I’ve gotten a start on a special build for me…an Xmas present for my father. This is the 1/48 Tamiya kit of the heavily armed Do-335. We went to the Air and Space Museum over the summer…his first ever visit to the D.C. area, and he was awestruck by the size and shape of the Pfeil. He’s always had an avid interest in WWII birds, but had never seen the 335 prior to the visit. I’d like to make a base with the attached picture of the plane at the museum.
Anyways, here’s the cockpit. I’ve noticed a few areas that need repaired…thank God for blown up pictures. My eyes must be worse than I thought. I see some flash on the control stick handles, some areas on the IP that need touched up and the “leather” could use some dirtying up.
The rest looks straight forward once the fuselage gets sewn together.
Thanks, everyone. The encouragement is appreciated.
wing_nut: I’m looking for a National Air and Space Museum empty hangar in 1/48 to complete the picture…you wouldn’t have any spares by chance, would you?
Jerry: This certanily has been a nice kit. The fit is flawless so far.
Ralph: Accoridng to the sources I’ve stumbled across, none ever flew a shot in combat, but there were quite a few prototypes made. One of my books has an in-flight picture, which is pretty cool. Had these things been made a year earlier, it would have altered the outcome…they could fly faster than anything the Allies had at that time (474 mph). Nobody knows what wouldhave happened, but the massive bombing attacks over Germany most likely would have been slowed. Anyways, I think it’s a cool looking plane and a part of history.
In Pierre Clostermann’s book “The Big Show” he spoke of an encounter with a Do-335. That is if I remember correctly it’s been a while since I read the book. It would be a pretty difficult aircraft to mis-identify for sure.
Very interesting, Tracy. I just googled it and Wilkpedia came back with this:
.In his book The Big Show, French acePierre Clostermannclaims the first Allied combat encounter with a Pfeil in April 1945. Leading a flight of fourHawker TempestsfromNo. 3 Squadron RAFover northern Germany, he intercepted by chance a lone Do 335 flying at maximum speed at treetop level. Detecting the British aircraft, the German pilot reversed course to evade. In spite of theTempest’s considerable speed (equal to aP-51 Mustang’s), theRAFfighters were not able to catch up or even get into firing position
I wasn’t aware of this…thank you.
I also learned that the Pfeil I saw in the Smithsonian is the only surviving one. I was amazed at how large the single seat fighter is.
Here’s the latest…a few more small things to do but this is where I stop tonight.
I’ll be travelling through THanksgiving so this is as far as she goes until late November when I’ll finish her. Hopefully I can find a nice base for a display…
