Disguised Aquatic Eyes in the Sky…1/48 Arado Ar196A-3, Handelsstörkreuzer 3 “Widder”
7/2021
Here´s my dad´s fourth and last seaplane for a while. Italeri kit oob, fit is mostly only mediocre. The gunsight is molded onto the instrument board but was in the way of the windshield. So my dad cut it off and replaced it with a part from the sparesbox. The additinal thin struts in the float area were done with plastic rods. Painted with AK Real Color RLM 72/73/65.
Build thread here
The model shows a seaplane that was stationed on board of the German auxiliary cruiser "Widder", Handelsstörkreuzer HSK-3. This was a civil ship that was converted for military use as a disguised raider. Therefore the seaplane received fake French markings to fool the enemy.
Here´s the history of the ship
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_auxiliary_cruiser_Widder
There are decals from Printscale for the same scheme, suggesting probably the auxiliary cruiser "Komet", HSK-7, which was sunk in 1942.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_auxiliary_cruiser_Komet
25 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Spiros Pendedekas said on March 7, 2021
Excellent build, as always, Reinhard!
Amazing scheme, as well as the story behind it!
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on March 8, 2021
Thank you Spiros!
Dan Lee said on March 7, 2021
Nice build of what was one of the more disappointing kits.
For a moment, I thought it was a Glossy Sea Blue Arado. It wasn't till I took a long hard look at the pics when I saw the RLM71/72 demarcation lines.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on March 8, 2021
Thanks Dan! Yeah, the 70/71 and 72/73 splinter camos look often like a single colour, especially on the real aircraft, looking at original b/w pics.
John Healy said on March 7, 2021
That’s really interesting. You never see that kit built. Thanks for sharing.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on March 8, 2021
Thanks John! At least not that often..
John vd Biggelaar said on March 7, 2021
Another superb result, Reinhard.
Very nice scheme and perfect detailing.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on March 8, 2021
Thanks again John!
Tom Cleaver said on March 7, 2021
That's the MPM kit, released by Italeri. I can assure anyone, that is one really tough build. It's a real battle to just get it together, let alone get it right. So this really excellent result is a real demonstration of skill, experience and talent.
"Liked" (a lot!)
Pedro L. Rocha said on March 7, 2021
Tom, I don’t think Italeri Arado is the same kit as MPM. I have both and definitly Italeri is a lot better in the box. When it comes to build, then judging from your experience with the MPM and Reinhard’s dad experiente with this one then perhaps it’s not that much of an improvement.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on March 8, 2021
Also not sure that it is a rebox of the MPM kit. For sure it´s no up to date kit, more like an old Italeri kit from the 70ies or 80ies.
Pedro L. Rocha said on March 8, 2021
The box I have dates from 2010 when it was released
https://www.scalemates.com/pt/kits/italeri-2675-arado-ar-196a--101732
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on March 8, 2021
My dad´s model is the 2010 boxing and initial release too. The "two-halves shifted" molding reminds of old Italeri kits..
Pedro L. Rocha said on March 7, 2021
Almost all Italeri Arados I see built look good, and yours is one of the best.
However it’s obviously no picnic build experience. The cart is exquisite
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on March 8, 2021
Thanks a lot Pedro!
Haslam Yeoman said on March 8, 2021
Your dad sure has the touch for turning the mediocre into something special.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on March 8, 2021
Thank you Haslam!
Greg Kittinger said on March 8, 2021
Another beauty! I also have French decals to do a 1/72 196 in a similar "disguise," but in a solid blue scheme. I forget which raider it was used on, but resources say it drug a grappling hook beneath it to take out the aerials of targeted prey. Since I build in-flight, I was thinking of adding that, though I haven't found references for how it would look (attachment points, size of hook, etc.)
DE4EVER said on March 9, 2021
🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
Nice and very eye catching build Reinhard.
Good weathering.