Arado Ar-234 Blitz and Heinkel He-343

[Weaver]

There are definitely plenty of WHIF ideas for the Ar-234 series. 

Another option in lieu of the rocket launcher devices could be to use the 50mm rockets and launcher from the Me-262 under the wings of the Ar-234 and double stack the rockets for an increased weapons load.  Great for ground attack or bomber formations. 

How about a gun nose Ar-234?  Move the cockpit back and up so that you could fit a standard cockpit and wind screen/canopy from an Me-262 or similar aircraft and put a solid nose on the Arado and fit a battery of six 30mm cannons in the nose. 

What about a naval version armed with a torpedo fitted under the fuselage, folding wings, and tail hook?

Interesting - the gun nose version would end up looking a bit like a straight-wing Vautour A. The canopy off a late Meteor might look about right, since it sits "on" the fuselage, rather than "in" it, and the Airfix/Xtrakit F.8 has alternatives, so one is spare anyway. One question might be "what's the point?", i.e. what can a gun-nose Ar-234 bring to the party that an Me-262 can't? However, the Arado has the four-engine option and this could allow it to carry a much bigger gun battery. For all it's hitting power, the 262's 4 x Mk.108 battery wasn't ideal due to the low velocity of the guns, so how about the Arado having say, two long-barrelled 37mm, which can engage a US bomber from outside it's defensive range, plus two MG-151s?

[kitnut617]

However, the Arado has the four-engine option and this could allow it to carry a much bigger gun battery. For all it's hitting power, the 262's 4 x Mk.108 battery wasn't ideal due to the low velocity of the guns, so how about the Arado having say, two long-barrelled 37mm, which can engage a US bomber from outside it's defensive range, plus two MG-151s?

Not to mention that it could carry a lot more fuel so could stay aloft for longer periods of time

[sequoiaranger]

Another whif/semi-real Ar-234 would be one in which a "Nebelwerfer"-type rotary cylinder of rockets would protrude below the fuselage (only one chamber protruding at a time as it rotates). Maybe even one mounted upward and slanted forward as a "Schrage Muzik" application.

PS--I am adding onto this thread in lieu of adding on to the other, more recent thread. No offense intended.

[jcf]

two long-barrelled 37mm, which can engage a US bomber from outside it's defensive range, plus two MG-151s?

The Germans moved beyond the 30mm weapons to various 50 and 55mm types, the 'long-range' sniping notion with a high velocity 50mm was tried
with little result. The correct firing solution was very hard to achieve with both the gun platform and the target in motion within the atmosphere.
It would probably be relatively easy with a decent fire control computer, however the Germans didn't have such an animal at the time.
The majority of the 50 and 55mm weapons were large and heavy, resulting in a noticeable degradation in the performance of the aircraft
from the added drag and weight.

Batteries of unguided rockets would probably have been more effective, especially if carried in disposable pods.
Fly up, launch a volley of rockets, drop the pods and rely on speed to get away from the escorts.

Jon

[elmayerle]

Y'know,   that aircraft would likely also look great with a pair of gas turbines driving contraprops. 

I like the DB-605's on it!

Turboprops like the DB-021 that was proposed for a development of the Me-262B?  I could see that fitting nicely on the Ar-234, especially for a version intended to be aloft longer (say as a naval AEW bird).

[jcf]

Just as with the Me-262s a while back, how about a piston engined version?



Regards,

Greg

Ar 240 A-01 style nacelles would be a good basis for a turboprop 234.



Jon

[kitnut617]

Y'know,   that aircraft would likely also look great with a pair of gas turbines driving contraprops. 

I like the DB-605's on it!

Turboprops like the DB-021 that was proposed for a development of the Me-262B?  I could see that fitting nicely on the Ar-234, especially for a version intended to be aloft longer (say as a naval AEW bird).

Unicraft Models has a 1/72 turbo-prop conversion for the Me.262 and they also have similar nacelles to do a Ar.234 turbo-prop too

[GTX]

Courtesy of Justo Miranda:



Regards,

Greg

[Daryl J.]

Somehow, painting this machine above Kawasaki Ninja Green and sending it to Reno for a race seems just about right.


Daryl J.

[PR19_Kit]

Did anyone produce a kit of this original variant, the one with no landing gear?

It used a 3 wheeled trolley for take-off and skids for landing. Or better, is there (or was there) a conversion kit of the trolley and skids? I'm talking 1/72 scale here.

[frank2056]

Did anyone produce a kit of this original variant, the one with no landing gear?

It used a 3 wheeled trolley for take-off and skids for landing. Or better, is there (or was there) a conversion kit of the trolley and skids? I'm talking 1/72 scale here.

I don't think so. Your best bet is probably to go with an Ar-234B, modify it and use the trolley from the He-162 + Ar E.377 kit. The trolley is similar to the Ar234A trolley, but has an extra wheel on each side.

Frank

[Doc Yo]

 And if you can't find that one, there is a similar trolley in the older MPM Me 262 Mistel kit.

[PR19_Kit]

Frank and Doc,

Thanks for the pointers, I'm on the trail now. Hannants have the Mistel 5 kit in stock too.....

[sequoiaranger]

I looked down over 15 pages of threads and did not see another like it. If this is a "repeat" of a former thread, forgive me, pull up the old Ar-234 thread, and I will delete this one.

Which 1/72 Ar-234 is "the best"?

My old Lindberg one (1960's) seems to have the right fuselage cross-section (an oval). The later FROG and even the respected DML versions seem to have a "D"-shaped fuselage, with the flat section on top. Looking at photos of real AR-234 aircraft, they DON'T seem to be flat on top. Obviously the Lindberg one is crude and "dated", but...is it the most "accurate" fuselage-wise??

SOMEDAY I will make an Ar-234 whif, with some sort of "Nebelwerfer" revolver armament. Don't hold your breath for it to appear, but another recent thread got me thinking (ALWAYS dangerous!).

I included the He-343 in the topic, as they look similar (obviously different designers and manufacturers).

[frank2056]

I looked down over 15 pages of threads and did not see another like it. If this is a "repeat" of a former thread, forgive me, pull up the old Ar-234 thread, and I will delete this one.

Which 1/72 Ar-234 is "the best"?

The Dragon series is the best overall. Their kits include the AR 234B and its many variants and the Ar 234C family and its variants, including the solid nose Ar 234P. The Ar234B at the Smithsonian has a flat top and the DML kits look good compared to it. I don't see any major shape issues. The DML kit does have some annoying fit issues, though. The only major shape issues I've seen is with the additional parts to some of the kits. The gun pod on the Ar 234N night fighter (and the details of the RO "cockpit" hatch) are off. Both are easily corrected. The Ar E.381 "Julia" that comes with one of the Ar 234C kits is a mix of a couple of prototypes and the V-1 that comes with another Ar 234C kit looks a little off in the details.

I included the He-343 in the topic, as they look similar (obviously different designers and manufacturers).

The He 343 was a direct descendant of the Ar 234. It was literally an enlarged version of the Ar 234. There are two models I know of - the Air  Model 1/72 vacuform kit and the Special Hobby resin kit. The AirModel vac comes with a resin wafer for the detail parts.

Frank