discussion Revell 1/72 Arado Ar 240C - 'Inbox' Review

[Dave Ward]

This model comes from the era of Revell-Monogram. It's labelled Made in USA, but I'm pretty sure it originated in Germany. Original tooling was 1994, this dates from 1996. I say 'Inbox', because this was one of my bargains from ebay, due to it not having a box!, but otherwise complete.
The Arado was designed as a heavy fighter, but technical problems and poor handling led to it being cancelled in 1942, as far as I can see there may only have been 14 made - the nightfighter version was used to defend the Arado factory. It's an odd plane to model, it wasn't successful, very few made, ugly, no massive technological advances, I can't imagine it was a big seller.

Boxart lifted from Scalemates
Sprue shots:
The sprues are all very clean, no flash, no sinks & no visible ejector marks - very dainty mouldings & thin sprue runners


Decals look a little yellowish, but that my just be the paper they're printed on.
Instructions A4 fold out - old school Revell, almost cartoonish, but nevertheless clear.

Only one colour scheme

One odd thing I can't remember having seen before, the warning:


Part 2 for detail shots & comments

 

[Dave Ward]

A few detail shots

Panel lines are recessed, and very fine - maybe too fine



Detail in the inside of the wheel wells

The seats look way too small & either replacement, or crew added to hide this

Detail on the inside of the front fuselage - the fuselage is split in an odd way, into four pieces (!?)



Dainty little radar aerials, but PE replacements would look better.
All in all a nice little simple model, with a small parts count - a beginner could easily tackle this, replacement seats, or crew & PE radar aerials would look to be the main improvements to add. The cockpit is a little bare, a decal for the instrument panel, but crew to fill the gap is your best bet. You will have to supply your own swastikas, and the colour call outs are by generic name only - light blue, black, but a little research will throw up the RLM paint nimbers.
An odd model of a little known plane, I cannot imagine this sold very well!
Availability? strictly ebay & pre-owned sites. Prices are getting to collectors' levels, Ive seen £25 - £39 ( + p&p ) on ebay. Mine, because of the lack of a box has no interest to the collector, I got for around £12 delivered - always look for 'no box' items on auction sites!
Dave