What do I need to buy to finish the Arado 96B kit?

The short kit is laser-cut wood parts only. You also need: plans ($88 from Ziroli — 6 sheets plus a 41-page construction guide), standard stock balsa and ply, a 1.5–1.8 cu in engine (gas or 4-stroke glow), cowl, canopy, and retractable landing gear (contact David Andersen at davidpandersen76@gmail.com to confirm availability), 6-channel radio and servos, and iron-on film covering. Email David Andersen first before purchasing anything else.

Where do I get the cowl, canopy, and landing gear?

These are sourced directly from the designer. Email David Andersen at davidpandersen76@gmail.com to ask what is currently available — cowl, canopy, and landing gear may be sold directly or built per the construction guide. His website is mnbigbirds.com but does not have an online store; email is the correct contact method.

What engine does the Arado 96B use?

The plan specifies 1.5 to 1.8 cubic inches. In gas terms this corresponds to approximately 25–30cc — a DLE-30 or EME-28 fits this range well. Equivalent 4-stroke glow engines such as the OS FS-120 Surpass or Saito FA-150T or FA-180T also satisfy the spec. Confirm engine mount dimensions and cowl clearance from the 41-page construction guide before purchasing.

What is the Arado Ar 96B?

The Arado Ar 96B was Germany's standard Luftwaffe advanced trainer throughout World War II, fulfilling the same role as the American AT-6 Texan and British Harvard. A clean, low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear, it trained pilots directly for the Bf 109 and Fw 190. More than 11,000 were produced. David Andersen's RC version took 1st place at the ACRC Fun Scale Contest in 2007 and has been built and competed internationally since.

Kit Cutters Completion Guide

David Andersen Scale Plans — ~1/5 Scale WWII Advanced Trainer

Arado 96B — 86"

The Luftwaffe's standard advanced trainer — what the AT-6 Texan was to American pilots, the Ar 96B was to German ones. David Andersen's 1/5-scale version has won scale contests worldwide.

Buy the Kit — $558.00 See Everything You Need

Wingspan

86 in

Length

~71 in

Scale

~1/5

Wing Area

1,060 sq in

Power

1.5–1.8 cu in

Channels

Skill

Intermediate–Expert

The Luftwaffe's AT-6 — One of WWII's Most Important Advanced Trainers

When Germany needed to bridge the gap between basic flight training and the cockpit of a Bf 109 or Fw 190, it turned to the Arado Ar 96B. A clean, low-wing monoplane with all-metal construction, retractable landing gear, and handling that prepared pilots directly for front-line service. It served throughout World War II as the Luftwaffe's standard advanced trainer — fulfilling the same role the Americans gave to the AT-6 Texan and the British to the Harvard. More than 11,000 were built across multiple factories, and it was also operated by the Romanian, Bulgarian, and Czechoslovak air forces.

David Andersen's ~1/5-scale RC version captures that same clean profile — low wing, enclosed tandem cockpit, inward-retracting main gear — in a built-up balsa and plywood structure backed by a 41-page construction guide. The design took 1st place at the ACRC Fun Scale Contest in 2007 and has been built and flown in competition internationally ever since. It is, as Andersen's plan page notes, "an extraordinary scale subject that flies as well as it looks."

David Andersen Arado 96B 86-inch RC scale warbird in flight

What's in the Box?

Included in the Short Kit

Precision laser-cut balsa and plywood parts — all ribs, formers, and shaped pieces
Wing ribs for both panels
All fuselage formers (complete set per plan)
All complex interlocking parts, labeled and organized

⬇ Download Pack List

Required Separately

Plans — $88 from Ziroli (6 sheets + 41-page construction guide)
Stock balsa sheet and stick wood
Engine — 1.5–1.8 cu in gas or 4-stroke glow
Cowl — email [email protected]
Canopy — email [email protected]
Retractable landing gear — email [email protected]
6-channel radio, servos, and receiver
Iron-on film covering and finishing supplies

Everything Else You Need to Complete This Kit

For model-specific accessories — cowl, canopy, and landing gear — email David Andersen directly at [email protected] before purchasing anything else. His website (mnbigbirds.com) is a plans and reference resource, not an online store — email is the correct contact method.

Plans

From Ziroli — $88

Arado 96B plans

6 full-size plan sheets shipped rolled in a tube, plus a 41-page printed construction guide. David Andersen's original scale drawings — required to build this kit.

Nick Ziroli Giant Scale Plans

Plans are a separate purchase from the short kit. Read the full 41-page construction guide before starting — it covers engine installation, cowl clearance, and retract bay construction specific to this design.

Cowl, Canopy & Landing Gear

Contact designer directly

These are sourced directly from David Andersen. His website (mnbigbirds.com) is a plans and reference resource — there is no online store. Email [email protected] to ask what is currently available and to get the correct specifications before ordering anything else.

Fiberglass cowl	Annular-style cowl for the Ar 96B profile — verify current availability and sizing directly with designer	[email protected]
Canopy	Enclosed tandem cockpit canopy — contact designer to confirm availability	[email protected]
Retractable main gear	Inward-retracting main gear per full-scale design — get unit recommendation from Andersen before sourcing elsewhere	[email protected]
Tail wheel	Fixed or steerable — consult construction guide for spec	[email protected] · Robart
Scale wheels	Main wheel diameter — consult plan set	[email protected] · Robart

Email: [email protected] · Website (reference only, no store): mnbigbirds.com

Engine & Power System

Gas or 4-stroke glow

Plan spec is 1.5–1.8 cubic inches (approximately 25–30cc). Confirm engine mount dimensions and cowl clearance from the construction guide before purchasing. Both gas and 4-stroke glow options satisfy the spec.

Gas engine	25–30cc — DLE-30 (30.5cc) or EME-28 (28cc) fit the plan spec well. Electronic ignition standard on these engines.	Desert Aircraft · Chief Aircraft
4-stroke glow engine	OS FS-120 Surpass, Saito FA-150T, or Saito FA-180T — all within the 1.5–1.8 cu in range	Horizon Hobby · Chief Aircraft
Fuel tank	16–20 oz — Dubro or Sullivan; verify fit within cowled fuselage bay	Chief Aircraft
Propeller	Per engine manufacturer spec — confirm diameter clears cowl opening per construction guide	Chief Aircraft
Spinner	Scale size — must clear cowl opening; consult plan set for diameter	Chief Aircraft

Servos & Radio

6 channels required

Aileron servos	2× 60+ oz-in metal gear ball bearing — one per wing panel	Horizon Hobby · Chief Aircraft
Elevator servo	1× 60+ oz-in metal gear ball bearing	Horizon Hobby · Chief Aircraft
Rudder servo	1× 60+ oz-in metal gear ball bearing	Horizon Hobby · Chief Aircraft
Throttle servo	1× 40+ oz-in	Builder preference
Retract servo	1× matched to retract unit specification — confirm spec with David Andersen when sourcing the gear	Matched to retract unit
Radio system	6-channel minimum per plan specification	Builder preference

Servo torque specs above are conservative estimates for an 86-inch warbird. Verify control surface dimensions from the plan set before finalising servo selection.

Covering & Finishing

Iron-on film covering	Oracover or Ultracote — standard grade appropriate for a scale warbird finish	Horizon Hobby · Chief Aircraft
Balsa filler / sanding sealer	Applied before covering for smooth scale finish	Builder preference
CA glue — thin and medium	Primary adhesive throughout construction	Chief Aircraft
30-minute epoxy	Engine mount, wing joiner, and all primary structural joints	Builder preference
Scale paint	Luftwaffe schemes: RLM 70/71 uppers, RLM 65 undersides is the standard advanced trainer finish. Multiple schemes documented in the construction guide.	Model lacquers — builder preference

Detailed Specifications

Wingspan	86 in (7 ft 2 in)
Length	~71 in — estimated at 1/5 scale from full-scale 9.0 m airframe; verify from plan set
Wing area	1,060 sq in
Scale	~1/5 (20%) — estimated from full-scale 11.0 m (36 ft 1 in) wingspan
Engine spec	1.5–1.8 cu in (24.6–29.5cc) — gas or 4-stroke glow
Landing gear	Retractable main gear, fixed or steerable tail wheel
Min. radio channels	6 (per plan specification)
Construction	Built-up balsa and plywood
Plan set	6 full-size sheets + 41-page construction guide
Plans	Nick Ziroli Giant Scale Plans — $88 (separate purchase)
Accessories	Cowl, canopy, landing gear — email [email protected] (no online store)
Designer contact	[email protected]

Wingspan and wing area from Ziroli plan product page. Length and scale are estimated from published full-scale Arado Ar 96B dimensions — verify both from the plan set before building.

David Andersen

David Andersen is a scale aircraft designer with over 40 years in the hobby — a longtime competitor and judge at major scale events worldwide. His designs are recognised for exceptional flight characteristics and scale accuracy. He has served as newsletter editor for the Scale Flyers of Minnesota and authored Model Airplane Construction Techniques. His catalog spans 16+ designs from WWI through the Cold War era; plans for many are distributed through Ziroli. His website mnbigbirds.com is a free plans and reference resource — contact him directly by email for accessory availability.

Plans from Nick Ziroli Giant Scale Plans ($88) · Accessories: [email protected] · mnbigbirds.com

Get Plans from Ziroli — $88

The Build Journey

The 41-page construction guide is the primary reference for this build — read it completely before starting. The guide covers engine installation, cowl fit, retract bay construction, and paint schemes specific to this design.

Where a short kit saves you time

The Andersen Arado 96B plan includes 6 full-size sheets. All ribs, formers, and complex interlocking parts are defined on those sheets — and tracing and cutting each one from balsa and ply stock is the most time-consuming part of building from plans alone.

Plans only (hand-cut)

Trace all ribs, formers, and shaped parts from the 6-sheet plan set onto balsa and ply stock, cut each piece individually, then begin assembly.

more time, lower part cost

Short kit (laser-cut)

All ribs, formers, and shaped parts arrive laser-cut and labeled. Skip straight to assembly.

less time, cleaner fit

The four stages of assembly

Stage 1: Fuselage Assembly

Built-up balsa and ply fuselage with forward engine bay and aft tail section.

Frame fuselage sides over plan
Install all formers and bulkheads
Firewall and engine mount per guide
Fit servo tray and fuel tank bay early

Stage 2: Wing Assembly

Low-wing design built in two panels and joined at the fuselage.

Rib construction over main spar on flat board
Leading and trailing edge framing
Aileron bay and hinge preparation
Wing joiner and fuselage attachment per plan

Stage 3: Landing Gear, Cowl & Canopy

The most model-specific stage — confirm cowl, canopy, and gear availability with David Andersen before reaching this point.

Retract bay installation per construction guide
Gear door framing and linkage
Cowl fitting and engine clearance check
Canopy rail and glazing installation

Stage 4: Covering & Final Assembly

Tail surfaces, covering, paint scheme, and pre-flight checks.

Build and install tail surfaces
Iron-on film covering — all surfaces
Paint per construction guide colour references
CG check, engine run-in, range test, control throws

Frequently Asked Questions

The short kit is laser-cut wood parts only. You also need: plans ($88 from Ziroli — 6 sheets plus a 41-page construction guide), standard stock balsa and ply, a 1.5–1.8 cu in engine (gas or 4-stroke glow), cowl, canopy, and retractable landing gear (email David Andersen at [email protected] to confirm availability), a 6-channel radio and servos, and iron-on film covering. Email David Andersen first before purchasing anything else.

Plans are sold through Nick Ziroli Giant Scale Plans at ziroligiantscaleplans.com for $88. The set includes 6 full-size sheets shipped rolled in a cardboard tube, plus a 41-page printed construction guide. These are David Andersen's original drawings — the short kit alone is not sufficient without them.

Email David Andersen directly at [email protected]. His website (mnbigbirds.com) is a free plans and reference resource — there is no online store. Email is the correct contact for cowl, canopy, and landing gear availability and specs. The Ziroli plan page directs builders to mnbigbirds.com for accessories, which means contacting David Andersen directly.

The plan specifies 1.5 to 1.8 cubic inches — approximately 25–30cc in gas terms. A DLE-30 (30.5cc) or EME-28 (28cc) fits well. Equivalent 4-stroke glow engines in the OS FS-120 Surpass or Saito FA-150T/FA-180T range also satisfy the spec. Confirm engine mount dimensions and cowl clearance from the 41-page construction guide before purchasing.

Yes. The full-scale Ar 96B had inward-retracting main gear, and the RC model is designed for retracts — reflected in the 6-channel radio requirement. Email David Andersen at [email protected] for specific retract unit recommendations before sourcing elsewhere.

The Arado Ar 96B was Germany's standard Luftwaffe advanced trainer throughout World War II, fulfilling the same role as the American AT-6 Texan and British Harvard. A clean, low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear, it was used to transition pilots directly to front-line fighters like the Bf 109 and Fw 190. More than 11,000 were produced. David Andersen's RC version took 1st place at the ACRC Fun Scale Contest in 2007 and has been built and competed internationally since.

The model spans 86 inches with 1,060 square inches of wing area at approximately 1/5 scale. Fuselage length is approximately 71 inches based on the 1/5 scale from the full-scale 9-meter airframe — verify from the plan set.

Six channels are recommended per the plan specification. A typical assignment is: right aileron, left aileron, elevator, rudder, throttle, and retractable landing gear. Additional channels may be used if you choose to add flaps or other scale functions.

Ready to Build Your Arado 96B?

Buy the 86" Arado 96B Kit — $558.00

Prices and availability are subject to change — verify with each vendor before ordering. Kit Cutters supplies laser-cut wood parts only. Plans ($88) sold separately through Nick Ziroli Giant Scale Plans. Cowl, canopy, and landing gear availability should be confirmed directly with David Andersen at [email protected] — mnbigbirds.com is a reference site, not an online store. Fuselage length and scale are estimated from full-scale Arado Ar 96B dimensions; verify from the plan set before building.

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