1:32 Arado Ar-196A-3

The real subject

The Arado Ar 196 was a German two-seat floatplane used during the Second World War for reconnaissance and patrol. It took off from the catapults of large surface ships and from coastal bases alike, and it carried two underfuselage floats and a radial engine. The A-3 version was among the most widespread production forms and flew over the North Sea, the Baltic and the Mediterranean.

What the set contains

This is a set of parts photo-etched from thin metal sheet. Etching allows a thickness that cannot be achieved in injection-molded plastic, which is why photo-etched parts are used wherever a plastic component looks needlessly heavy. The extent of the set, and which kit it is tied to, are given in the instructions supplied by the manufacturer; follow them at every step.

Building and painting tips

• separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface; do not pull them off with your fingers
• make the bends against a metal ruler or in a bending tool, not in your hand
• they are glued with superglue; on larger areas a slow-setting epoxy helps
• degrease the surface before painting and use a primer made for metal, or the paint will not hold on the smooth sheet
• prepare small parts on a light surface; on a dark one they are easily lost

Who it is for

The set is aimed at modelers who want to add detail to a build in 1:32 scale in places where the plastic is too thick. Working with photo-etch calls for tweezers, calm and good light, but there is nothing to stop a beginner starting with the larger parts. Unless stated otherwise, what is supplied is the photo-etched fret alone: the model, paints, primer and glue are not part of it.