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Arado Ar 66 C


Czech Master Resin, 1/72 scale

 

S u m m a r y :

Catalogue Number:

Czech Master Resin kit number 185 - Arado Ar 66 C

Scale:

1/72

Contents & Media

42 x cream resin airframe parts, 13 x black resin struts & braces, 1 x coloured Eduard photo-etch of 12 parts & 2 x vac-form windscreens

Price:

Available online from Hannants for £26.77, Westcoast Hobbys for Cn$43.00, Redroo Models for Au$43.45, Squadron for US$64.35 and various other CMR stockists.

Review Type:

First Look

Advantages:

Nicely detailed and comprehensive kit.

Disadvantages:

None apparent

Conclusions:

A neat addition for builders of Luftwaffe, SCW or interwar aircraft. The only challenge will be its biplane construction.

 

Reviewed by Mark Davies


CMR's 1/72 scale Arado Ar 66 C is available online from Squadron.com

 

Background

 

Designed in the early 1930’s, the Arado Ar 66 was an important trainer for the early Luftwaffe, and continued in this role during the WW2.

Luftwaffe night harassment groups used it in a more aggressive manner later on the Russian front.

 

 

FirstLook

 

This is a new 1/72 scale tooling of the Ar 66 by CMR. It is packaged in typical Czech end-opening box with attractive box art. The parts and decals are in heat sealed plastic bags, which in turn are sealed in a further bag with the instructions and colour scheme diagrams.

 

  • CMR 1/72 scale Arado Ar 66 C Review by Mark Davies: Image
  • CMR 1/72 scale Arado Ar 66 C Review by Mark Davies: Image
  • CMR 1/72 scale Arado Ar 66 C Review by Mark Davies: Image
  • CMR 1/72 scale Arado Ar 66 C Review by Mark Davies: Image
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Straightforward instructions consist of two A4 pages. A small slip of paper is provided to illustrate the correct wing dihedral. The parts map (for the PE fret only) and constructional illustrations are very clear and easy to follow.  All written instructions and colour call outs are in English.

A further four pages covering colour schemes are supplied. These include one Spanish Nationalist aircraft from 1938, two early war Luftwaffe trainers, and one night harassment aircraft from 1944.

The parts breakdown is completely conventional for a small biplane, although all four ailerons are separate from their wing surfaces. Casting blocks will be easily removed, as will the very thin flash that is present in places. The wing struts and the undercarriage are cast in a black resin. This resin obviously has better load-bearing properties than the cream resin used for the remainder of the kit.

The Eduard-sourced Photo-Etch (PE) fret supplies instrument panels and seat belts, and will serve to dress up the small open cockpits nicely.

 

 

Two sets of vac-form canopy windscreens allow for practice or errors in cutting out.

Decals are typical of CMR, being well registered and suggest good opacity.

 

 

Based on past experience they should be very good to use; but like most Czech decals they will be quite thin and need to be floated into position, as they tend to adhere extremely well once there is no fluid under them.

 


 

Conclusion

 

This is a nicely executed kit of an interesting subject. Being a small biplane it may be a little fiddly to build, but well worth the effort.

 

CMR Models are available online from Hannants in the UK,
Red Roo Models in Australia and quality specialist model retailers worldwide.

Text Copyright © 2009 by Mark Davies
This Page Created on 26 January, 2009
Last updated

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