The Northrop B-49A Manta Ray from my universe. Revell Arado Ar.555

[CSMO]

In the universe in my head, Jack "Mr. Flying Wing" Northrop went all ga-ga when he got access to the plans for the Arado New York bomber.
He got Congress to fork over some cash to develop it as a competitor in the USAF Medium/attack bomber project, competing with the XB-51 and E.E. Canberra among others.



Pratt and Whitney re-engineered the German engines to get much improved reliability and fuel economy. The Air Force issued an initial contract for 100 of the bombers, designated B-49s.  The name Manta Ray was chosen. This aircraft was stationed at the U.S.  Air Force Base in Bittburg, West Germany in March 1950.



This is a very nice kit with no vices at all. I built it OOB, using a fishing weight and two spent .45 Colt slugs for nose ballast.



It has been brush-painted Humbrol #11 Silver. The interior is a mix of Testors Yellow and Model Master Green Zinc Chromates.



The markings are all scraps from the spares box, with the 10th Air Force patch added for a smidgin of color. The serial # reflects 1946 as the year of the purchase contract. From the box-art I figured it would be a fairly large airplane, but it is roughly the size of the Canberra. Here is a shot of it with my just finished Italeri B-57B.



I chose a USAF "whiffer" scheme because I couldn't come up with a plausible Luftwaffe '46 scheme that was uniquely mine.

Adios, Larry.

[Logan Hartke]

I've got to admit, that's the most realistic-looking Ar.555 I've ever seen!

Cheers,

Logan

[TallEng]

An original take on the Revell Arado 555
Looks good like that

Regards
Keith

[pyro-manic]

Nicely done!

[Dizzyfugu]

Cool... hauntingly plausible for the late 40ies. Like the USAF typo on the leading edge 

[sandiego89]

Really well done.  I like it.  Imressive brush skills on a tough color to brush.  Since you commented on the need to give some color, maybe some wing walk marking to give it some color top side- engine technicians would have to climb on top to service the engines.  Or leading edge of the wing and tails in black as an anti-icing boot.  I always find black looks good agianst silver for some relief.   

[Army of One]

Nice work indeed........

[NARSES2]

That's nice mate 

[CSMO]

Really well done.  I like it.  Imressive brush skills on a tough color to brush.  Since you commented on the need to give some color, maybe some wing walk marking to give it some color top side- engine technicians would have to climb on top to service the engines.  Or leading edge of the wing and tails in black as an anti-icing boot.  I always find black looks good agianst silver for some relief.   

I am building a Black B-57B Canberra. I am saving my energy for the Red wing-walk markings on that model. The trick on the paint is to get it stirred and thinned just right and use soft brushes. Adios, Larry.

[Howard of Effingham]

arado ar.555's seem to be catching at the mo' on this site......

but i do like yours though. 

[Captain Canada]

I thought it was alot bigger myself ! Doesn't look it next to the B-57 tho !

Nice work. The bomb bay looks massive !

[Tophe]

The evil Arado on the good side? thanks!

[McColm]

Wow!
Got one of those in my stash. A kitbash with a B-29 would look great.

[MMM]

Nice! Wonder what it would look like with two of the B-36 jet pods in place of those six smaller engines?

[PR19_Kit]

Nice! Wonder what it would look like with two of the B-36 jet pods in place of those six smaller engines?

Someone in the UK SIG did exactly that as I recall. It was on the stand at a recent show.