In Box Review of Revell-Monogram 1/48th Scale
Pro Modeler
German Arado Ar-234C-3/4 Jet Bomber
Kit no. 5979
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 2002
I paid $21.75 for my kit at Ever's store in Dyersville, IA, Just before they went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 2002
I paid $21.75 for my kit at Ever's store in Dyersville, IA, Just before they went out of business.
HISTORY:
As early as the summer of 1943, a four-engine version of the Arado Ar-234 was being considered to replace the two engined Ar-234B. This new version was designated Ar-234C.
The designers incorporated four BMW 003 turbojets into two-nacelles under each wing. The new power plants had inferior thrust compared with the earlier Jumo 004's that powered the Ar-234B. However, it's lower weight and smaller size made it an ideal choice for the Ar-234C.
There is little doubt that the Ar-234C was the fastest production jet aircraft of the Second World War. On occasion test pilots reported tail flutter and control unpredictability at high speeds. It is now known they were approaching the sound barrier which was unknown at that time.
The production aircraft had a designed cockpit with a slightly bulged top to afford better rearward vision. Two versions were produced; the Ar-234C-3 bomber and the Ar-234C-4 reconnaissance aircraft carrying two cameras in the rear fuselage.
Both versions were armed with two rearward firing MG 151's in the rear fuselage. Some C-3 bombers also had two rearward firing MG 151's in the rear fuselage.
About nineteen C-3's and a few C-4's were completed before the end of the war. Some of the C-3's were used operationally by KG 76 and III./EKG 1. There are also reports of a C-4 with I./(F)123.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Reconnaissance jet bomber
Manufacturer: Arado Flugzeugwerke
Designer: Walter Blume
First flight: 15 June 1943
Introduction to service: September 1944
Status: Retired
Primary user: Luftwaffe
Number built: 214
As early as the summer of 1943, a four-engine version of the Arado Ar-234 was being considered to replace the two engined Ar-234B. This new version was designated Ar-234C.
The designers incorporated four BMW 003 turbojets into two-nacelles under each wing. The new power plants had inferior thrust compared with the earlier Jumo 004's that powered the Ar-234B. However, it's lower weight and smaller size made it an ideal choice for the Ar-234C.
There is little doubt that the Ar-234C was the fastest production jet aircraft of the Second World War. On occasion test pilots reported tail flutter and control unpredictability at high speeds. It is now known they were approaching the sound barrier which was unknown at that time.
The production aircraft had a designed cockpit with a slightly bulged top to afford better rearward vision. Two versions were produced; the Ar-234C-3 bomber and the Ar-234C-4 reconnaissance aircraft carrying two cameras in the rear fuselage.
Both versions were armed with two rearward firing MG 151's in the rear fuselage. Some C-3 bombers also had two rearward firing MG 151's in the rear fuselage.
About nineteen C-3's and a few C-4's were completed before the end of the war. Some of the C-3's were used operationally by KG 76 and III./EKG 1. There are also reports of a C-4 with I./(F)123.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Reconnaissance jet bomber
Manufacturer: Arado Flugzeugwerke
Designer: Walter Blume
First flight: 15 June 1943
Introduction to service: September 1944
Status: Retired
Primary user: Luftwaffe
Number built: 214
THE KIT:
Revell and Monogram are both old prolific model manufacturers that produce all manner of model subjects in the popular scales. They were located in Morton Grove, IL when this kit was released in 2002.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows an Ar-234C-3 taking off from a runway.
It is in a splinter-pattern of bright-green (RLM 82) and brown-violet (RLM 81) over a light-blue under-carriage (RLM 76). It has a black serial no. on the rudder of small numbers 250 and large numbers 008. There are white skeletal crosses on the sides of the fuselage and atop the twings. Under the wings the crosses are black with white borders.
One side panel has 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme, followed by a suggested paint color listing and: "Plastic model can be painted to match photos on the box. Paint and cement not included are required for assembly. Length of model is 10" and the wingspan is 11 3/16" once built. Kit contains 172 parts. Pictorial instruction sheet provides assembly instructions. Kit is for ages 12 to adult".
The copyright of the kit is given as 2002, over Revell-Monograms' address in Morton Grove, IL, in English and French.
Revell and Monogram are both old prolific model manufacturers that produce all manner of model subjects in the popular scales. They were located in Morton Grove, IL when this kit was released in 2002.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows an Ar-234C-3 taking off from a runway.
It is in a splinter-pattern of bright-green (RLM 82) and brown-violet (RLM 81) over a light-blue under-carriage (RLM 76). It has a black serial no. on the rudder of small numbers 250 and large numbers 008. There are white skeletal crosses on the sides of the fuselage and atop the twings. Under the wings the crosses are black with white borders.
One side panel has 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme, followed by a suggested paint color listing and: "Plastic model can be painted to match photos on the box. Paint and cement not included are required for assembly. Length of model is 10" and the wingspan is 11 3/16" once built. Kit contains 172 parts. Pictorial instruction sheet provides assembly instructions. Kit is for ages 12 to adult".
The copyright of the kit is given as 2002, over Revell-Monograms' address in Morton Grove, IL, in English and French.
The other side panel has a color photo of the Ar-234C-3 and the Ar-234C-4 versions, followed by a one-paragraph history of the aircraft and kit features: "Recessed panel lines, two Walter 109-500 rocket assist take-off units, two 300 litre (70 U.S. gal.) drop-tanks, one 1000 kg (2,205 lb.) SC 1000 "Hermann" bomb, two reconnaissance cameras".
Included are authentic decal markings for two aircraft: an Ar-234C-3, W. nr. 230008 of III./KG 75, flown by Ofw. Johne and a Ar-234C-4, W. nr. 250022 of 1.(F)/123.
Plastic parts are molded in light-grey and clear and are bagged for added protection.
Included are authentic decal markings for two aircraft: an Ar-234C-3, W. nr. 230008 of III./KG 75, flown by Ofw. Johne and a Ar-234C-4, W. nr. 250022 of 1.(F)/123.
Plastic parts are molded in light-grey and clear and are bagged for added protection.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 9 light-grey trees and 2 clear trees in 3 sealed clear cello bags, the decal sheet, instructions and added aftermarket decal sets (more about those later).
The instructions consist of an unbound booklet of 8 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with the history of the Ar-234C-3/4, with a small black and white photo of the model made up, over international assembly symbol explanations, READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, a suggested paint color listing, in French and English.
At the bottom of the page is a 1-800 phone number to use if you have any questions or comments, and Revell-Monograms' Consumer Service Dept. street address in Morton Grove, IL and their website address and the copyright date of the kit as 2002. Kit made in USA.
The assembly steps in the book are miss-numbered as only being 7. I counted these steps and there are actually 25 of them, from page 2 to page 5.
Page 6, 7 and 8 are painting and marking guides.
Page 6 has an above view that is good for both versions of the Ar-234.
Page 7 has a 9-view of the Ar-234, showing both sides of it's fuselage and nacelles and a bottom view.
Page 8 has a 2-view showing the Ar-234C-3 version in the box art scheme (already described above) and views of the take-off rockets. It is shown carrying a bomb.
The other 2 view shows the Ar-234C-4, in the same camouflage as the box art scheme, with small black ser. no. 250 large black no. 022 on the rudder. This is the reconnaissance version. Shown carrying the drop tanks.
Trees are alphabetized. But not alphabetized strictly.
Light-grey letter A tree holds: a drop tank, take-off rocket, elevator and a bulkhead etc. (27 parts)
The kit contains 9 light-grey trees and 2 clear trees in 3 sealed clear cello bags, the decal sheet, instructions and added aftermarket decal sets (more about those later).
The instructions consist of an unbound booklet of 8 pages in 8 1/2" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with the history of the Ar-234C-3/4, with a small black and white photo of the model made up, over international assembly symbol explanations, READ BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions, a suggested paint color listing, in French and English.
At the bottom of the page is a 1-800 phone number to use if you have any questions or comments, and Revell-Monograms' Consumer Service Dept. street address in Morton Grove, IL and their website address and the copyright date of the kit as 2002. Kit made in USA.
The assembly steps in the book are miss-numbered as only being 7. I counted these steps and there are actually 25 of them, from page 2 to page 5.
Page 6, 7 and 8 are painting and marking guides.
Page 6 has an above view that is good for both versions of the Ar-234.
Page 7 has a 9-view of the Ar-234, showing both sides of it's fuselage and nacelles and a bottom view.
Page 8 has a 2-view showing the Ar-234C-3 version in the box art scheme (already described above) and views of the take-off rockets. It is shown carrying a bomb.
The other 2 view shows the Ar-234C-4, in the same camouflage as the box art scheme, with small black ser. no. 250 large black no. 022 on the rudder. This is the reconnaissance version. Shown carrying the drop tanks.
Trees are alphabetized. But not alphabetized strictly.
Light-grey letter A tree holds: a drop tank, take-off rocket, elevator and a bulkhead etc. (27 parts)
Light-grey letter B tree holds: a fuselage half, other elevator, other drop tank, bulkhead, other take-off rocket etc. (27 parts)
There are no letters C through I trees.
There are no letters C through I trees.
Light-grey letter J tree holds: main wheel halves, landing gear legs etc. (33 parts)
Letter K tree holds cameras etc. (12 parts). It is co-joined to letter L tree.
The letter L tree holds bombs etc. (8 parts).
The letter L tree holds bombs etc. (8 parts).
Clear letter M tree holds canopy parts and light lenses (8 parts)
Lettering jumps to the letter R tree. It is light-grey and holds: wing tops, engines-nozzle cones etc. (8 parts)
Light-grey letter S tree holds: wing bottoms, antenna, engine rotor- braces, exhuast-vanes etc. (18 parts)
Light-grey letter T tree holds: the engine- nacelles, main wheel halves, cockpit tub etc. (19 parts)
Light-grey letter U tree holds: engine-nacelle parts, bulkhead etc. (21 parts)
Letter V tree is clear. It holds: the canopy parts (3 parts)
The decal sheet completes the parts that came in the kit.
However, I have added the Verlinden Products brand dry transfer sheet of swastikas ($4.95) and the Fine Molds brand steel PE set of German seat belts and the Waldron Model Products brand set of German rudder pedals ($2.65).
There are no crew figures. The detail is engraved. Flaps are all molded solid.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.