Revell 1/72 Arado Ar 555 by Roland Sachsenhofer

Revell's 1/72 scale
Arado Ar 555

by Roland Sachsenhofer

Arado Ar 555

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Description

This is a fictitious aircraft, although it could have been made flying.

Configured as heavy bomber with crew of three, it was intended to carry a bomb load of 4000kg with a range of 5000 kilometres at a maximum speed of up to 680 km/h. If it would have achieved these requirements, it would have been quite a respectable bombing aircraft for its time. So it is in every respect a most welcomed fact that the war was lost before the plans of the Ar.555 could be turned to a flying prototype.

It seems quite curious, that Revell transferred these plans into a very reasonable and well executed model in 1998- making all those lucky, who enjoy to build something unusual.

The surfaces are structured with quite plausible and convincing details, the fictional but credible cockpit as the wheels and wheel wells are showing appropriate detail. I did some further detailing with copper wire and some spare-etched parts. Hypothermic needles replaced all six gun-barrels.

Although I did use the excellent decals –a bomber of KG 100- I decided to show a self-invented camo-scheme. This home-brewed colouring reminds of the B-29 flown in Korea on night bombing missions. I liked the look and I think, it should outline the bat-like shape of the Ar.555 in a good way.