Arado Ar 234 "Blitz"

[JMSmith]

you don't need to log in, it is set for "ALL" to see

[gamary]

Come on, John, don't be angry. This is only a working template. The actual drawing shows the aircraft in flight, in a very slight dive.

More seriously, it's not that I don't want to: I'm trying to figure out a way to tilt the whole aircraft but keep the wheels and ground in the same position.

Anyway, I like the empty casing explanation. If you fill that thing up with explosives, you'll end up hurting somebody, you know.

Simon, I agree with you about the contrast being too high. I've already changed it so the dark green is lighter. As for the periscope and missing empty SC 1000 fin, they have been corrected too.

[AGNT_Matt]

could it be any more explosive, remember to keep the bombs unarmed for takeoff otherwise well RATO packs...filled with the same fuel combo the Me163 used and a 1000lb'er and the onboard fuel, boy you have a flying Fuel-air bomb looking great though buddy keep up the work.

[gamary]

Here's an updated version. I used John's colour palette, but had to lighten up a bit due to scale effect. Also, I don't want to lower the contrast anymore between the colours, as the illustration would be rather useless if it became an indistinct dark green blob. It's already hard to distinguish the camo scheme here.



I think I'll keep these colours, though. I like them. They're very similar to the ones you used on your Italian Ju 87, Simon.

[Vacajun]

Outstanding work GM!!

[gamary]

Thanks, Joe. I'm still finding it too dark and I'm wondering whether I should do something about that or not.

BH, here's a whizzer, Snafu I:



This is how the a/c looked at Melun in France before being sent to the US on board HMS Reaper.

[BLOWHARD]

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Unless you have Monogram's Arado 234 Blitz book, I'll scan the Watson information for you.
Is that the correct color? I'm not sure if I have any reference for how they were painted as far as color. I had always assumed they were painted in factory camouflage since most of the late war and post way planes look like one overall color although they are really 2 color splinter. But, there doesn't seem to be any sign of overpainting around the crosses. They also look like the RAF plane, WrN140466. It looks like one color too except for the rudder. British dark green? If it is US OD, it was semi gloss? Certainly looks like a higher sheen than what you get with USAAF OD. Interesting subject, and worthy of investigation. I'll see what I can dig up about color.
One thing for sure, Watson brought 4 234s to the states, and photos of 3 of them show white wall front tires. Do at those white walls on there please

Pretty sure the above is WrN 140312 but it's definitely got the white wall
TOP WORK GAMARY!!!

[Baron]

please also add the white walls on the profiles with the german markings! check LEMB bord. there is a great thread with amazing ar 234 pics.

also think that your snafu I doesn't have the correct colours! I think german markings were painted over with a RAF or USAF colours and then US markings were added.

like this: http://www.simmerspaintshop.com/foru...-profiles.html

cheers, simon

[gamary]

Thanks for the heads-up about the whitewall tires, guys! I'll correct the profiles. That is one of the risk of using restored aircraft as reference (but then I had no other reference, so it was better than nothing...!)

This is the pic the profile is based on:



As several profiles showed Jane I and Snafu I in OD (including the only decent one, by RJC I believe), I elected to do the same thing. I've played with the picture (gamma correction, contrast, negative) but could not find anything useful doing that (it sometimes works).

Since we're discussing these planes, I'll add my little bit. I noticed that the periscopes have a colour band painted on them, similar to the colour of the fin tip (yellow?). Curiously, this band seems to have dissapeared on other pictures, when they were in the US. I don't believe the names are painted in the same colour, as they stand out much more. I believe they're white/very ligh grey. The numbers under the tailplane seem yellow.

Also, I just noticed that on the fin tip is written F1 (or F7 or FT?). F1 would make more sense (= KG 76).

[BLOWHARD]

Baron, about the German colors on the US 234s, normally this would make sense. I'm not really sure but those 3, the 2 Watson planes and the one tested by the USN all look very uniform and dark, and shiny too. No signs of overpainting by the markings; markings that are too small to cover the crosses. The planes painted in German camo never seem to be as uniform in color or as shiny. That has me wondering about the true color. Olive Drab doesn't seem right either, it usually photographs much lighter and it isn't shiny at all. These planes were painted, as seen above, in France. My guess has always been British dark green, which the USAAF used to overpaint silver P51s among other planes. Another curious thing are the blue markings. Lighter than standard??? Unless that is orthochromatic film and/or some filtering was used, the blue of the insignia is lighter or less concentrated than the darker upper color or colors.
BUT WHAT COLOR COULD IT BE?????