US WWII, Arado 196 Seaplane Recognition Model
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $150.00

Original era manufacture. All wood construction, with metal float struts. This was the standard ship-board aircraft used by the Kriegsmarine during WWII, and one of my all time favorite airplanes. It is finished in a semi-gloss dark blue paint, with the letters and numbers AR196 stamped on the underside of one wing. The wingspan measures 9.5 inches, overall length 8 inches, and stands 3.25 inches in height. No damage, no cracks or chips, and has a very solid feel. I have a wonderful childhood memory of one of these aircraft which was on static display at Willow Grove Naval Air Station in Pennsylvania. From the late 1950's until the mid 1960's my father was stationed at this base just outside of Philadelphia. Along route 202, inside the perimeter and next to the base border fence, was a static display of about 10 vintage aircraft, many of them captured enemy planes of WWII vintage. A few of the highlights were a dual seat ME-262, Japanese Kate, Japanese George,  a Japanese Rufe, and an Arado 196 Seaplane. Being Navy Brats, my brothers and I would accompany Dad to the Navy base on occasion, and if we were well-behaved (a minor miracle) Dad would drive down the access road to where these old planes were displayed, park the car and let us kids run around and clamber on the old aircraft. Back in those days no one cared too much about the planes, especially little kids climbing on them, so we had a ball. As we grew older and larger, we were able to gain access to the interiors of some of the planes, I remember climbing into the Japanese Kate, but the Arado sitting up so high couldn't be reached. One day, I worked up the courage to climb the ladder which lead from the top of one of the Arado's floats, up to the wing, which I carefully stepped onto. I couldn't access the Pilots compartment, but the rear gunners position was wide open and I climbed over the side and sat in his seat. Right in front of me were the two twin machineguns which he used to defend his aircraft from attack, and assorted radio equipment lay scattered about, all exposed to the elements, year round.Well one day, while watching a popular kid's afternoon TV show called Sally Starr, they brought a former Luftwaffe pilot on the program who was visiting Willow Grove. During the war he flew off of the cruiser Prinz Eugen, and identified the Arado 196 at our local Navy base as his plane from the war. As the story goes it was removed from the Prinz Eugen prior to her being sent to the Pacific to be destroyed during one of the Atomic Bomb tests back in the day.As I understand, this aircraft is now in Germany undergoing a restoration process and will be on permanent loan there once the task is complete.