Revell Arado 234 - 1/72nd scale

[Simon Cornes]

Just put a bid in for one of these on EvilBay so if its rubbish then I'm stuck with it but I had an idea that the Revell 234 had a Dragon heritage - or I am getting it confused with the Do 335A? I am aware of the old Frog kit and the Dragon kit so I have pitched my bid to make it worthwhile having if its not the greatest. I have seen a picture of the box top - which is of a 4 jet 234 with a V-1 on top. I have an idea that the Frog kit had the same option but, never having opened a Frog kit, I thought that was the Jumo twin only - I now know that the Dragon kit has optional twin or 4 jets.

Please put me out of my misery! I suspect this is going to be Frog ! If its Frog then didn't Airwaves, or someone, do a brass etch fret?

Thanks

Simon

[The wooksta V2.0]

Revell got most of the ex-Frog Axis types, the Ar 234 included. This was available for many years but deleted around the late 80s but later released in a Matchbox boxing when Revell owned the licence to the name. It has optional noses and engines to do either the Ar 234B (two jumos) or Ar 234C (four BMWs in paired nacelles)

The Dragon Ar 234C was released in a Revell box in the late 90s. If it's that one, it's a bit of a horror to build, mainly around the engines.

Four engines with V1 on top? I'd guess the Frog kit, especially if it's this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-72-ARADO-Ar-234-BY...1QQcmdZViewItem.

It's not a bad bit, but a bit wooly and very Frog in style - ie reasonable outline but short on detail.

[AnonymousA667]

Frog tooling:

Dragon tooling:

This includes the parasite fighter

peebeep

[The wooksta V2.0]

IIRC, the latter also gives you bombs, drop tanks and a BT 1400 bomben-torpedo.

As for the bid, well, if it isn't the kit you're after, then you'll just have to hope that you lose it!

[avro683]

Especially as the parts for the V1 are missing. At least the seller has listed as such.

Tony

[GreenDragon]

Never seen that boxing from Wooksta's link before, I've built a few from the earlier boxing (peebeeps Frog tooling pic) and still have one in the stash. The only thing I didn't like with the Frog tool was the control panel mounts are moulded as lumps in the top canopy section. I seem to remember the Lindberg kit split the clear parts right down the middle into left and right parts. Impossible to clean the seam.

Paul Harrison

[CPNGROATS]

Here is the original FROG issue...kit # F417.....what great B/A...!!! Spring 1945 rocket assisted takeoff from the autobahn...

Cheers,

ggc

[GreenDragon]

Only ever seen that Frog issue on the internet, good pic Capn! When I was a kid in Kingston nobody seemed to stock Frog, first time I saw one of their kits was when Santa Claus gave me a Spiftfire with V-1 in Bentalls Christmas Grotto! Just a few years later they went bust and several shops had tons of them on special so I managed to get a few then.

Paul Harrison

[The wooksta V2.0]

That's the only Frog issue - they went bust about a year or so after that kit came out.

Always like Frog box art. Not as distinctive as the stuff Roy Cross did for Airfix but still pretty cool.

[Simon Cornes]

That's the only Frog issue - they went bust about a year or so after that kit came out.

Always like Frog box art. Not as distinctive as the stuff Roy Cross did for Airfix but still pretty cool.

Luckily for me ( I think), I've ben outbid!!!! I don't normally have that reaction but as I know that I can get the kit cheaper elsewhere then it was a close call!

Is the Dragon kit that bad? I must admit, that was my preferred option - via Revell. What is Revell/Dragon kit number? I would have thought that he surface detail, glazing, cockpit interior, decal sheet would be very good, so whats the catch?

Simon

[Heraldcoupe]

Is the Dragon kit that bad? I must admit, that was my preferred option - via Revell. What is Revell/Dragon kit number? I would have thought that he surface detail, glazing, cockpit interior, decal sheet would be very good, so whats the catch?

Nothing fits!

It's not unbuildable by any means, but it looks a lot nicer on the sprues than it goes together. It was designed with CAD, before the art was perfected by the likes of Tamiya and Hasegawa,

Cheers,

Bill.

[The wooksta V2.0]

It depends on which Ar 234 you want to do. If it's the B, then the Dragon one isn't too bad. If it's the C then that's the one I had all the problems with. It's the fit of the nose section (iffy join with fuselage) and the engine nacelles are a horrid fit all round. Looks good when it's together though.

[Simon Cornes]

It depends on which Ar 234 you want to do. If it's the B, then the Dragon one isn't too bad. If it's the C then that's the one I had all the problems with. It's the fit of the nose section (iffy join with fuselage) and the engine nacelles are a horrid fit all round. Looks good when it's together though.

Right, so if I assume that the detail/decals/canopy/interior are good then its just old fashioned kit bashing to sort out the engine to wing joint? I can get Dragon 5004 (234 C-3/C-4) for about £13, which I think may be much better than £11.50 for a Frog kit - or is it? Dragon do 5012 (234B Nightfighter) for £17, which is possibly a bit steep? (might be able to get it for £15?) Alternatively, I could pick up the Frog/Revell kit for £7 but pay £3.50 postage (or wait for a show?) At this point the Dragon 5004 sounds like a good Plan A!

[Nick Millman]

I always get outbid. If its a kit I'm interested in but don't bid it only sells for £2.99, even if it is as rare as hen's teeth. If I bid on it that gurantees a bidding war where it eventually goes over £20. Either way I don't get it. If there are no bids on it at all 5 minutes from the end time and then I bid on it about ten bidders from France, Germany or Japan suddenly appear and the last minute bidding goes up over £50. I just watched an Airfix Me-110 go for £23 - believe it or not.

Perhaps Ebay might be a much more auction like experience if the seller was allowed to accept a bid when there is no more interest and end the auction without a finish time being specified?

[Simon Cornes]

I always get outbid. If its a kit I'm interested in but don't bid it only sells for £2.99, even if it is as rare as hen's teeth. If I bid on it that gurantees a bidding war where it eventually goes over £20. Either way I don't get it. If there are no bids on it at all 5 minutes from the end time and then I bid on it about ten bidders from France, Germany or Japan suddenly appear and the last minute bidding goes up over £50. I just watched an Airfix Me-110 go for £23 - believe it or not.

Perhaps Ebay might be a much more auction like experience if the seller was allowed to accept a bid when there is no more interest and end the auction without a finish time being specified?

I learn't a lot about E-Bay last year after losing a Hasegawa FB-111A to someone for about £25! I then realised that the 'Maximum Bid' system doesn't mean I pay £50 if I show that as my Max - silly me.

I most enjoy E-Bay when I am after a kit which is available by alternative means, ie its either current or I can find it on King Kit's website. I then know how much it wil cost via those options and then just bid that amount, inc postage to KK or the like and deducting the E-Bayers postage charge, that way I can't lose. Today I lost the Arado 234, but I know I can get it anyway for les than the current maximum bid, so, no matter what happens, I win. On the other hand, last week I was lucky enough to buy a pair of Arado 240's for about £12.50 all in - stunnig and I had no idea when I bid how much those kits should cost - at least £20 fo the pair. I accept though that if you want something that is genuinely not available elsewhere, then its a matter of deciding how much you are prepared to pay - and I admit to paying too much for some things - then putting that in as your max bid and hoping that you get it for less, and if you fail, think how much you have saved! An Airfix 110 for how much? I only want the plastic to build, not as a museum piece!! (Thank God!)

Simon

[The wooksta V2.0]

Ebay can be good for bargains at times. Picked up a few Hasegawa Mossies for about £4-5 each and got three Lancasters for about £15 each (I know the Revell kit's is marginally better but the Hasegawa kit has extra bits which are handy for some what if ones I want to build!)

I do get a good laugh when people bid way over the odds for stuff you can buy off the shelf for half the price.

Back on topic...

The Dragon 234C just needs some TLC around the wing/engine join on top. Keep dry fitting it and add as much filler as it needs. The worst fitting bit is the back of the engine when the complete nacelle is assembled. I think I added a strip of plastic card on the underside to sort out the depth problem. Best advice is to keep dry fitting everything and sanding/filling where you think necessary.

Edited February 9, 2009 by The wooksta V2.0

[GreenDragon]

About the Dragon kit. What Wooksta says is spot on. I'm part way through a P version and if you keep dry fitting/filling/cutting etc. it can go together very well. Though I must admit that one of the exhausts on mine is a little wonky, but if anyone notices I'll just say it's meant to be like that because a ground crewman ran his truck into it!

Cockpit detail is far better than any other 1/72nd Ar234, Dragon includes some etched metal parts but I think Revell doesn't (may have replaced them in plastic?).

The V-1 carrier has a full trapese type fitting to lift the V-1 above the Arado's tail for launch in the Dragon kit but in the Frog kit it's more like it's just plonked on top.

[The wooksta V2.0]

All of the Dragon kits rereleased by Revell had the metal parts replaced with plastic. The best one of the lot was the Me P.1101 Nachtjager, which fitted together easily(!) and came with 4 X4 AAMs and the drop tanks.

The He 111H-20 V1 carrier gave you the launch arms from the Ar 234C V-1 carrier.

[ReccePhreak]

I have one of those for sale or trade, but shipping from "the colonies" over to you might cost more than the kit.

Larry in Florida

[Simon Cornes]

About the Dragon kit. What Wooksta says is spot on. I'm part way through a P version and if you keep dry fitting/filling/cutting etc. it can go together very well. Though I must admit that one of the exhausts on mine is a little wonky, but if anyone notices I'll just say it's meant to be like that because a ground crewman ran his truck into it!

Cockpit detail is far better than any other 1/72nd Ar234, Dragon includes some etched metal parts but I think Revell doesn't (may have replaced them in plastic?).

The V-1 carrier has a full trapese type fitting to lift the V-1 above the Arado's tail for launch in the Dragon kit but in the Frog kit it's more like it's just plonked on top.

Thank you Messrs G Dragon and Wooksta. I think I now have the answer! Dragon it will be then for a C or a B. I read a very brief review on one of the US sites yesterday and the writer mentioned that some of the location pins for joining the nacelle halves together were out of line - this early CAD issue? - so to remove them. I can do that so I think I will keep my eyes open for either a cheap one on E-Bay or via my very reasonably priced local source for just over £13! Thanks very much for the guidance. I can see my next problem being to get hold of adequate supplies of paint! SBX here I go!

Simon

[GreenDragon]

Found these on Modeling Madness that you may want to see, they aren't the best finished I've seen but they'll give you a rough idea about the kits. Dragon Ar234B http://www.modelingmadness.com/scotts/axis/luft/ar234.htm

Dragon Ar234C-3 from Revell boxing http://www.modelingmadness.com/reviews/axis/luft/cai234.htm

Frog Ar234C http://www.modelingmadness.com/scotts/axis/luft/234c.htm

[Simon Cornes]

Found these on Modeling Madness that you may want to see, they aren't the best finished I've seen but they'll give you a rough idea about the kits. Dragon Ar234B http://www.modelingmadness.com/scotts/axis/luft/ar234.htm

Dragon Ar234C-3 from Revell boxing http://www.modelingmadness.com/reviews/axis/luft/cai234.htm

Frog Ar234C http://www.modelingmadness.com/scotts/axis/luft/234c.htm

Thanks GD, those are extremly useful and I have downloaded all 3 to my memory stick so that save them off line on my home PC. They all look pretty good. If anything, the midddle one - Revell Dragon rebox - seems to have a visible join line below the glazing but thats probably more 'modeller' than kit.

At this stage I fancy a B and a C-4 with V1. I can get my mits on the Dragon C for £13 (5004) but I don't think it includes the V1 (5011) and the nightfighter (5012) looks interesting as an alternative. Having said that, I don't fancy spending £45 odd so I might have to be sensible! That may mean Dragon £5004 + either Revell or Matchbox rebox of the Frog kit for £13.50 all in and then use the Dragon kit to scratchbuild the interior! - Ah, proper modelling!

Simon

[GreenDragon]

The dodgy join on Dragons C version cockpit glazing is notorious. I'm still not sure whether to just Fill it and sand or try making some plasticard lips ot something to push the clear part into line. I've had mine since they were first released and still haven't decided how to tackle it!

Hannants are charging £14.67 for the C-3 and it is Limited availability so £13 is a reasonable price from you source. http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=DN5004

Weapons in the C-3/4 box are three 250Kg bombs (I think they're 250's), two drop tanks (marked not for use in the instructions) and one BT400 topedo bomb. Also supplied are the two internal camera's for the C-3. My C-4 will get two tanks and the BT400 for a long range maritime strike when I get round to it.

Paul Harrison

[GreenDragon]

Here's a round up of the weapons etc supplied in the kits I have. All have the internal cameras.

(5003) Ar234B-2 two drop tanks, one 1000Kg Herman bomb, Power Egg Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear

(5012) Ar234B-2N:- two drop tanks, twin gun underbelly pack and RATOG

(9005) Ar234C with Ar381 Julia parasite fighter:- three bombs, two drop tanks, one BT400 torpedo bomb and the Ar381 (no cockpit detail)

(5011) Ar234C with V1:- three bombs, two drop tanks, one BT400 and the V1 with launch trapeze

Paul Harrison

Edited February 12, 2009 by GreenDragon

[Simon Cornes]

Here's a round up of the weapons etc supplied in the kits I have. All have the internal cameras.

(5003) Ar234B-2 two drop tanks, one 1000Kg Herman bomb, Power Egg Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear

(5012) Ar234B-2N:- two drop tanks, twin gun underbelly pack and RATOG

(9005) Ar234C with Ar381 Julia parasite fighter:- three bombs, two drop tanks, one BT400 torpedo bomb and the Ar381 (no cockpit detail)

(5011) Ar234C with V1:- three bombs, two drop tanks, one BT400 and the V1 with launch trapeze

Paul Harrison

Hi Paul, Thanks for the extra info. I thought I'd found a copy of 5011 - with the V1 - yesterday but when I called the shop - Parabellum - it had been sold - I wish these stores kept their lists up to date! I will have a look around today and see whats about. I noticed someone advertising one at about £22 which is getting silly!

Simon