Arado 240 V12

[PR19_Kit]

This'll be the build of an engine test bed Ar 240, and I got the kit y'day as otherwise I've got no models to build here at my 'country home' while my Dragon MRA1 is awaiting the paint shop.



It's a strange kit, as it has bits for two different types included, some of which are ignored in the instructions, they're not even on the sprue diagram.    As far as I can make out the red outlined bits, with the longer fuselage    and the 4 bladed props, are for a night fighter version as it has some radar aerials on the same sprue. The green outlined bits are the ones they call out on the instruction sheet, and are for a more 'basic' fighter/bomber version.



Naturally I'm going to ignore all that stuff and build it with a normal fighter fuselage, but with the long tail. I may even graft some of the short tail on to make the long tail even longer! 

And it'll have a Merlin in one of the engine nacelles too, just because they could do things like that, and so can I. Guess where the spare DB 601 will end up?

But just to be different the 'normal' Ar 240 has those geeky ducted spinners, very cool, eh?

[jcf]

Technically the kit could be built as an Ar 440. After the Ar 240 V10 was used as the 240 C nightfighter prototype it was reused as the prototype for the 440. 
The proposed Ar 240 E high-altitude bomber was to have the span increased to 19m (62' 4").

[Freightdog862]

The Revell Arado 240 had passed me by, I had no interest in the kit, but know I see it has the nightfighter bits in the box it is strangely appealing!

Colin

[PR19_Kit]

The proposed Ar 240 E high-altitude bomber was to have the span increased to 19m (62' 4").

Nearly enough.   

[jcf]

In regards to a Merlin, a more
conventional chin-radiator installation was proposed for the V4 to V7 but it wasn't used. I have a drawing that I'll scan and post.

[PR19_Kit]

In regards to a Merlin, a more conventional chin-radiator installation was proposed for the V4 to V7 but it wasn't used. I have a drawing that
I'll scan and post.

The cooling of the Merlin when fitted to the Ar 240 was concerning me. I couldn't see the RLM fitting the wing mounted radiators from a captured Spitfire, there's just not enough wing handy to fit them. The chin radiator would be a feasible solution.

In general terms swapping these two engines isn't as straightforward as it looks because one aircraft is a low wing and the other is a high wing. The wing surface itself is part of the cowling of the Ar 240 installation and that's just not there on a Spitfire.

More thought required...........

[zenrat]

You'll find a way.

[NARSES2]

Always liked the Ar 240 

[PR19_Kit]

I'm afraid I don't have the oomph to do this one, not like I felt about the Dragon. It's difficult to get my brain into gear to do it. 

Cov Show next weekend, that may trigger me off.

[jcf]

This is the chin intake Ar 240 drawing, no clue as to engine, but what appers to be an
engine mount is visible and set quite aways back. 'Tis a mystery.

You cannot view this attachment.

[PR19_Kit]

That looks quite good, I may give that a try, thanks.

[Wardukw]

It's a twin     
Didn't the AR 240 have an air brake built into that long tail 🤔
The soft squishy thing seems to remember seeing that or might have been another German twin .

[PR19_Kit]

It's a twin     
Didn't the AR 240 have an air brake built into that long tail 🤔
The soft squishy thing seems to remember seeing that or might have been another German twin .

Yes, it did. Those two 'fin' things above and below the fuselage right at the aft end split apart, port and starboard, to act as dive brakes, because of COURSE every aircraft in the Luftwaffe had to be capable of dive bombing naturally..................... 

The mechanics of them must have been pretty close to those of the Buccaneer in more recent years, but sadly I've yet to see a pic of them in the open position, and that would make a nice change to a 'standard' model.

[zenrat]

Perhaps they only opened when the  one-nutted lunatic was looking.
"oh crap, he's here again.  Willy, flap the tail linkage adjustment doors a few times and tell him they're a dive brake..."

[PR19_Kit]