Revell of Germany 1/72 Scale Arado Ar 196A-3 Review

This is the first kit that I've constructed from Revell of Germany. I's a nice kit, but the raised panel lines are a bit of a deal-breaker.

The Modeled Aircraft

The kit comes with decals for two options: 5./Borderfliegergruppe 196, August 1941 at Brest-Hourtin, France; Seenotrettlungsgruppe 10/Seenotbereitschaftkommando IX, Tromsoe, Norway in September of 1943. Both aircraft would have been painted in the same RLM scheme.

 

Kit Statistics

Manufacturer	Revell of Germany
Scale	1/72
Model Number	03994
Wingspan	6" (15.2cm
Length	6.85"  (17.4cm)
Part Count	47

Kit Ratings

Category	Score
Overall Representation of Prototype	4
Packaging	5
Assembly Instructions	5
Painting/Marking Guide	5
Decal Quality	5
Decal Accuracy	4
Casting Quality	5
Interior Detail	3
Surface Detail	2
Component Fit	3
Total Score	41/50

Colors Required

Color Required	Color Used
RLM 72 Dark Grey Green	Model Master Acryl 4752 Gunship Grey + 4768 Flat Black
RLM 73 Green	Model Master Acryl 4783 Grun RLM73
RLM 65 Sky Blue	Model Master Acryl 4778 Hellblau RLM65
Dark Grey	Model Master Acryl 4752 Gunship Grey
Flat Black	Model Master Acryl 4768
Red	Polly S 404091
Silver
Brown	Model Master Acryl 4674 Leather

Optional Available Decal/Detail Sets

Aeromaster AN72184 1/72 Scale Swastikas

Overall Representation of the Prototype

This is a very interesting aircraft. Revell has captured it very nicely with fine detail in the pontoon spars and is well-proportioned overall.

Packaging

The kit comes packed in (3) sealed plastic bags, (2) with sprues of gray plastic parts and (1) of clear plastic parts. Decals are packed in a separate plastic bag.

Assembly Instructions

The instructions cover (2) 8.5x11" sheets and are clear and straight forward. Pay careful attention when assembling the spars to the pontoons. One thing that is confusing is that the position of the rudders is shown one way in the assembly instructions and another in the painting/marking guide.

Painting/Marking Guide

The painting guide is black and white and accurately depicts the RLM72/73 splinter camouflage pattern over RLM65 Hellblau for both aircraft. Aircraft units, dates and service locations are nicely identified for both aircraft. Paint colors are referenced to Revell paints.

Decal Quality

The Revell decals are thin and perform very well and conform nicely to the model surfaces using decal setting solution.

Decal Accuracy

The decals are very complete and include a large number of very small placard and warning markings. Being manufactured in Germany, of course, the decals sheet contain no Swastikas. A nice set of various sized 1/72 scale swastikas are available from Aeromaster. See the Optional Details/Decals section above.

Casting Quality

The castings are good and very clean. There is very little flash and clean-up is minimal.

Interior Detail

Interior detail is sparse, but not unusual for a 1/72 scale model. The rear-facing machine gun feels clunky and over-sized and mounted slightly too high relative to the prototype. If you want to invest in interior detail, there are many photographs of the interior of the Revel 1/32 scale model of this same aircraft available online to use as reference for scratch-building.

Surface Detail

With the exception of the control surface separations, all of the panel line detail is raised, which is disappointing. The fabric surfaces are very well represented in the casting.

Component Fit

Most of the major assemblies go together nicely. In particular, the wings fit together nicely and the wing roots do not show any large gaps. The only parts that are problematic are where the spars connect to the pontoons. Some of these parts a very delicate and I did break one of the spars that connect the pontoons to the wings. There seems to be no way in which all of this can be assembled square and straight without much trimming and some large gaps. These gaps are difficult to fill and smooth because the spars themselves are in the way and too much sanding removes the raised surface detail.

I did have some problem getting the parts of the canopy to fit up. This could partially be because it took quite a bit of shaping to clean up the castings. When it was all said an done, I could not model the aircraft with the canopy closed, so I pulled it back over the rear gunner's canopy.

Project Summary

This was an enjoyable project. If it were not for the raised panel lines the model would be most excellent, as indicated by the score given.

Photos

Below are images of the completed kit: