Ar234 Monographs 3D edition Volume 2 / Kagero

[JeroenPeters]

Kagero Monographs 3D Edition #62 (3062)

Arado Ar 234 Blitz Vol.II

 

Publisher: Kagero

Written by: Marek J. Murawski and Marek Rys

 

Available here from Kagero for € 21,97

 

 

Today I’m taking a look at another unbeatable title from Kagero’s growing Monographs 3D Edition range. It’s the second volume on the Ar234. Where the first volume (click here to read the review on Volume I) focusses mainly on the earlier types and it’s 3D renderings on the cockpit and wheelbays, this volume picks up with the later types and 3D renderings of the engines, exterior details and external storage. It’s the volume that I was waiting for… The book features 115 pages filled with drawings, period photographs, 3D renderings and profiles. As a modeler these series provide me with all the intell I need. As an amateur 3D artist I can only marvel at the amount of work, research and craftmanship that go into the renderings…

 

 

Introduction

As always I’ll take you through the book chapter by chapter, so you’ll know exactly what you’ll get for your money. The smooth heavy paper and soft cover are typical of Kagero’s publications. As is the sense of quality, the in-register printing, and solid design. Inserted behind the cover is a foldable A2 drawing of the later Ar234C-series in scale 1/32. A nice touch, but to his day we don’t have a 1/32 kit of the C-series. But who knows? Fly might decide to widen their 234-line? Or maybe Radu? Next tot his set of drawings, there are two additional A2 sheets with line art taken from the original maintenance books. But more on these later.

 

 

Other projects

The first chapter deals with the various trials and prototypes the Ar234 saw. From bomber, to recon, to nightfighter, to V1 towing vessel. It illustrates the decision-less state of the Luftwaffe in the latter stages of the war.

 

 

Ar234 in service with reconaissance units

The Ar234 is often mistaken for a Luft’46 plane that hardly saw any combat. It did however in quite a few roles. The first was as a fast recon plane, without any built in armament. Speed that was obtained by the two Jumo engines, and RATO packs for extra speed during the volnurable take offs. This chapter gives us a range of witness accounts during operations, adorned with  detailed information, like dates and plane codes. One short pilot note describes the encounter with a british Mosquito that flew in the opposite direction. Since the Mosquito had spent all it’s ammo, and the Ar234 recon plane didn’t have any ammo to begin with, all the two pilots could do was wave at eachother.

 

Ar234B bombers in service with Kampfgeschwader 76

The Ar234 bombers were exactly that. Bombers. And like the recon version of the Ar234 they didn’t carry any machine guns. They were able to carry bombs under each engine gondola and one under the fuselage. This wasn’t a widely known fact amongst the allied forces, which caused some allied fighters to flee, upon encountering one of these strange looking jets. Again numerous eye witness accounts, dates and data give us an idea of the bomber missions these planes carried out.

 

Drawings

The next chapter is filled with original drawings from the Luftwaffe maintenance manual. Varying from the airframe construction, spars, landing gear, control surfaces, fuel system and cockpit layout. Photographs and drawings from these old manuals can prove pretty useful to a modeller, since they were enhanced and touched up to provide a better sense of detail and construction to the (ground)crew. As a matter of fact I myself used these drawings to scratch build some detail on my own 1/32 Fly model (like the entrance hatch).

 

 

 

 

3D renderings!

And here we go. Starting at page 57 the 3D renderings take center stage. Starting with a beautiful 3D model of the Jumo 004 engine. Great to figure out how to add some wiring. If you plan to open up an engine bay, this is where to start. The renderings show us the attachment to the wings and give us a good sense of colour. 

 

 

 

These renderings are followed up by some exterior details, like the brake parachute installation, rudder, stabilizer control horns, Peil G6 radar (note not all Ar234B’s carried these!), power sockets in the fuselage, Lotfe 7K bombsight mirror tube (very nice indeed!) and steps and grips.

 

 

 

 

On a bit of a critical note, some details are zoomed in to such extend, that pixilation in the fuselage textures become visible. Like the wire antenna spring at the base, which is soo small that all is forgiven.

 

 

 

Details that are invaluable are the external store racks that carried either bombs or fuel tanks.

You might also want to take a good look at the Rato packs. The ones’ Fly Models provide are nice and all, but you might want to buy some MDC resin ones’ from Radu’s model. They are more detailed and accurate. This piece did not have flushed rivets and looked medieval in real life with rivets like warts.

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet stuff all around when at page 92 full renderings take up the pages. Both the Ar234B as the Ar234C get the attention they deserve. All we can hope the C will be covered in glorious 32^nd scale.

 

Additional A2 Drawings

As said in the intro we get three huge black and white sheets with drawings. Two of them with ww2 era drawings, giving us the detail on gear and cockpit. On the rear we find a full set of plan views of the Ar234C-3 in 1/48 scale. This makes sense, since Revell has this kit in this scale in their range. Perfect when you plan to rivet your model. Whether these are 100% accurate I don’t know, and have no way of checking. I’ll leave that to the rivet-counters. The final set shows plans of the Ar234C-3 in 32^nd scale revealing all panel lines and rivets. A nice offering, and I don’t want to say it again, but I will nonetheless: I hope this variant pops up in our scale soon!

 

 

 

 

Verdict

I totally love these 3D series and can’t get enough of them. The fact that Kagero deemed it worth to cover the Ar234 in two volumes illustrates their affection for this machine. The super low price of just over 20 euro’s makes me wonder if they can justify all the work that must go in the 3D renderings, but looking at the ever growing list of titles in this series, I guess it does!

I can only rate this book a solid 9 out of 10! You plan on building an Ar234 in 72^nd, 48^th or 32^nd scale?? Get both volumes. They’re worth it J

 

Our sincere thanks to Kagero for the review sample. Get your copy here.

 

Jeroen Peters

[James H]

Dammit, I wish I'd had that book when I built my Ar 234.

 

Looks a seriously nice title, and those renders look great.

[wackyracer]

Ordered both V1 and V2 last week. Awaiting their arrival! Fly kit maybe making an appearance soon.