1:144 Arado Ar-68 E

Arado Ar 68 E 1:144, a short-run kit

A model of the German fighter biplane Arado Ar 68 in the E version, in 1:144 scale. It is a short-run kit of resin parts produced by 3D printing; the method of building differs from an ordinary injection-molded kit mainly in the way of gluing and in the preparation of the surface.

The real subject

The Ar 68 was the last fighter biplane to reach production with the newly built Luftwaffe. It took off in the middle of the nineteen-thirties and from the start it competed with the monoplane Bf 109, to which it finally gave way. The version designated E differed from the earlier make in its powerplant: in place of the older BMW VI V12 it received the Junkers Jumo 210, an inverted V12, which shows during the building of a model in the shape of the engine cowling and the radiator. In the fighter role the machine grew obsolete quickly, but it served on as a night fighter and as an advanced trainer.

Building and painting tips

Wash the resin parts in water with detergent first and let them dry thoroughly. Cut the remains of the print supports away with a saw, not with cutters, so that the fine edges do not break off. Line the wings up dry and only then fix the joints with cyanoacrylate glue. A thin filler primer before painting brings the surface together and reveals the places to sand down. Interwar German schemes tend to be smooth and of one color, so fine shading of the panels will stand out rather than a striking patina.

Who the model is for

• collectors of interwar fighters in 1:144 scale
• modelers who can work with resin
• those interested in the beginnings of the Luftwaffe and the move from biplanes to monoplanes
• builders of collections where as many types as possible are gathered in a small area

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.