Military Model Scene

Title:  Dornier Do 22

Author: Djordje Nikolic

Publisher:  Kagero

ISBN:  978-83-65437-61-7

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A new hardback book in their Monograph Special Edition series from Kagero, this one covering the Dornier Do 22, it's Design, Development, Testing and Service with the Yugoslav, Greek and Finnish Air Forces.  If you are not familiar with the type (I wasn't) then like me I am sure you will find this interesting.  You might assume it was a seaplane operated by the Luftwaffe but no, it wasn't.  Apparently just 29 were built, including the prototype and stemmed from an order for the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.  Yugoslavia bought 12, as did Greece.  Four more were built for Lativa, but they were never delivered after Russia took over the country.  The four airframes were then given to a German ally, Finland.

The book starts with the background to the designer, Claude Dornier, from his early work with the Zeppelin company as an engineer/designer, through to his own company and successful designs.  It takes us through the detailed development story and includes even the early reports from the Test Pilot.  With many archive photographs and copies of original Dornier drawings, there is pretty much all the detail you might think of.  Each element of the design is covered as it moved from prototype to production machine, and detailing the Cockpit (for the 3-man crew), engine, fuel, ignition, lubrication and cooling systems, fuselage, wings, control surfaces and more.  As well as the float equipped seaplanes, some were also completed with a standard (fixed) wheeled undercarriage.  There are even extracts for original manuals , such as Engine Checks and Starting Procedures.

Then the book moves on to describe the Do 22 in service with Yugoslavia, then Greece and then Finland.  This moves on the a section on Camouflage and Markings and detailed specifications etc in the appendices, which even includes the parts listing!  The final pages hold scale drawings in 1/72 and 1/48 scale, while fold out sheets for the larger 1/32 scale versions are also tucked into the book

 

Excellent quality throughout and ideal for modellers looking for the detail in completing a model, in whatever scale.  Kagero do a really neat job in this one, as ever.  With 180 pages and over 250 archive photos the author has done an excellent job with Kagero for this one.

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Distributed by Casemate Books, who kindly provided my review copy.

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Robin