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 Robert!) 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..