Dornier Do 17z (Dogfight doubles boxing)

[jrlx]

Hello,

This is my first post in this forum. I'd like to show my work on the new Do 17z by Airfix.

I'm building this kit using Eduard's BIG set of photo-etch (PE), which comprises interior detailing, bomb bay detailing and flaps. The build is one of my entries in Britmodeller.com's Group Build on the Battle of Britain.

Here are the box, instructions, sprues and PE sets:/media/tinymce_upload/60e52817834012167b7f8c8695706c75.jpg

I started by taking the canopy and other glazing off the transparent parts sprue. Unfortunately, I noticed that a small window (transparent part nº 1), on to top left of the sprue was missing:

/media/tinymce_upload/a4bfaea9b5156e5324ebd67e689c35bc.jpg

The transparent parts are also foggy, apparently some moulding fluid mixed up with the plastic. It is difficult to photograph but the following picture shows a bit of this:

/media/tinymce_upload/b6d0770c971059f1d5e4c94c0b4b8546.jpg

In spite of this, I took the main transparent parts off the sprue in order to give them a bath of Aqua Gloss. I used micro saws to take them off:/media/tinymce_upload/307eb4736b31f07cd608550212d39279.jpg

After the  Aqua Gloss bath the fogginess became more noticeable, because the surrounding clear plastic became brighter and more transparent. Here are the parts drying up:/media/tinymce_upload/f25771f0f1d384bb7d539115ad12a00c.jpg

I contacted the customer service and asked for a replacement sprue. They replied saying there are no spares in stock and have no expected date for availability. This was on early August and I'm still waiting... :(

Then I went on holidays and after returning I decided to go on with the build. At least I could assemble the cockpit parts and associated PE, while I waited for the replacement transparent sprue.

This is how the pilot's office turned out with the PE applied:/media/tinymce_upload/567b2f4654c06427818ebc82f9c3cce0.jpg

Several parts that make up the inner cockpit walls also had PE detailing applied:

/media/tinymce_upload/1f255703d724f4801087a5d3d95e9f21.jpg

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The PE parts applied are only those that have to be painted together with the plastic parts. There are several pre-painted PE parts that have to be applied after.

Here are other small cockpit parts that are ready for painting:

/media/tinymce_upload/c614c919a7fce9338ced243aeb35be99.jpg

Then I took the fuselage halves off the sprues:

/media/tinymce_upload/dedd335d4c0ebebea17e4303e254dea2.jpg

There are several ejection marks to take care of in the bomb bay. Those in the cockpit area will be covered by the cockpit parts. The level of detail is very good out of the box:

/media/tinymce_upload/b27bcaeb0db4f2aa39ad87e2b7d4a175.jpg

Here are all the parts ready for painting:

/media/tinymce_upload/4bda928edbc7bf57f757985d191adef5.jpg

Unfortunately, I then stumbled on a major moulding flaw... The wheel wells on the lower wing parts didn't form completely during the moulding process:

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I've already contacted customer support requesting replacement wing parts but haven't received any reply yet.

This is a real show stopper and I'm very disappointed, especially because the kit is really nice. I can proceed to finish the cockpit detailing but I won't be able to close the fuselage because some transparent parts are required (which are foggy) and the wings can't be assembled while I don't get the replacement parts.

Is there something else that I can do in order to speed up the provision of the replacement transparent sprue and wing parts?

Thanks for looking.

 

 

[Phil Peterson]

Cockpit detail looks great so far.

Too bad about the clear and those wings.  Sure Airfix will make it right, they have been great in the past.

If they are out of spares maybe they will send you a separate kit with the parts.

Looking forward to seeing this one get finished.

[jrlx]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for your interest and kind words. Unfortunately I'm still waiting for Airfix's reply to my requests for spare parts. In the next few days I hope to be able to paint the base colour of the cockpit parts. After that, I'll apply the pre-coloured PE parts.

 

[iloveairfix]

I've already contacted customer support requesting replacement wing parts but haven't received any reply yet.

This is a real show stopper and I'm very disappointed, especially because the kit is really nice. I can proceed to finish the cockpit detailing but I won't be able to close the fuselage because some transparent parts are required (which are foggy) and the wings can't be assembled while I don't get the replacement parts.

Is there something else that I can do in order to speed up the provision of the replacement transparent sprue and wing parts?

Thanks for looking.

 

If you cant get replacement parts, you could try a bit of scratch-building and putty? only if you felt up to it.

[jrlx]

 if you cant get replacement parts, you could try a bit of scratch-building and putty? only if you felt up to it.

If the kit was old I would try to repair the problem on the wings myself, though it wouldn't be straigthforward since the surfaces are curved and there's some detail to add in the wheel wells.

However, the kit is new, I bought it two months ago, so I'd expect Airfix's customer service to provide replacement parts.

By the way, I'm still waiting for their reply.

 

[jrlx]

I've just received a reply from Airfix stating they have no spares and no expected delivery date :-(

 

 

[PhantomBigStu]

That is a poor show, can understand if its a new kit but its been out since december

[jrlx]

Yes, I'm disapointed, especially because I just received stock replies. I won't be able to progress on the build without the spares.

[Jonathan Mock]

Unfortunately this isn't going to help you in this instance, but as a general rule - and here I'm going back to 1968 and what Chris Ellis wrote in his book 'How to Go Plasti Modelling'  - always check a kit for missing or defective parts before you start work on it. If you find there's a problem, return it to the shop (if possible) for a replacement or refund (this obviously varies on your national consumer rights).

Familiarising yourself with the parts and the assembly sequences does help to spot any problems with parts before you start it - and don't start a kit until you are absolutely sure it's all present and correct.

Like I said, it's no help to you now, alas, but it's a good thing to practice every time you get a new kit and is as true in 2015 as it was in 1968.

[jrlx]

Yes, I did that but the problem with the wings didn't become apparent immediately. The defect is quite symmetrical, as you can see from the picture, which didn't help either.

[Froggy_06]

Unfortunately this isn't going to help you in this instance, but as a general rule - and here I'm going back to 1968 and what Chris Ellis wrote in his book 'How to Go Plasti Modelling'  - always check a kit for missing or defective parts before you start work on it. If you find there's a problem, return it to the shop (if possible) for a replacement or refund (this obviously varies on your national consumer rights).

Familiarising yourself with the parts and the assembly sequences does help to spot any problems with parts before you start it - and don't start a kit until you are absolutely sure it's all present and correct.

Like I said, it's no help to you now, alas, but it's a good thing to practice every time you get a new kit and is as true in 2015 as it was in 1968.

I agree with you : I bought last month the kit of the Blenheim Mk.IV / IVF. Fortunately I opened the box as soon as I arrived at home and checked the contents : The canopy parts were that of the Mk. I variant !

I returned to the shop at once and the seller replaced the kit by another that we had thoroughly checked. It's a pity that those incidents occur because these new kits are very detailed and well engineeered.

[jrlx]

Airfix puts all sprues in the same bag and doesn't provide sprue diagrams. This makes it difficult to check that everything is correct without opening the bag with the bigger kits. On the other hand, the sprues get more easily damaged this way. I would suggest Airfix to pack the sprues using several bags. Two sprues per bag, at most, would be ideal.

Also, better quality control seems to be needed, to avoid missing / damaged / mixed up parts, as well as faster customer service. I agree that these new kits are really good, I have my stash full of the latest Airfix kits, and they deserve more care to avoid the said problems.

[jrlx]

Thanks for your words, Bruce. I don't even requested a new kit, just replacement parts for the damaged parts. I think this is perfectly reasonable. I also believe that a quicker positive reaction from Airfix in such cases would help to minimise the need for full refunds or complete replacement kits.

[jrlx]

Hi again,

Though I still haven't received the spares or an expected date of availability from Airfix (only stock replies, I'm afraid), I'm progressing the build to the point I'll be blocked by the lack of spares.

This week-end I treated the ejection marks on the inner walls of the bomb bay. First, I applied putty:

/media/tinymce_upload/7cba0a587c0d50aeb801c39a5af58384.jpg

The part between the two fuselage halves goes in the bomb bay, but first I had to apply a small PE part to it. Here's the PE fret for the bomb bay and the bombs themselves:

/media/tinymce_upload/fd133a2d01f437e17eb26821ed16f2d2.jpg

The small PE part nº 13 was bent over itself and applied to the back of the plastic part:

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I also took off the sprues some other parts that go in the bomb bay and can be painted together with the rest of the interiors. Here they are, glued to toothpicks and ready for priming and painting:

/media/tinymce_upload/222c223610eecfb1abb011765c7abe61.jpg

After drying for a day, the excess putty was sanded away with wet & dry 400 grit sanding paper:

/media/tinymce_upload/bb0bb2d5cfc1cdf7543622329403846c.jpg

Here are all the interior parts for the cockpit and bomb bay that can be painted now:

/media/tinymce_upload/91ba67e033ffec0eb6b7fc99060e8389.jpg

After priming and painting with the two interior colours (RLM02 gray-green and some bits of black) I'll apply the pre-coloured PE parts. Then, unless I received the spares for the defective transparent parts and lower wing parts, I'll be forced to stop the build.

Thanks for looking. All comments are welcome.

 

 

 

 

[Yug]

 You could always just put the undercarrige doors in the closed position . It is in a Dogfight after all .:)

[Yug]

 I bought a Eduard canopy mask for mine , looks pretty good . Incidently the turret on the Defiant had a hole in the back - still awaiting a replacement .

[jrlx]

I'm still awating the replacement sprue for the transparent parts. I received an apology for the delay from Airfix last week, after I filed a complaint with the European Consumer Center. Last week the ECC informed me they would make an inspection at Airfix to take care of several complaints, including mine. I guess this was the cause for the apology from Airfix.

Anyway, I replied to Airfix's apology asking when they would be sending the replacement, but haven't received any reply yet.

Last week I also bought Airfix's Spitfire F Mk 22 in my LHS and the canopy parts have a seam line across them, possibly due to two waves of melted plastic meeting at those lines during the moulding process.

I'm very annoyed with all this lack of quality and inexistent costumer service.

 

[John Symmons]

Hope the replacement wings arrive soon, as I'm again waiting for the Dornier to arrive in Cape Town, so I'll be following your build with interest. Actually this is a good way of publically tracking the spares service of Airfix. When the Dornier does arrive be sure I'll be checking the kit out very carefully for malfuctions. Recently brought the 1/72 Gladiator and the decals had not black printed on them, contacted Airfix, they replied the following day by E-Mail but stating about 4 to 6 weeks delay. Still; we'll see what happens, I'll post here when they arrive.

Keep up the good work and I look forward to your continuation of the build.

Remember we do this for fun   John the Pom

[jrlx]

Hi John,

Thanks for your interest. I've finally received the replacement transparent sprue during the Easter week.The replacement wings were sent to me quicker. I think they took "only" a month to solve that request, back in October. The real problem was sending me the transparent sprue. I regret to report that I had to file a complaint with the European Consumer Office against Airfix ,for undue delay in solving that replacement request. Following my complaint, the Office told me there was an inspection made at Airfix by the relevant UK authority, apparently to sort out several situations, and this seemed to sort out my case as well.

So, now I have all the parts (there was a small window missing in the sprue that came with my kit, in addition to the defective transparency of the canopies). While I was waiting I even bought a vac form canopy set, however it is for the Revell Do 17z and needs some adaptation. I'll decide latter which one to use.

I'm currently a bit bogged down with several unfinished builds but I intend to complete this one in the next few months.

Cheers

Jaime

[Yug]

I had a problem with the transparent parts for the Defiant , there was a hole in the turret . After waiting 6 months and contacting Airfix several times I eventually got a replacement sprune .

[John Symmons]

Hi Jirx.

Just been re-reading your posting on the Do 17Z, Glad to see yoy finally managed to sort out your faulty parts, but what happened to the rest of the build; did you eventually finish it? If so, love to hear the rest of the story, and see some pics of the out-come.

Remember we do this for fun.     John the Pom

PS The Dornier finally made it's way to Cape Town and I'm contemplating doing a mass build with the old Airfix Do 17E and the Monogram and Frog Do 17Z's in very differant camouflage schemes.

[jrlx]

Hi John,

thank you very much for your interest. I did some progress on the build which is reported in detail at my thread at Britmodeller:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234984838-dornier-do-17z-airfix-172-dogfight-doubles/

I painted the main interior colour (RLM 02) on the cockpit and bomb bay and applied the cockpit PE bits. I still have to post the progress here. However, it was still done last year (a year ago, in fact) and I haven't returned to the build after receiving the replacement parts from Airfix. I'm afraid this forum has no notifications of activity, which goesn't give any incentive to keep posting here... :(

In the meantime, I managed to finish Revell's 1/72 Ju 88 A4 bomber. You can take a look at it here, if you like:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235007490-ju-88a-4-sicily-june-1941-revell-172/

I'm still very overwhelmed by many on-going builds (not to mention real life stuff...), so it'll be some time before I manage to update this thread.

Cheers

Jaime

 

 

 

 

 

 

[John Symmons]

Hu Jaime

Thanks for your reply. It was a real pleasant surprize to get an answer and it's good to hear you're still in the land of the modeller's. if you trawl through some of the forums there are quite a few that never seemed to be finallised. Thanks for the links I'll certainly check them out, as I'm sure others will do.

Remember we do this for fun   John the Pom