1/72 Airmodel Do-11D Prilep ("Bat")

by Carmel John Attard

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Here are some pictures of my Do-11D of No 5 Orliak based at Bosuriste airfield near Sofia. The scale model is converted from the Airmodel vacform kit No-124 of the Do-23. This included enlarging the wing area from the trailing edge, scratch building engine nacelles and radial engine from Balsa and turned solid plastic.  

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Scratch building of the undercarriage, reinforcing the fuselage interior, new right hand props and defensive armament from Aeroclub accessories and Blue Rider decals as well as Allmark Luftwaffe white numerals. Kit is basically completed in overall RLM2 finish with a semi gloss sheen added, using Revell satin varnish.  

Able Bulgarian air crew managed to keep most of the 12 aircraft flying for three years before they started to receive the Do-17M and P.  

In service life the Do-11  suffered from structural failure arising from severe vibration during the retraction of the main undercarriage.  Luftwaffe pilots dubbed it the Fliegende Sarg meaning flying coffin.  At its time this was the heaviest twin engine bomber in service in Europe.

Carmel.

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Do-11D & Arado 65

  

Do-11 of the Royal Bulgarian Air Force in early style markings

  

Do-11 making a high level approach

  

Do-11 in X Markings and King Boris III cypher erased

 

  

  

  

Do-11D & Arado 65s at airfield

  

Do-11, Stosser & PZL24 at airfield

  

Do-11 Bat in early style markings 

  

Do-11 at Sofia-Bosuriste airfield in Bulg X markings

 

  

  

Dornier11 on steady finals to main runway at Bosuriste

  

Dornier Do-11 Bat at Bosuriste airfield

  

Do-11 exploded view of kit conversion parts

Photos and text © by Carmel J. Attard