CliffB Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 My entry for the GB will be a 1/72 Huma Gotha Go.145 These (and other light aircraft), were fitted with bomb racks and exhaust flame dampers and used for night harassment raids. I'll be using this Owl decal sheet. To be honest, I was first attracted to the sheet by the black and white Gotha at the bottom. However, when the sheet arrived I discovered that this particularly aircraft came from the Eastern front, Winter 1942/43 - so too early for the GB (I seeing this model as being part of the land war). Fortunately, the scheme above it represents an aircraft in Spring 1945. In fact, this aircraft is particularly interesting. It was actually a training aircraft used by 5./SG III to train the night harassment pilots, but towards the end of the war, to quote Owl, 'the instructors and most capable educatees flew operational sortees with the unit's planes'. So it seems to capture the desperate nature of the German defence pretty well. In 1/72, the squiggle camouflage will require sublime air brush control and application - alternatively, I might be better off handing it over to my 3 year old grandson (squiggles are his forte).... Unfortunately, I've got two other projects to finish before starting on this, so please don't expect any progress until just a few weeks before the end. I will be back though and will be keenly following the other GB builds along the way. Cheers Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxidad Posted January 19, 2013 Share Posted January 19, 2013 An interesting project - good luck with the airbrush and that camo pattern! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Good luck, indeed, Cliff! I have this kit and decal sheet, but I'm going to opt for the black/white scheme as I find that quite attractive (and frankly I don't think I'm up to the squiggles!). I shall be watching with interest!  Regards,  Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Interesting.... the fw58 scheme caught my eye but looking forward to the squiggles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike N Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Very interesting choice Cliff. I really had no idea that such aircraft were in use late in the war, let alone for offensive operations. That scheme looks challenging but the end result will be very rewarding, so good luck and looking forward to seeing it progress!  Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smuts Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Hi Cliff, now that's unusual, what a great subject   Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 Nice one, that camo is going to be fun! Â I love the look of them Fw.58's too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted January 20, 2013 Author Share Posted January 20, 2013 Thanks everyone. Â Yes, there are some other good schemes on that decal sheet. Â I've also got an unmade Ar.66 in my stash, but unfortunately that scheme is not so inspiring! Â The concept of using slow flying biplanes for night harassment (started by the Soviets?), was continued into the Korean War where the North Koreans used Polikarpov Po-2's to good effect (destroying/damaging a number of US Mustangs and Sabres on the ground). Â Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 (edited) Cliff, I believe it was the Soviets who started the large-scale use of obsolete/slow/training aircraft for night harassment raids during WWII using the U-2 biplane trainer and utility aeroplane (it wasn't officially called the Po-2 until 1944, after Nikolai Polikarpov's death, so it was used under this designation during the Korean Conflict). The Germans copied this as although the actual material damage was relatively small, the harassment value was great as it deprived the Germans of sleep. The Germans called the U-2's "Duty Sergeants". The Germans first started using obsolete aircraft and training aircraft in 1942, with the Storkampfstaffeln, which then became the NachtSchlachtGruppen in 1943(?), which continued in use until the end of the war. Besides the Ar-66 and Go-145, the Germans used the He-46 and Fw-58 Weihe, as on the Owl decal sheet, the He-50, the Letov S.328 (with the Storkampstaffeln), the Cr.42 (in Italy and the Balkans), the Ju-87, the Hs-123, and even the Hs-126. No doubt there are other aircraft I'm not remembering, and perhaps someone who knows more about the German night harassment units can add to this. It was quite an assortment of aircraft, and someday I'd like to reproduce all these types in model form (I already have the Ju-87 and Hs-123 completed, and an old resin RS He-46 nearly completed). The Go-145 is definitely on my list.  Regards,  Jason Edited January 20, 2013 by Learstang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Jephcott Posted January 20, 2013 Share Posted January 20, 2013 A very interesting choice and an interesting kit too! Looking forward to seeing this one develop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldhouse Posted January 21, 2013 Share Posted January 21, 2013 Very good choice !! Thats a very interesting aircraft !! Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deacon Posted January 25, 2013 Share Posted January 25, 2013 An interesting choice mate. Looking forward to this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 Hi guys and thank you for all your comments . Encouraged by all the progress that others have made in the GB, I've decided to make an earlier than planned start on the Gotha! So far just the interior. I've added some simple internal structure using plastic rod, along with a seat harness from Tamiya tape. I've also started to cover over the rear cockpit opening (one of the mods needed to make a night harassment Gotha), by inserting a liner from 10 thou plastic card. All in all it looks a bit of mess in the photo, but in reality looks just fine once the fuselage is closed up - God bless 1/72! Cheers Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It'sAllGoneHorriblyWrong Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 What would we do without Tamiya tape? Nice to see some progress, will be watching for more. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted February 10, 2013 Author Share Posted February 10, 2013 Cheers Andy and here's some more progress for you! I've been assembling the fuselage and flying surfaces this morning. One nice touch is the provision of a simple 'engine insert'. Now I know that this is hardly the last word in detail, but I've made plenty of 1/72 Argus engined kits in the past that have just left you with a gaping hole.... The parts went together pretty well. I scored the the elevator hinge lines and bent them down slightly to give them some droop. A particularly easy task on the Gotha as the hinge lines are straight. Only took a minute, but makes a big difference to the appearance. One issue though that nearly caught me out is that the undercarriage locating holes in the underside of the wing are not centralised properly (in fact it's not just the holes - the bit of the wing which should match up with the fuselage is off-centre too by a couple of mm). Initially I centralised the wing relative to the fuselage using these holes as the guide. If you do this, however, one wing will be longer than the other and the strut spacing will be asymmetric. Luckily I spotted the problem before the glue had set. I'll fill and re-drill the u/c holes in due course. Next task will be to get out the epoxy putty to fill a few gaps and complete the closure of the rear cockpit. Cheers Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted February 10, 2013 Author Share Posted February 10, 2013 (edited) This afternoon's activity. Undercarriage is on and I've also fixed all the wing struts. It's rare for me to do this before painting, but in this case I felt the need as the location holes were again in odd positions and it became clear that I'd need to do quite a bit of work to make it all fit. Here it is with the upper wing balanced for effect! In the (blurry!) foreground are two bomb racks and bombs which I've taken from an Airfix Bv.141. I've reduced the size of the bombs quite considerably (they were 110kg, rather than the 50kg needed for the Gotha), and whilst still a bit too big shouldn't look out of place. Thanks for watching Cliff Edited February 10, 2013 by CliffB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 (edited) Nice work, Cliff! I look forward to seeing how you tackle that rather intricate camouflage. (As I indicated in a previous post, I'm sticking with the black/white camouflage scheme on mine.) Regards, Jason Edited February 10, 2013 by Learstang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted February 10, 2013 Author Share Posted February 10, 2013 Thanks Jason I particularly appreciated your earlier posting - it's a fascinating subject that I only became aware of when trying to find something in my stash that would fit this GB. The He.46 quite appeals to me too - of all of the aircraft used for night harassment it seems the most 'unlikely'. I'll maybe keep an eye open for that RS kit. I've given a bit of thought to the camouflage. One thing I won't be doing is using an airbrush, so I'm thinking: 1) brush paint 2) Pastel pencil 3) Felt tip pen Of these, the last appeals most at present. I just need to try it first........ Cheers Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil B. Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 hi! i've come to this thread a bit late, and i must say when i clicked on "gotha bomber" i was expecting back facing engines, lozenge and a lot of rigging! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted February 10, 2013 Author Share Posted February 10, 2013 Sorry Phil - just my little joke... Hope you weren't to disappointed Cheers Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 For what it's worth, that title also got me at first, Cliff! Not that I'm disappointed; I'm not that interested in Great War aircraft, but very interested in NachtSchlachtGruppen aircraft. Regards, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike N Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Very rapid progress Cliff, and looking very good too! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Very nice... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 Well, it's been 6 weeks or so since I last touched the Gotha - so thank you everyone for your previous support and I hope that this absence has made your hearts grow stronger (or more likely you've all lost interest altogether!). I've had a fun time this evening picking up where I left off. First I added a seam around the rear cockpit coaming, as indicated by the Owl decals artwork. I used a thin strip of masking tape, sealed on (hopefully), with a thin coat of Klear. Next it was on with the primer, a gentle rub over with 4000 grit Micromesh, then on with the fuselage yellow. I was out of my usual Tamiya yellow paint, but found an old, part-used pot of Humbrol acrylic. A mixed blessing as (as is usual for me with Humbrol acrylics), the finish is pretty gritty. Should be OK though after a Micromesh in the morning. RLM02 and the decals should hopefully follow on tomorrow too. Cheers Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 Good progress today. RLM02 and decals on as hoped. I guess she's looking pretty much how she did before the squiggles were added for real - although I have of course enclosed the rear cockpit and I've also fitted the bombs. The Owl decals were a delight to use, being thin yet quite resilient once on the model (will tear easily though if left dangling in space!). They looked good over Klear, although when I misted on a matt coat to seal them, silvering appeared like I haven't seen for a long time. Not sure why - could have been not enough Klear coats (I was rushing a bit). Fortunately, a sharp pin and a bottle of Micro Sol sorted most of the problem out. Worst, of course, were the top wing crosses. Here I reverted to the old trick of painting over the silvering - a 'staple' of my school boy modelling days, which I'm happy to report still works as well today. I've been experimenting a bit with squiggles and for a few seconds at least, can get some quite good results with an 000 paint brush. The potential for a major disaster seems quite high though, so I'd still like to try a felt-tip pen. That would also allow me to replicate the continuous nature of the squiggle. I'll try to get to Staples next week. Just hope that their ever-popular range of RLM coloured felt-tip pens hasn't sold out! Happy Easter Cliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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