A brief question:

I am currently building the Revell 1/32nd scale Arado 196 B, (single float) navel resonance aircraft. There is an inverted mushroom shaped pin extending downward from the fuselage about 3/4 of the way back the underside or the aircraft body.(A katapulierbeschlag.) I also noticed there is a similar appendage extending below the mono-float.

Now I have seen in historic photos of the A (duel float) that pin on the fuselage was used to connect to the shipboard compressed air launch mechanism. However I have only seen this done on the 196 A (twin float) version.

I will hazard a guess that I should remove the pin on the fuselage of the B version as the single float would block any mechanical access to this attachment point. I am guessing that Revell used this trick of leaving both pins on just so they could use the same molds for both the A and the B versions.

Before I bring out the nippers and the body putty to patch where the pin attaches I would like others to agree with my thinking here.

I would imagine that the airframes were taken from the production line and the floats were modified to the B configuration. Follow this link and take a look at the pics see what you think. It's not conclusive information but it does look like its there in some views.

Here is a "B" with the launch pin showing:


Here is the "A" model - "Don't got no stinking attachment pin."

(Photos used here for research and discussion purposes ONLY.)

All the photos and drawings of the single float model in the link you provided DO NOT have the fuselage mounted katapulierbeschlag.(launch pin) so . . . . . .

Get the sprue cutters!

I just read that there were something like 15 hand build 196 prototypes made and that only the first and maybe the second were built as single float models. It was thought that the smaller wing mounted floats might have a greater tendency to "dig-in" in rough seas so the dual float model was chosen early on as being safer.

I really think we are talking hand built aircraft so if the weight of a heavy structural element wasn't needed I would think it would be left out.

Not arguing to the contrary Michael just that in some of the drawings and pictures I found there seemed to be some sort of irregularity on the fuselage and I couldn't state definitively one way or the other. It's why I gave you the link so you could make the decision yourself.

Take a look at this video I think it show's perfectly why they chose the twin floats!

Photos from the link you posted:

AMAZING video. I have to admit I thought the mounts on the model were extremely lightweight. In the case of the model the sheet metal (plastic skin) really is what supports the engine and not the engine mounts on the model.

Chris, Thank You for all the input and all this additional reference. Cool Man!

The body putty to fill the hole is drying now as we speak.

OK, another minor question - I have a feeling this one might be a little embarrassing (for me.)

Just past the end on the cockpit there is a small pipe coming out of the underside of the Arado fuselage at a 45 degree angle. Interestingly the Lysander has the exact same tube, in the same location, but in the case of the Matchbox kit it is not included in the model.

I am going to hazard a guess that this is what I will call a "male relief tube".


Yes ????

Quite possibly Michael there are similar "relief" systems on most patrol aircraft they were airbourne for quite some time and the "call" of nature would no doubt rear it's head so to speak (pardon the pun). On the likes of the coastal command and bomber aircraft the multi engined ones had a toilet of sorts. Although I can't even begin to imagine trying to empty one's bladder at 30 000 ft where it's 30 degrees Celsius below freezing!

Progress:






Added internal canvas rib detail as shown in last photo above.

Just another observation: Even though the basic airframes may have been taken from the standard production line, none of the standard production models were intended to be catapult launched so these "katapulierbeschlag" fixtures would have had to be specifically constructed and added regardless.

Ever since Revell released this kit, it has my attention. So i will follow your build with interest. Nice work on the cockpit.

@Chris Wilson: that video was truly spectacular, thanks for shahring.



Jelger

Jelger - The Revell Arado is a beautifully done but somewhat challenging kit. I am enjoying it!

The fuselage is now closed up and glued together. I'm doing the body work now trying to remove a number of seams therefore no more progress photos are available at this time.

Enjoy

We spent a fair amount of time talking about this secondary catapult fixture needing to be removed on the single float Arado. Lest there be any confusion, the black arrow indicates the pin that I say needs to be removed from the Revell model.

You will notice there is a second pin on the bottom of the float. That one stays.



This is the decal placement drawing that comes as part of the Revell instruction sheet.

Update on current construction status:
Very close to mounting the engine - just a little more seam and body work yet to do.






I was dreading the building of the floats but actually they were the most enjoyable part of the kit.

The most extensive body work required was under the fuselage, just aft of the wings. Here there was a large and open seam between the body panels.

I wonder what others think of the sort of dirty weathering I chose to do and invite your comments. My thinking here was that this is an aircraft that #1 spends all its' time at sea without shelter and #2 spends ALL its' time directly downwind from one or more oil or coal fired smoke stacks.

Any recomendations?

BMW 132 radial aircraft engine
As I say I am almost ready to mount the engine.


The only modifications I made to the stock Revell engine were to hollow out the two central air intake horns and to add an extension pipe that connects that hole you see in the starboard side of the cowl to the air intake on that side of the engine. (The new pipe is just barely visible in the photo on the far side of the cowl.)

Probably over did it with the chrome coat paint but I thought it just looked so good! (Those horns ARE actually chrome but they are reflecting the white of my studio lighting around them.)

p.s. Now looking for some fine mesh screen to cover those intake horns.


Photo from www.aircraftengine.cz by Evzen Vsetecka. Used here for discussion and research only.

OK, I lied about not modifying the engine. (Actually, I did not lie but I changed my mind later.) After coming across some reference photos of the rear mounted fuel injection sequencer and pumps on the BMW radial I knew I had to add a few items.

The reference photos I spoke of:



Photos from www.aircraftengine.cz by Evzen Vsetecka. Used here for discussion and research only.

Question: What are the two cylindrical structures, one on the front edge of each wing? I thought they were landing spotlights but they were not part of the clear sprue and the instructions say to paint one red and one brown?????

I may be far off, but since the Ar 196 standard 2 main floaters had a 20 mm cannon in each wing in that same location... the color Revell asks for is a bit of a mistery to me

Thanks Pedro for pointing me in the right direction. I have now tried to research the question of armament for the 196 so far with very little luck.

I did find one notation that mentions twin cannons mounted two in each wing outside the propeller arc but the outer guns appear to have been removed due to excess weight.

As I am now close to mounting the engine I just discovered the "pipe" that mounts between two of the starboard side cylinder heads is actually a shield that the fuselage mounted 20mm shoots through! How strange???

Of course this also means the engine somehow has an "interrupter" linkage connected to the gun to keep it from hitting the propeller blades. Doubly strange. Why not just mount ALL guns in the wings and avoid all the linkage troubles and extra weight?

Anyone have any scale drawings of the main catapult spar? I know HpH markets a resin catapult but I am thinking that portion of the launch device should not be that hard to knock together. I feel the Arado just screams to be posed that way.


Here is what appears to be a launch training set-up with the catapult mounted on a pier perhaps.