KP (ex-Kopro-MasterCraft) 1/72 Arado Ar96B
This is KP’s Arado Ar96B but boxed by Kopro-MasterCraft. The original KP kit was released in 1980. I have had KP kits in my stash years ago but never built them and got rid of them. But recently I picked up a few of them after seeing a few builds in this site and in others. To me they did not look like bad kits but it was obvious that they do need some work so I decided to give them a try.
This individual kit is not that bad, there were a few parts that needed some minor flash to be removed. There was some minor gaps and fits that needed some attention but was easy to dealt with. The overall shape looked accurate, it has fine raised details, goes together rather well and was an enjoyable build. I also have the Heller kit of this aircraft which is a fine kit with a more accurate shaped canopy but the KP kit has this fine raised details that more accurately captures the panels lines, access/service panels and an enclosed wheel well.
My build is no way a show stopper but I do like it very much. I did a lousy job with the black painted areas but the it does look happy on my shelf.
The actual aircraft seamed to be popular, used for training and for some light bombing. Even though this is a German designed/built aircraft, Avia built the most later on. Some were also built in France.
9 additional images. Click to enlarge.
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- 1. I did added some stretched sprues to the cockpit sidewalls, little boxes and levers to give this area some life….
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- 1. Used a decal sheet from another kit for this build.
Jeff Bailey said on October 9, 2021
Nicely done, Bob. And it's a bit unusual, too. I've never seen one like that.
Bob Torres said on October 9, 2021
Thank you Jeff, true this is one plane that gets ignored.
Spiros Pendedekas said on October 9, 2021
A beautiful build, Bob! It is really nice to tackle somehow older kits and come up with such great results!
Loved the "busying up" of the cockpit walls with stretched sprue.
The finished model looks awesome.
Well done!
Bob Torres said on October 9, 2021
Thank you Spiros, I enjoy working on the older kits more than the newer ones.
John vd Biggelaar said on October 9, 2021
Very nice build, Bob @v1pro
Absolute great improvement on the cockpit which otherwise would have looked empty.
Not so often seen aircraft, but it has great looks.
Bob Torres said on October 9, 2021
Thank you John, that big canopy even though not very clear can still show the empty look if I did not add something to it.
Pedro L. Rocha said on October 9, 2021
I don’t think I’ve seen a model made from this kit until yours here Bob. Thanks for sharing
Bob Torres said on October 9, 2021
Pedro thank you, definitely an ignored kit.
Bernard Bedeur said on October 9, 2021
Great work, the cockpit enhancements are inspiring for 1/72 builds. Great idea.
Nice plane
Bob Torres said on October 9, 2021
Thank you Bernard.
Jay Mitchell said on October 9, 2021
Nice work, Bob@v1pro, the added detail looks great!
Bob Torres said on October 9, 2021
Thank you Jay!
Colin Gomez said on October 9, 2021
Very well done little model in a nice diorama backdrop, Bob. As others have mentioned, you don't see many of these built. I think the Ar 96B has really nice lines and it is great to see one built. Kopro kits can be a little rough but the shapes are often quite good and modelling skills can really make them shine. The decals look really good, which surprises me for a Kopro kit. Then again, this looks like a newer KP kit. I am used to those of an earlier vintage with aging paper, etc. Great job, anyway.
Bob Torres said on October 9, 2021
Colin, thank you. This build was not the original KP, it was the later packaged Kopro-MasterCraft kit so the decals qualities are much better. Yes you are right about the older KP decals, most are pretty bad.
George R Blair Jr said on October 9, 2021
Unusual kit, done well, Bob (@v1pro). It reminds me of the German fighter that was chasing Sean Connery and Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Bob Torres said on October 9, 2021
Thank you George, this plane reminding me about the same thing. I was thinking of the Bf-108’s used as a Bf-109 in some war movies. The Arado Ar.6 can fill in that role pretty easily.
DE4EVER said on October 9, 2021
🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
Nicely done Bob.
Not much seen and more yet in this guise.
Bob Torres said on October 10, 2021
Thank you. True this aircraft is not made too often.
Robert Royes said on October 10, 2021
A nice build, looks great!
Bob Torres said on October 11, 2021
Thank you Robert.
George Williams said on October 11, 2021
Looks great, Bob, and the background really sets it off, definitely liked.
Bob Torres said on October 11, 2021
Thank you George, I like the sock in the background so the pilot can view the wind direction.
Greg Kittinger said on October 11, 2021
A nice-looking build of a subject not seen often! Well done.
Bob Torres said on October 11, 2021
Thank you Greg.