PAV72014 Arado Ar 231 V1 "Float" 1/72

Kit has detailed resin parts, recessed panel lines, photo-etch details, vacu or injection-molded clear parts - canopy.
(injection-molded plastic kit). Limited edition. *****

The prototype of submarine-borne light reconnaissance plane.
plastic parts: 43, resin parts: 0, vacu canopy: 1, photo-etched: 43
1 version decals (Luftwaffe)

The submarine-borne aircraft idea dates back to World War One. A dismantled observation float plane was to be carried in a water-tight hangar aboard a submarine. The plane was to be erected on the water surface, to search from the air for suitable targets, or to warn the submarine against enemy warships Such planes were to enlarge the modest horizon of submarines - their worst shortcoming. German Navy command considered float planes for its large class XI submarines. By means of the headquaters of such plane from the Arado aircraft company.
The first prototype, designated Arado Ar 231 V1, flew for the first time on 25th April 1941. It was small an all-metal, high-wing float seaplane powered by an Hirth HM-501 six-cilinder air-coled engine rated at 160 hp. An unusual feature of the construction was an angled wing centre section enabling the wing to fold above the fuselage. The metal floats were folded along the fuselage. The dismantled Ar 231 was to be housed in a 2 m diameter tubular hangar aboard a U-boat. The process of dismantling the Ar 231 by a trained crew occupied about six minutes, erection taking a similar time. The five remaining prototypes of the Ar 231 were also built. None of the trials of the six prototypes were successful, as the characteristics of them both in the air and on the water were found entirely unacceptable. For that reason no series Ar 231 was built.