Do-335 1/48th scale by Tamiya

[centaur567]

I found this kit on clearance in Hobby Lobby soon after we moved here to GA, about 17 years ago, for $15.00 and couldn't pass it up. I decided i was just going to paint the landing gear RLM 02 since that color is going to be used on the 109E that's in progress. One thing led to another with other colors I'm using and decided what the heck, "start it!!", I said to myself. With the cost of paint, now a days, it made sense. I'm using the only D0-335 in existence as a color reference for the interior. More research is needed for the camo colors of this particular aircraft. Either #111 or #112. Gary S.

 

[moon puppy]

Aircraft ahead of it's time.

 

[centaur567]

I found a WWII color picture of one. Monogram Official painting guide says they were painted dark green/ light green or RLM82/RLM 83. The kit instructions say RLM 81 brown-violet/ RLM 82 dark green after dark green/black green paint was used up. ???? Anybody have a dart board I could use? Gary S.

 

[moon puppy]

Looks like you can't go wrong. That thing was BIG.

 

[Rhino]

Looks like you can't go wrong. That thing was BIG.

And speedy! You really have your "Luftwaffe" on lately, Don'tcha?

 

[Sharkmouth]

Monogram Official painting guide says they were painted dark green/ light green or RLM82/RLM 83. The kit instructions say RLM 81 brown-violet/ RLM 82 dark green after dark green/black green paint was used up. ???? Anybody have a dart board I could use? Gary S.

@centaur567, the book is correct.

Thia restored one is based on the paints found while removing the layers:

 

[Heavens Eagle]

The thing to remember is that there were not very many of these that actually flew. I know the French ended up with one that had a small hatch behind the pilot for a radar operator. They wrecked it just taxing it around on a field. The two seater that you are doing had several that were in process when captured.
Now as this is one of my grail kits, I have a bunch of reference on it, so let me share.

The one below #121 is the one I want to do in this exact scene. It has the front engine, but does not appear to have the rear engine.

I believe #112 is the only two seater that actually flew.

and of course the one that the French effed up.

This was the B variant with an armored windscreen and cannon in the wings.

Color scheme

Hope this helps. If you have any specific questions, let me know as these are just from my grazing on the internet. I have several books as well.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Oh, one more thing. The bare metal planes were not bare metal. They used a grey or aluminum putty over the rivets and the seams.

 

[RichB]

Do335 240112 in RAF markings (AM223) at Farnborough. A Canadian pilot with the Foreign Aircraft Flight, S/L McCarthy, traded 15 FW-190's to the USAAF for it. It crashed in Jan 1946 on approach to Farnborough with the aft engine on fire that burnt thru the elevator cables. The pilot, G/C Hards, CO RAE Farnborough was killed. Also visible are areas where the German markings were over painted before the US markings were applied and then the RAF markings applied over the US markings.

You don't want to go near the RLM 81/82/83 debate without full body armour. Just last summer the original formula for RLM 83 was uncovered and it is indeed Dunkelblau not Dunkelgrun. Non-Specular Sea Blue ANA607 is a close match. It was intended to be used in conjunction with RLM 70 Schwartzgrun on aircraft operating over land and RLM 72 Grun on aircraft operating over sea in orders issued in November 1943.

Now the debate is how widely used was RLM 83? On aircraft identified as using "RLM 83" , is it the official dunkelblau or a miss identified green that is actually a shade of RLM 81 or 82? There is evidence of an overall dark blue often with a squiggle pattern being used in the MTO and the dark blue being used in Norway on aircraft employed in the maritime strike role. At this time, there doesn't seem to be evidence that RLM 83 could be used as a replacement for either RLM 81 or 82. If that holds true, there won't be a mad rush to repaint your late war Luftwaffe models that used RLM 83 Dunkelgrun with RLM 83 Dunkelblau.

Cheers,
RichB

 

[moon puppy]

I'll throw my photo in from our trip back in 2016

Sorry for the blur, there was a lot going on around me.

 

[centaur567]

Thanks to all for the pics and info !! Looks like 81/82/65 is it then. Gary S.

 

[centaur567]

On the #112 aircraft, was the underside blue 65 or NM ? It looks like a lot of different shades of color in the photo. Also, I don't see a lot of contrast in the upper colors. Thanks, Gary S.

 

[moon puppy]

It was painted, they could be panels that were nm but I didn't notice them. OH, the 112 aircraft. sorry, thought you were asking about the 102 that I saw.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Monogram Official painting guide says they were painted dark green/ light green or RLM82/RLM 83. The kit instructions say RLM 81 brown-violet/ RLM 82 dark green after dark green/black green paint was used up.

OK, I was obviously wrong. Monogram Aviation Publications (c) 1980 painting guide is volume one.

I will use Monogram Aviation Publications monograph on the Do-335 (c) 1983 and 1997.

 

[moon puppy]

Wow I totally forgot, I got that book somewhere.

 

[centaur567]

Thanks!! I have volume 1 and your volume 2 clears things up a little. It looks to me that the green color used by Dornier in the restoration is a little too bright and needs to be toned down a bit. Gary S.

 

[moon puppy]

Wow I totally forgot, I got that book somewhere.

And it's not in the house...

 

[Sharkmouth]

Wow I totally forgot, I got that book somewhere.

Find it as it is a VERY expensive book to replace since it has actual color chips...

Thanks!! I have volume 1 and your volume 2 clears things up a little. It looks to me that the green color used by Dornier in the restoration is a little too bright and needs to be toned down a bit. Gary S.

Gary, the brightness was there but it is your model so, tone it down, as you wish! Volume one should be kept because of the paint samples. The changes in nomenclature are an easy update since the book is a looseleaf type. Simply print out the new information, hole punch it, and insert.

 

[Heavens Eagle]

I also have that loose leaf Monogram painting guide. Found a copy years ago and snatched it up.

 

[centaur567]

Ok, now that the top side is figured out, on #112, is it lt. blue or NM or a combination ? Gary S.