The Dornier Do17 was developed from a high-speed mail aeroplane. Initially they were faster than contemporary fighters but by 1940 had been replaced by more heavily armed bombers such as Do17Zs, Do215s and Do217s.

The first Dornier Do17 flew on 23 November 1934 and the first military version, the Do17E, flew on 30 May 1936.

A total of 268 Do17Es were manufactured and many of them saw service with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War where their speed made them virtually invulnerable.

In addition 15 reconnaissance versions, Do17Fs, were manufactured, some also serving in Spain.

Both versions also served in German forces during the invasion of Poland in September 1939 but, by May 1940 when war began in the west, their lack of defensive armament made them too vulnerable and they had been withdrawn from service.

This kit represents a Do17F of Aufklarungsgruppe 124 operational over Poland in September 1939.

Airfix/MPC 1:72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in February 2009.