diff --git a/headlock/c_data_model/array.py b/headlock/c_data_model/array.py
index a0ba88f..9498115 100644
--- a/headlock/c_data_model/array.py
+++ b/headlock/c_data_model/array.py
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ def convert_to_c_repr(self, py_val):
         try:
             return super().convert_to_c_repr(py_val)
         except NotImplementedError:
+            if isinstance(py_val, (bytes, bytearray)) and \
+                    self.base_type.sizeof == 1:
+                return py_val + (b'\x00' * (self.sizeof - len(py_val)))
             if isinstance(py_val, Iterable):
                 payload = b''.join(map(self.base_type.convert_to_c_repr,py_val))
                 return payload + (b'\x00' * (self.sizeof - len(payload)))
@@ -135,20 +138,6 @@ def _get_len(cls):
     def __iter__(self):
         return (self[ndx] for ndx in range(self.element_count))
 
-    @property
-    def val(self):
-        return [self[ndx].val for ndx in range(self.element_count)]
-
-    @val.setter
-    def val(self, new_val):
-        if isinstance(new_val, str):
-            new_val = map_unicode_to_list(new_val, self.base_type)
-        ndx = 0
-        for ndx, val in enumerate(new_val):
-            self[ndx].val = val
-        for ndx2 in range(ndx+1, self.element_count):
-            self[ndx2].val = self.base_type.null_val
-
     @property
     def c_str(self):
         val = self.val
diff --git a/tests/test_c_data_model/test_array.py b/tests/test_c_data_model/test_array.py
index c7f7079..ba358b6 100644
--- a/tests/test_c_data_model/test_array.py
+++ b/tests/test_c_data_model/test_array.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 import headlock.c_data_model as cdm
 from headlock.address_space.virtual import VirtualAddressSpace
-
+from time import time
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -111,10 +111,14 @@ class TestCArray:
 
     def create_int_carray_obj(self, bits, init_val):
         cint_type = cdm.CIntType('i'+str(bits), bits, False, cdm.ENDIANESS)
-        content = b''.join(map(cint_type.convert_to_c_repr, init_val))
+        if isinstance(init_val, int):
+            content = b'\00' * (bits//8 * init_val)
+            size = init_val
+        else:
+            content = b''.join(map(cint_type.convert_to_c_repr, init_val))
+            size = len(init_val)
         addrspace = VirtualAddressSpace(content)
-        carray_type = cdm.CArrayType(cint_type.bind(addrspace), len(init_val),
-                                     addrspace)
+        carray_type = cdm.CArrayType(cint_type.bind(addrspace), size, addrspace)
         return cdm.CArray(carray_type, 0)
 
     def test_str_returnsStringWithZeros(self):
@@ -147,6 +151,29 @@ def test_setUnicodeStr_onPyStr_changesArrayToZeroTerminatedString(self):
         carray_obj.unicode_str = '\u1234\x56\0\x78'
         assert carray_obj.val == [0x1234, 0x56, 0, 0x78, 0, 0]
 
+    def test_init_onVeryBigBytesObject_providesOptimizedImplementation(self):
+        big_array_size = 1000000
+        array = self.create_int_carray_obj(8, big_array_size+1)
+        start_timestamp = time()
+        array.ctype(b'\x00' * big_array_size)
+        assert time() - start_timestamp < 0.050
+
+    def test_setVal_onComplexStructure_convertsBaseType(self):
+        array = self.create_int_carray_obj(32, 2)
+        array.val = [0x01234567, 0x89ABCDEF]
+        assert array.val == [0x01234567, 0x89ABCDEF]
+
+    def test_setVal_onVeryBigBytesObject_providesOptimizedImplementation(self):
+        big_array_size = 1000000
+        array = self.create_int_carray_obj(8, big_array_size+1)
+        start_timestamp = time()
+        array.val = b'\x00' * big_array_size
+        assert time() - start_timestamp < 0.050
+
+    def test_getVal_onComplexStructure_convertsBaseType(self):
+        array = self.create_int_carray_obj(32, [0x01234567, 0x89ABCDEF])
+        assert array.val == [0x01234567, 0x89ABCDEF]
+
     def test_getItem_returnsObjectAtNdx(self):
         carray_obj = self.create_int_carray_obj(16, [1, 2, 3, 4])
         assert carray_obj[2].__address__ \