The Dornier Do 335 Pfeil

by Richard A. Franks

Valiant Wings Publishing
Airframe & Miniature No.8

Reviewed by Luke Pitt

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The most unconventional piston engine fighter bomber to be developed by the German aircraft industry during the Second World War was, without a doubt the Do335 Pfeil (Arrow) which featured one engine in the nose driving an orthodox tractor airscrew and the second engine amidships in the fuselage, driving a pusher airscrew behind the tail. The aircraft showed great potential but pilots complained of “porpoising” and “snaking” at high speeds. The rear engine also tended to overheat and burst into flames.
 
The “Airframe and Miniature” series of reference titles really need no introduction. What they offer is a one-stop reference source for the particular Aircraft they cover. I like the convenience of these books. For me, it’s is so much easier to just grab them and open a page. In reality, these books are more like four traditional books in one, a development history, wartime photo coverage, line drawings and colour profiles and a comprehensive walk around photo essay.  

This new reference work has some 144 pages. The first four chapters cover the airframe and the various pre production and series production airframes. All of the machines are covered featuring their works number, known features and a brief history of what became of it. Next up come 8 pages of the various proposals for the aircraft should the war have continued. Each proposal is covered with a side profile drawing, (which is a nice idea as it gives the reader an indication of what the proposal would have looked like). 

Chapter five covers the camouflage and markings of the various known aircraft and provides for 15 side colour profiles by Richard Caruana . From a modelling prospective a small table is provided for giving the paints that should be used if a modelling project was to be undertaken. All of the major brands are covered. Chapter six covers all the various kits that are available and each reviewed  Chapters seven through to eight cover three model builds and each is done to a high standard and note a few “tricks” to build the models covered correctly.

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Chapter eight covers all the visual differences between the main and proposed versions of the basic Di335 airframe.

The next 38 pages consist of 194 walk around photos of a restored and captured examples. The entire aircraft is covered from the cockpit to engine and wheel wells through to a detailed study of how the various hatches opened up. The last section is devoted to all the kits that have been produced of the type, followed by a two page list of all the accessories available. A foldout set of 48th plans round out the book.

In summary, if you plan to build this particular Aircraft then you really can’t go past this book. It’s everything you could possible need reference and indeed kit construction wise. I must confess I had never thought of purchasing this range of books until now, after reviewing this book all that has changed.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Valiant Wings Publishing for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2017 by Luke Pitt
This Page Created on 21 April, 2017
Last updated 21 April, 2017

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