Arado Ar 196B
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Kit Review
Revell released the twin-float Ar 196A back in late 2010, well now they have gone to all the effort of producing the single-float B-series.
Inside the box, which is of their usual end-opening (floppy) style, you will find a single clear sprue and nine moulded in a light grey colour. The B-series only ever existed via the V3, V4 and V5 prototypes, as it was felt that the wing-tip floats of the type were likely to 'dig-in' during choppy conditions, so the A-series was put into production. If you have made the A-series then most of what you find in this kit will be familiar. The kit retains all that lovely interior detail, although we think you can dispense with adding the gun and associated ammo drums in the rear cockpit, as the V3 , V4 and V5 were never armed; you can probably also leave off the wing root guns as well in stage 10. The option to have the wings folder or extended is still included. The main revisions are the inclusion of the wing tip floats and the single unit in the centre. You also have the option of two or three-blade propellers, although most of the images I have seen of D-OVMB (the option in the kit) only show it with the two-blade unit fitted.
As already stated, the only option in this kit is the V4, D-OVMB and the kit decals include all the unique markings but they lack the large swastikas for the band/disc across the tail and rudder.
Conclusion
This is an unusual choice by Revell, but it makes sense if you consider the expense they went to to create the A-series. This one should build as well as that version, as they share so many common parts and we like the inclusion of the display stand, if only every seaplane kit came with one! Highly recommended to all Luftwaffe modellers.
Our thanks to Revell GmbH (UK Branch) for the review sample, for more details about this and all other Heller products by visiting www.revell.de/en.
Revell released the twin-float Ar 196A back in late 2010, well now they have gone to all the effort of producing the single-float B-series.
Inside the box, which is of their usual end-opening (floppy) style, you will find a single clear sprue and nine moulded in a light grey colour. The B-series only ever existed via the V3, V4 and V5 prototypes, as it was felt that the wing-tip floats of the type were likely to 'dig-in' during choppy conditions, so the A-series was put into production. If you have made the A-series then most of what you find in this kit will be familiar. The kit retains all that lovely interior detail, although we think you can dispense with adding the gun and associated ammo drums in the rear cockpit, as the V3 , V4 and V5 were never armed; you can probably also leave off the wing root guns as well in stage 10. The option to have the wings folder or extended is still included. The main revisions are the inclusion of the wing tip floats and the single unit in the centre. You also have the option of two or three-blade propellers, although most of the images I have seen of D-OVMB (the option in the kit) only show it with the two-blade unit fitted.
As already stated, the only option in this kit is the V4, D-OVMB and the kit decals include all the unique markings but they lack the large swastikas for the band/disc across the tail and rudder.
Conclusion
This is an unusual choice by Revell, but it makes sense if you consider the expense they went to to create the A-series. This one should build as well as that version, as they share so many common parts and we like the inclusion of the display stand, if only every seaplane kit came with one! Highly recommended to all Luftwaffe modellers.
Our thanks to Revell GmbH (UK Branch) for the review sample, for more details about this and all other Heller products by visiting www.revell.de/en.
