1/48 Hasegawa Arado 234 Blitz-After 3 years..Finally Completed

Joe, I’m loving those rivets around the canopy! 

Thanks Nathan! Great to see you hangin' around dude! Got any shots of that Phantom you've been workin' on?

Oh those rivets around the glass look right on! Same for the engine, you are a super detailing machine!

I started up on the engine paint up this morning. I have really come to like these macro shots as I use them as a tool to go back and fix certain things that either I miss or made a mistake on. Found a couple of areas that need some attention in the shot below. Anyways....after a base coat, a very light wash just to bring the details out and a little bit of detail painting this is the latest progress:

Thanks Nick. Dude.....this one's been a long time comin'.

looking goood. thats the way to grab the bull by the horns!!

Bish

Looking nice Joe. Actually i think those rivets look just fine. One thing you might want to consider is a gloss coat over the framing. One thing i learnt when i did the 72nd kit was that the framing was on the inside.

 

. I'll be starting on the engine assembly and painting next. I've been doing my research so as to build as accurate of a 004 as possible. Stay tuned:

Here's where the completed main part of the build is as of now....

Looking nice Joe. Actually i think those rivets look just fine. One thing you might want to consider is a gloss coat over the framing. One thing i learnt when i did the 72nd kit was that the framing was on the inside.

Thanks Ernie. Glad to have you in here!

Well.....I finished the screw head application as of this morning but still need to weather the framing somewhat to tone the brightness of the screw detail down. They pop just a little too loudly.

Love how it’s coming along. Can’t wait to see the finale  

A post just to show that I'm still working on this bad boy....

This morning saw the finish of the aerial antenna and I'm currently working on those painting those 2000 rivets on the cockpit framing. I'm just glad the hard part of this build is now behind me.

Thanks Joe. I'm pretty stoked about detailing that part out as it's always my favorite part of any aircraft or auto build. Just savin' the best part for last.

Despite your trepidations, you have done a remarkable job on your 234 Joe. You are always at the top of your game when it comes to dealing with fit or detail issues. You have certainly given me some heads up and tips should I ever get around to building my Pro Modeler Ar-234 C-3/4, which is the Hasegawa mold. 

Again, I cannot wait to see your efforts on the engine. 

Thanks for staying with it and sharing with us.

Sorry for the absence around here as of late but I've been spending ALOT of time at the bench trying to get this one finished. I'm down to the REALLY short list on getting the base aircraft finished so I can move on to the engine assembly and detailing. Only a few things left like main gear doors and struts, aerial antenna, painting the rivets on the cockpit framing and installing the pitot tube. I mean I've got a little clean up to do here and there but this part of the build is just about to a close. Really stoked about displaying the engine though.

Overall, I've got some mixed feelings about this kit here because of fit issues but mostly because it has now moved into the most difficult kit that I've ever built category. Just really don't care for it even though it's supposed to be the best 234 kit out there. No worries however, I'm saddling up and moving forward and have learned a lot from this build.

Here's where we're at now...…….close.....real close.

Thanks for the encouraging comments fellas! We're down to the "short list" on tidying and finishing up the aircraft itself and then I'll concentrate on the engine build and detailing. The end......is now in sight. And so is my next build.

This one is looking great and you will be super motivated to do more once this one is completed. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted when one that has languished on the bench finally gets done. I'm looking forward to seeing it all buttoned up.

BK

Outstanding Joe. Well done on the "sturdifying" of the landing gear. Everything appears stellar so far.

It is certainly good to see you back building Luftwaffe aircraft. You are definitely in your realm there as you do such magnificent work on them. Although, I do really like your car kits. You're pretty decent at those too.

Nice !  Me too. thats why I made this shiny PT-17, Im been buying car kits again.. but I like to throw in a plane or two lol

FINALLY...………...I've got this bird on wheels. One of the inherent weaknesses of this kit (and there are a few) lies in the main landing gear. Really flimsy parts and allow excessive "wobble" when loaded with the weight of the aircraft. I fixed this by putting a hidden shim between each main landing gear strut and the fuselage opening for the gear bays. I just cut a small square piece of styrene and slipped it between the strut and the rear bay wall. Can't even see it but it worked like a charm in making the main gear ALOT more sturdy. Gear doors have to be painted and installed and some touch ups are needed on the gear after gluing into place as well as a little weathering on the tires but the wheels are now down.

Folks I never thought I'd get this far with this plane. I consider it a small milestone in getting back to aircraft building as it was really hard to break away from the automotive stuff but I'm feel like I'm finally getting back in the groove to where I can at least have an aircraft build going while working on the auto subjects.

N E wayz…..Today's update:

Thanks Max and lawdog!! Been working all week on getting this bird on wheels......

Looks good from my seat. Still really like your approach to the paint, adds enough visual interest to the paint without being overwhelming. 

Thanks Joe and John!

For now pretty much every aircraft I touch is Luftwaffe. Maybe one day I'll venture out but right now I'm having too much fun with 'em.

That looks really nice.  Super clean assembly and a great paint job.  I'm about to cut my teeth on an Bf-109 - first German bird since... er... 21 or so???  

Nice progress Joe. The fading you did looks good to me.

Thanks Martin. Well......It's finally getting worked on anyway.

That looks pretty damn god to me, nice to see the markings on.

Thanks Nathan and Nick. 'Preciate the kind words.

Dang Nathan! It's been while since I've seen you around here. Welcome back!!

looking as it should .. super job Joe..