 scale from MPM for this build.

That'll be a most interesting project!

M/TB379

Yes, I'm excited about it.

Just noticed I have a ME410B-6/R-2 in my stash from PM. I guess I should probably build that one rather than purchase another and not hit my stash. So, I am changing my kit to the PM Me410-B-6/R-2, if that is allowed.

By all means, any changes you like are fine.

A fortnight from go-time, and counting!

M/TB379

I got the 109 I am planning on doing for this GB. It uses a fuel tank that was a wing tank for a P-47, as a belly tank. Interesting. The model is late war, April '45. I suppose the Luftwaffe was using recovered tanks on some planes for longer range?

OK, I'm ready. I received my FW-189 today. It looks like a very detailed kit for 1/72 scale. It has separate seatbelts and a very detailed office

Looks like a fun build. I'm excited to start.

That'll be a most unusual beast, Steve! The camo will be a challenge, and so will the radar in 1:72.

Come on, November!

Mike/TB379

Yeah, I'm thinking if I can pull that camo off in 1/72, I can do just about anything with an airbrush.

I'm not too sure about my entry for this one. It's probably going to be the He 219, but I got some other neat birds in my stash as well:

• Dragon's Bf 110 E Nachtjäger (1/32)
• Eduard's new Fw 190 Nachtjäger (1/48)
• And I'm thinking about getting me that big Trumpeter Me 262 two-seater... 

I'll jump in on this but i'll probably start with my first post on Nov 01 but then i'll have to put it away until about April while I finish up what's already on my plate. I'll be doing Revell's 1/48 Arado Ar 234 B/2N "Nachtigall"

SS -- any of those would be great! I'm doing the 262 2-seater but the Dragon issue of the Trimaster kit in 48th -- it'll be a challenge, if the Trimaster Ta-152 is anything to go by.

JJ -- sounds great! I'm looking forward to lots of spectacular night camo jobs!

M/TB379

I could be in - got load on my plate but I was planning to start an Arado 234 /N anyway. If this could start Jan for 12 months, i could do.

Read the threads she said!!!! OK I see it's a 1 Nov start, i'll have to hold back until some time next year before I commit, need to see if I can get through the GB's I've already committed to - sure i'll make it though.