IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A - German cargo glider new-tool 72nd scale. Build review day 7

Day 7 of the IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A kit build. 

Finished masking the glazing - no getting away from it, there's a fair bit of work here. 

I found that a smear of Perfect Plastic Putty was required around the canopy. Dry fit of the cargo ramp/tail in the open position using metal rod to replace the plastic attachments. At least I can get it to sit open without too much help. I know absolutely nothing about how the ramp door operates. Note in the image of the real aircraft below, the door opens much higher than I have it positioned here. Note too that this image appears to show one of the aircraft on the decal sheet  - or finished in a similar scheme. Mottles are brush-painted.

Building the wings. Perfect fit but I still managed to break one of the supporting struts by trying to force it into place - should have drilled open the locating hole. No issues with the tail booms - although the instructions have the boom parts numbered incorrectly. Take care fitting the tailplane  - I was not 100% not sure which way is 'up' - although part 'F21' does need to be on the lower surfaces ... 

Steps 25 - flaps and ailerons - and steps 26 and 30 - the various PE details to be added to the wings and tailplane - still to do.

Steps 32 and 33 - the undercarriage and skids  -can probably be completed once painting and decaling is done. 

Another image of a Go 242 seen here at Heraklion on Crete, en route to North Africa. Check out the ECPA-D website (imagesdefense.gouv.fr) for more like this..there are useful images in the DAK 238 file which show plenty of details. I particularly needed to look at the lower forward fuselage window - which in this image appears to be partially over-painted.

IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A - German cargo glider new-tool 72nd scale. Build review day 6

 

Day 6 of the IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A kit build. 

Not much to show today. Some work on seams - there is a bit of one on the lower surfaces where the sides fit - and finishing off the canopy masking. Two cockpit decals applied - these are noted in the instructions with the grey inverted triangles. Here's a rear view looking at the internal details with the roof etc cemented in place. Note only two MGs placed - the rear-most two positions can be reached through the open ramp door. I've left the seats out, as ideally I want to show the cargo door open with a Kubelwagen or similar being loaded. It has been suggested that I leave the roof off until painting is completed to avoid breaking the MGs but that would make for a rather fragile structure, like a box without its lid - the Gotha is after all merely a 'glorified' box with wings..

IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A - German cargo glider new-tool 72nd scale. Build review day 5

 

Day 5 of the IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A kit build. 

In fitting the fuselage sides we have completed the first 7 steps of this build.

Step 8 Installing the MGs. Still undecided how to do this as they will obviously interfere with masking the windows. Some modellers install them and then cut off the barrels. I don't see really the point of doing that - I'll just try and exercise extra care..

Step 9/10 Building the seats for the troop-carrying option. I'm not planning to glue these permanently in place. 

Steps 11 and 12 cover the roof framework and fitting

Steps 13/14/15/16 adding details to the canopy and glueing the glazing in place. Some of these steps involve just a couple of parts and are probably best left to the end of the build. The pilots' instruments are glued inside the glazing before attaching to the fuselage (Step 15)

Go 242 cockpit with pilot instruments and two control yokes..

Step 17 and 18. Building the cargo tail ramp. Nicely detailed floor and tail gunner  position. Whether 'open' or 'closed' Step 20 would have you install the cargo door now before construction of the wings or booms. It will be far easier of course to paint and decal it separately if posing it open, especially as the attachment 'struts' seem so feeble. Those on my kit were bent/warped. In fact I doubt they will be 'solid' enough to support the weight of the tail in the open position which is a disappointment. Not sure what to do here - will probably have to cut off the plastic struts and use some rod. (one of my daughter's hair clips perhaps.. )

Cargo door/tail ramp in the open position for the unloading of a flak gun 

That's Step 20 out of 32 - minus one or two details -  essentially completed. Well over half way through. Thanks for looking in...

IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A - German cargo glider new-tool 72nd scale. Build review day 4

 Day 4 of the IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A kit build.

Day 4 of this build has mostly been 're-visiting' steps 5 & 6 from yesterday.  I worked out how to fit the frame parts into the fuselage sides - the aerofoil-shaped part slips into the aerofoil-shaped recess - and ultimately this seemed an easier option for joining it all together. The frames for the rear fuselage are also fitted at this stage.

I made another error - as I knew I would - by getting two of the  'open' fuselage 'portholes' the wrong way round so these had to be removed and swapped around. I also looked at the MG 15s as supplied in the kit. Not bad. They are going to have to be inserted into their mounts before the fuselage roof goes on.

Here everything is stuck together and I'm putting it aside to dry. 

A quick 'dry-fit' of the roof and the cockpit glazing. Again, a pretty good fit, any gaps you might notice here will disappear when it is all glued down. Next, detailing the canopy. There are etch control levers and the pilots' instrument panel to be inserted inside the cockpit glazing before securing to the fuselage. Note the open section is another gunner's position which can be shown either open - with MG - or closed. There's also a PE harness for this section...

That's it for Day 4. Thanks for looking in...

IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A - German cargo glider new-tool 72nd scale. Build review day 3

 

Day 3 of the IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A kit build

At the end of day 3 the cockpit has been 'detailed' with the kit PE harnesses and I've done a little 'chipping' by scratching the 02. Not really a fan of etch but IBG have done well here with some excellent scale details in etch that is thin and flexible. The forward internal frames  have been fitted along with the fuselage glazing.

Thanks to Jerzy (George) for answering the question about the Gotha's MG 15s that we asked yesterday.

Jerzy writes.." a diagram of the MG mountings in the Gotha from a friend. The MGs were mounted vertically, supported from the bottom in boxes - you can see them in the drawing below .."

Step 5

Deals with the fitment of the cargo hold/fuselage lattice-like frame as seen in the manual drawing above. As another modeller appears to have done, I deviated slightly from the instructions which would have you fit these pieces into the side of the fuselage halves - where placement is a little uncertain - to mount them directly on the side of the floor where there are recesses designed to accept them. This method has the advantage of allowing you to concentrate on installing the window/portholes into the fuselage halves.

Step 6

The fuselage halves are finished in a red-brown (doped canvas) not unlike the interior of the Swordfish for example (a build on my modelling blog). It does appear that IBG missed some information about interior colors in the manual. I've painted  these areas slightly less red-brown than others - more of a 'filter' over the 02. But the frame is steel rod, so I've picked this out with a silver pencil. 

The windows are easy to install being mounted in a frame which appears that it should be of wood - although this may just be IBG's method of ensuring the window fits securely. There are obviously options to fit open windows at the MG mount locations easily identified on the internal framework.

BMW 801 'power egg' being unloaded

This image taken inside the Gotha shows a gunner at his window..the spent cartridge 'collector bag' is a separate part on the cockpit and tail gunner's positions.

IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A - German cargo glider new-tool 72nd scale. Build review day 2

 Day 2 of the IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A kit build

 Step 1. Assembly of the cargo/hold floor and location of the wing spar. The floor parts 'lock' the spar into position. First part to be glued 'H5' is a transparency in the lower forward fuselage. I opted to leave this part until the two fuselage halves are ready to be joined. All internal parts to be painted in 02 are sprayed in black 'primer'. I use Halfords 'Volvo Dark Grey' from the can.

 Step 2. Detailing the cockpit. Part number 'F27' is the pilot's yoke/control column. F10 is a 'stick' for the right-hand seat.  There is a second control column, part number 'F28'  - which is not mentioned in the instructions. I'm guessing this is for the 244 motorised variant. The 242 requires the 'F10' stick. In the end I put both yokes in. Part number 'F22' the trim wheel and lever is difficult to get off the sprue. Mine broke. No idea what F25 is. Seems to be a gunner's position in the lower part of the forward fuselage.

Step 3. Adding the photo-etch rudder pedals and straps. I've left the seat harnesses until after painting. 

Step 4. Having located the cockpit 'module' to the fuselage floor, I'm testing the fit of the fuselage sides. No issues with the spar or floor clipping into the bottom of each side. The internal framework next. 

Below; internals sprayed in 02.  Hold floor (pin) washed around the details and streaked with Raw Umber oil paint. I note that at least one Polish modeller has painted the cockpit in 66 - although there is nothing in the painting instructions. He has also painted the (presumably) doped canvas internal finish a red-brown. I did not know if the internal framework on the fuselage sides was wooden or metal because it needs to be picked out in the appropriate colour..Becker highlights " die Stahlrohrkonstruktion des Rumpfes zeigte Stoffbespannung.."  or in other words 'the tubular steel construction of the fuselage was fabric covered..' I think this is self-evident from the image posted yesterday showing the open Rumpfheck, while this PK photo (below) shows a Go 242 wreck in the Cholm Kessel ('Wrack eines zerstörten Lastensegler Gotha Go 242' by PK Fotograf Muck). This picture appears to show the Gotha tail section on its side with the large clear 'window' being one of the MG 15 positions on the roof of this section. Which raises another question..how were the MG 15s (as many as eight) stowed in the hold when not in use?

Below; cockpit layout for the Go 244. The lower panel is a set of engine instruments. The upper panel of instruments is mounted in the cockpit ceiling as per the Go 242. 

Note the cockpit  inscription below is decal 1 on the instruction sheet indicated with an inverted triangle. Nearly missed it.  Frst part"..Bei vollem Fluggewicht nur langsames Abfangen.."  -  'only slow descent at max. flying weight' - ie on landing from the approach (descent) into a parallel flight along the ground.

End of day 2. 

IBG Models Gotha Go 242 A - German cargo glider new-tool 72nd scale. Build review day 1

 

Between 1937 and 1940 the Gothaer Waggonfabrik AG (Ltd) had constructed some 80 DFS 230 combat gliders for the Luftwaffe. The RLM recognised early on that a bigger glider than the DFS was required for transport duties and in 1941 GWF was awarded a development contract to build a machine roughly twice as large as the DFS. Capable of carrying 20 fully-equipped soldiers the Gotha 242 proved to have decent flight characteristics and its high-wing, twin-boom double tail, rear-end opening cargo door gave it an easily recognisable silhouette that would soon become familiar to German troops in Africa, the Mediterranean, the Balkans, but more especially in Russia..

The Luftwaffe blog has been lucky enough to pick up the new IBG models Gotha Go 242 (thank you Adam!) and we'll attempt to build it this week. This is the first boxing of a series of the type with the  Go 242 with fixed landing gear and the motorised Go 244 already announced. As usual with IBG you get a beautifully crafted product, from the fantastic box-art to the full-colour instruction sheet. The cockpit and interior are fully detailed, the cargo hold door/ramp can be deployed open, a full set of defensive MG 15s are also provided with open/closed mounts and bench seating for the hold. 3D printed accessories are also available- pilot seats, wheels, and MGs and an option to fill the hold with a set of seats for paras. Big box. Lots of highly detailed plastic parts cellophane-wrapped with four markings options. 

The first thing that struck me was how easy it will be to set up a little diorama or even just a small base showing a couple of BMW 801 replacement engines, a BMW bike and sidecar or a 2 cm Flak 38 being loaded or unloaded (Be-und- Entladen). The provision of a nicely detailed wing spar is welcome because you might want to leave the  wings 'detachable' for transport to shows etc. although on reflection the large strut might make that 'option' a little problematic. We'll see. 

A few sprue shots...click on these to get in closer..

Wing parts still in cellophane - ailerons and flaps are separate parts of course.

A little more tomorrow... we'll leave you with two of the four kit markings options in the BA photo below..the aircraft coded "8-12" is decal option No. 4 in the kit and depicts a Schleppgruppe 2 machine in 1944 in the East.  Note the red '2' is not visible in this photo. The lighter colour  here may be 79. "8-5" is the airframe at bottom in the mottled finish. The mottles are most likely in 02 or possibly even in 65. These have been crudely brush-painted. Note the absence of upper wing crosses and the small Hakenkreuze - which are available on the decal sheet. Both these aircraft operated in southern Ukraine ferrying supplies to troops cut off in Crimea from late 1943 through early 1944..

Hs 126 and DFS 230 Agentur Karl Höffkes film archive

 

Del has been trawling through the footage made available via the Agentur Karl Höffkes film archive (AKH) and has come across some DFS 230 colour footage;

 " ...from the Agentur Karl Höffkes film archive - home movie taken by a Luftwaffe officer while training on the DFS 230.." 

This footage almost certainly looks to have been filmed in the south of France presumably during the summer of 1943, prior to Gran Sasso. Either Valence Chabeuil or Lézignan-Corbières. It features a Staffel of Luftlandegeschwader 1 equipped with DFS 230 gliders and Henschel Hs 126 and Avia B.534 tugs training for a new mission... Hauptmann Joseph Karl, Gruppenkommandeur of III./LLG.1 is seen in the footage. 

On 19 August 1943, 12./LLG1 was transferred to Ottana (Sardinia), then on 11 September 1943 to Pratica di Mare (south of Rome). Its mission in Italy was the transport of 1./FJR.7 (Fallschirmjäger-Regiment) to Gran Sasso for the ‘liberation’ of Mussolini. I have extracted a couple of time codes which correspond to the stills below... 

 10:40:11  arrival by train at a town in France, possibly Valence. Does anyone recognise it? 

 10:43:00  engine start Hs 126 tugs of LLG 1 on the airfield.

 10:43:27  pilot in cockpit of DFS 230. Note MG 34 with muzzle flash guard  attached to the fuselage and MG 15 mounted above the cockpit

 10:42:47  a group of officers chatting. In the white cap the Kommandeur of III./LLG 1  (I think..). Another officer in white cap shows off his "Kreta" cuff band for the camera.

 10:48:13  colour section - a DFS 230 with nose-mounted braking rockets, also shown in close-up

 10:49:10   DFS 230 comes into land and the glider's braking rockets are fired. This section concludes with a few shots of the DFS 230 passengers disembarking...  

 At this point I would provide a link to view reel M349 ..but since preparing this post I can no longer find the film... 

 As always these stills are reproduced here with the kind permission of Karl Höffkes.