ICM 48241 – Dornier Do 215 B-4, 1:48 WWII German Reconnaissance Plane

Plastic model kit of the Dornier Do 215 B-4 aircraft in 1:48 scale

ICM 48241 is a self-assembly model kit representing the Dornier Do 215 B-4 — a long-range photographic reconnaissance aircraft used by the Luftwaffe from 1940 onward. The Do 215 was an export version of the Do 17Z bomber, equipped with liquid-cooled Daimler-Benz DB 601A engines instead of the Bramo 323 radial engines. This change gave the aircraft a more streamlined engine nacelle profile while retaining the characteristic slim fuselage shape — hence the unofficial nickname “Flying Pencil” (Fliegender Bleistift), inherited from the Do 17. The B-4 version was a specialized reconnaissance aircraft fitted with Rb 20/30 and Rb 50/30 cameras installed inside the bomb bay.

Based on completely new tooling released in 2014, this model was the first to represent the Do 215 B-4 in 1:48 scale. The kit contains 190 plastic and clear parts, and the crew compartment accurately reproduces the cramped yet functional interior of the aircraft. The four marking options depict aircraft of the Aufklärungsgruppen Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe — elite long-range reconnaissance units operating directly under Luftwaffe High Command.

Inside the box:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing, and engine nacelle components
• Clear sprue with cockpit canopy and windows
• Photographic compartment components with Rb cameras
• Two Daimler-Benz DB 601A engines with nacelles
• Water-slide decal sheet for 4 marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:48
• Catalog number: 48241
• Manufacturer: ICM
• Finished model length: approx. 220 mm, wingspan: approx. 250 mm
• Difficulty level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints, or modeling tools. The model requires self-assembly.

Model assembly:

This kit is intended for modelers with moderate experience. The slender fuselage requires precise alignment of the fuselage halves and careful smoothing of seams along the long cylindrical nose section. The extensive glazed cockpit canopy with the characteristic “Waffenkopf” nose gun station is a key visual feature and requires special attention during masking and painting. The camouflage schemes feature the standard Luftwaffe RLM 70/71/65 pattern typical of long-range reconnaissance aircraft from 1940–1942.

Essential tools:

• Modeling sprue cutters for removing parts from the frames
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper
• Plastic cement
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Model wash for highlighting details
• Masking tape for painting the engine nacelles and cockpit canopy

About the aircraft – Dornier Do 215 B-4:

The Dornier Do 215 was developed by Dornier as an export version of the Do 17Z, adapted for the installation of liquid-cooled engines — primarily the DB 601A. However, most of the approximately 100 aircraft produced were delivered to the Luftwaffe rather than the intended foreign customers, as the outbreak of World War II prevented exports to Belgium and Yugoslavia. The B-4 version was a specialized reconnaissance aircraft assigned to the Aufklärungsgruppe des Oberbefehlshabers der Luftwaffe — an elite reconnaissance unit conducting photographic missions for the highest levels of Luftwaffe command. B-4 aircraft operated over France, Great Britain, Finland, and the Eastern Front between 1940 and 1942, photographing strategic targets and transportation hubs.

Technical specifications of the original aircraft (Do 215 B-4):

• Length: approx. 15.8 m
• Wingspan: 18.0 m
• Height: approx. 4.56 m
• Maximum takeoff weight: approx. 9,000 kg
• Crew: 4
• Powerplant: two Daimler-Benz DB 601A engines, approx. 1,075 hp each
• Maximum speed: approx. 450–470 km/h
• Range: approx. 1,500 km
• Photographic equipment: Rb 20/30 and Rb 50/30 cameras
• Defensive armament: 6× 7.92 mm MG 15 machine guns

About the manufacturer – ICM:

ICM is a Ukrainian model company based in Kyiv, known for its precise injection molds and steadily expanding catalog of World War II aircraft kits. In addition to its extensive Ju 88 series, the company has also released kits of less commonly modeled Luftwaffe aircraft types, including the Do 215 — an aircraft rarely represented in 1:48 scale. ICM kits are distinguished by recessed panel lines, detailed interiors, and strong attention to the historical details of individual combat variants.