I have been fortunate to make two trips to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM) since it opened the new Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (UHC) at the Washington-Dulles airport in Washington, D.C. As big and as open as it is, there are still lighting problems for photography but not as bad as the "caves" downtown. The photos herein required significant work to overcome these lighting issues, although not always successfully.

When I go photographing at air shows, museums, etc, my primary purpose is to get shots useful for modeling detail. I tend to view color schemes as suspect or better addressed in the literature of history and the hobby. This walk-around is no exception.

Now, I don't "do German" anything and I only do piston prop aircraft. Nonetheless, on one visit, I had card space and time left and weakened for a moment -- although I have to admit, the cockpit detail made me think of straying further. I am aware there is a 1/48 kit of this aircraft and some after-market cockpit detail -- these pictures should allow one to take it to the next level.

The NASM UHC website http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero/aircraft/ardar2.htm provides full details on the aircraft itself. It was one of nine Ar 234s surrendered to British forces in Norway and is the sole surviving example of an Ar 234. It had been on strength with 9/KG 76 during the final weeks of the war. It served earlier with 8/KG 76, the first bomber unit to fly the Blitz, and carries markings typical of that unit.

The aircraft is displayed on the ground level and is very accessible from the front -- there is also a decent catwalk view from above. The camouflage is dark, and combined with the lighting in the UHC, makes post-picture processing mandatory. You can expect crowds -- "I didn't know the Germans had anything like this" -- that may interfere with picture taking.

The pictures fall into five groups, spread across 3 pages:
 

Pix#01-07 are general views of the aircraft. Overall pictures are limited to views from the right rear from a catwalk and any others have to be long range shots from around the floor. The upper surface camouflage is single-color green, not splintered. Pic#04 is of the left wing aileron area, the others are self-explanatory.

Pix#08-11 are engine shots, with Pix#08-09 being of the right engine from the front and Pix#10-11 of the left engine from the rear. Note that Pic#11 also contains a shot of the left rocket pod from the rear thus transitioning into the next group.

Pix#12-16 are shots of the rocket pods. Pic#12 is another rear view of the left pod, while Pix#13-16 address the front and right (outer) side of the right rocket pod. Look at Pic#11 & #13 to see the inner side of the rocket pods. The left-side rocket pod is a mirror image of the right-side pod.

Pic#17 is directly above the forward section.
Pix#18-19 are of the forward and aft sections from the right and above.
Pix#20-23 are from the left side.
Pix#20 gives an overall shot of the left side.
Pic#21-23 offer closer details.
Pix#24-28 are of the right side.
Pic#24-25 give a full shot of the right side & closer detail of the front section.
Pic#26-28 are a "panorama" of the forward, middle, & aft sections of the       cockpit.
Pix#29-32 are up close & personal of the front section of the nose.
Pix#29-30 are the upper half taken from the front-left & front-right sides respectively.
Pic#31 is straight on of the lower section.
Pic#32 is the placard on what I assume is the bombsight. As best I can tell, it sort of says:

Before use of this instrument in the machine take out the stabilizing plate and remove the protective material from the gyroscope & pendulum-motor.

Before transport of this instrument in its case put the protective material back on the gyroscope & pendulum-motor.

Pic#33 is a shot of the nose gear.
Pic#34 is a shot from the right side, under the pod & engine, of the gear and bomb.
Pic#35 is of the right landing gear and the center mount bomb, from the right-front quarter.
Pic#36 is of the left landing gear, from the front-left quarter.
Pix#37-38 are right-side wheel well & gear details.
Pic#39 is of the gear and bomb from the left-rear.

I welcome any comments on style, content, or technique that would improve future submissions.

Model On !!!!