1/48 Scale Ram Jet Conversion
Dornier Do 217E-5

by Jörg Bohnstedt

 Revell-Monogram's 1/48 scale Dornier Do 217E-5 is available online from Squadron

Dr. Eugen Sänger started his work at the DFL (Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Luftfahrt) in
Trauen early in the year of 1937.

This was one of the German secret high-tech institutes until the end of the war, with the mission of 
designing ond producing war-winning technology.

In 1941 the first ram jet engine with an output of 2000 PS (hp) started its first run on an
Mercedes Benz truck. Later these engines where tested on two different planes, the smaller one with 2,000 Ps on a Dornier Do 17 Z, and the bigger one with a rating of 20,000 PS on a Dornier Do 217.

The institute also tested new wing profiles and alternative fuselage types to create an new
plane for high altitude missions.

The tests for these plane were stopped in late 1944.

Dr. Eugen Sänger went to France after the war and was one of the engineers who created the Nord
GRIFFON.

Back in Germany he took part as an lector at the DFS an the Technical University (TU) in Berlin.

Dr. Eugen Sänger died in winter 1964 in case of an heart attack.

ProModeler's 1/48 scale Do 217

This conversion is based on the beautiful Revell Do 217E-3 in 1/48 scale.

It is quite simple to modify the E-3 variant into an E-5 and the other additions to build these plane
are also easy to do.

The Ramjet Conversion

Most of the modifications involve cleaning up the plane fby removing its weapons.

The upper gun turret was closed with evergreen sheet and the side intakes for the guns were sealed
using white glue.

The air bottle in the cockpit is scratch built. Also, instead of the kit wheels I have used True Details wheels
and some Eduard etched parts for the cockpit.

A very good friend of me put a lot of work into finishing the body for the ramjet engine. Many thanks to him and the Volkswagen coaching for doing this job for me! He did his work really well, so now you can look thru the engine to see the injection tubes that I have installed inside the engine.

All other small items including the engine mounts on the fuselage and on the engine are made
using Evergreen profiles and strips.

The whole plane is painted whith X-tra color enamels, and handpainted with a light application of pastels on the panel lines.

The decals are a mix of handmade and digging deep in my spares box.

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2004 by Jörg Bohnstedt
Page Created 17 August, 2004
Last Updated 16 August, 2004

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