Roden 1/72nd Gotha G.Va/Vb
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History
By the end of 1917 the Gotha G.IV and G.V were the main German strategic
bombers. During raids over the enemy's territory, engine failures were
quite common; as a result, these heavy twin-engined machines often returned
to their home base with only one working engine. This caused control problems
and led to frequent accidents.
 In
February 1918 Gothaer Waggonfabric AG tested a new version of the latest
G.V bomber with a new box tail ('Kastensteuerung'); Gotha reported that
aircraft with the new tail assembly could fly in a straight course with
just one working engine. Apart from the new tail, the Gotha G.Va had a
slightly smaller nose section with a two-wheeled auxiliary shock landing
gear mounted underneath (similar to the SSW-type 'Stossfahrgestell', designed
for the G.IV SSW). 25 Aircraft of this type were built, all (except for
one machine which crashed during flight trials) going to Bogohl 3.
Later aircraft were equipped with a four-wheeled auxiliary undercarriage
beneath each engine nacelle for increased efficiency. This version, the
Gotha G.Va, also had Flettner servo controls on its ailerons to reduce
the pilot's work load when flying with one working engine. Idflieg ordered
80 planes, the first being delivered to Bogohl 3 in June 1918. By the
end of the war all 80 aircraft had been built, but the last batch did
not reach the front and was delivered directly from the factory to the
Allied special commission. As of 1st September 1918, only four bombers
of the G.Va type and twenty-one of the G.Vb type served in Bagohl 3. Along
with other night bombers every G.Va and G.Vb was destroyed after WW1 ended.
My thanks to Roden for the history synopsis.
The Kit
The 1/72nd Roden Gotha G.Va/Vb is the last - and fourth - Gotha bomber
from this company. It consists of approximatly 159 injected molded pieces
and 2 clear. However, there are more parts in the kit - these are the
common ones that come with each Gotha kit and aren't used for this specific
version. Two schemes are catered for by the decal sheet: the first is
a G.Va, spring/summer 1918 which was shot down during a raid over France
on 5 July; the second is a G.Vb during the summer of 1918. Both machines
naturally coming from Bogohl 3. Decals are comprehensive and not only
include markings for both machines, but also comes with two good-sized
decal sheets consisting of the lozenge and rib tapes. While the colors
are a bit suspect it's still nice to see a model company include lozenge
decals for the whole model.
  One
word summerizes the Roden Gothas - impressive! Kudos to Roden for taking
on such a massive undertaking and doing it to the best of their ability.
Sure, these aren't models you want to build your first time out, nor are
they meant for a weekend of activity, but once you complete one of these
massive kits not only should you feel proud, but others around you - especially
those that don't build in the best modeling genre of WW1 aircraft - will
be envious. But then again, once you finish the rigging on these beasts
maybe you'll want to take up something a little more relaxing - like putting
together your typical Tamigawa model.
 Since
you're going all out on this model - it's going to take awhile to build
anyway - why not purchase the Part photetch set for it? It will make this
truly outstanding model stand even further out from the crowd. The Part
sets are highly recommonded for these kits.
Construction starts in an unusual fashion, but one that I think is good.
Roden has you build most of the smaller parts up front. I think this is
good because it forces you to get these out of the way right away, so
once the bulk of the model is finished these parts are ready to go for
insertion. Usually I find myself losing motivation on a model once major
construction is finished and I'm down to making all the smaller bits.
Once the smaller pieces are put together and the major surgery needed
on the kit out of the way (adjusting the wings to G.Va/Vb standards) construction
moves towards the engines. The latest Roden releases have engines that
are kits unto themselves. Assemble these as you would any other model
and a superb representation of power plants will result. Don't forget
you have two of them to make.
  Now
movement is made toward "normal" kit construction - assembling
the cockpit and inner fuselage areas. Since the major difference between
the G.V and the earlier Gotha's is the "gun tunnel" on the underside
of the fuselage, Roden has provided this as a separate part slotting into
one fuselage half before the fuselage halves are assembled. Now is the
time to start using the Part photoetch interior, if you have decided to
go this route. Sure, building the kit out of the box will look like the
insides of a Gotha, but the Part set will really make the cockpit stand
out.
Once the fuselage halves are assembled then the tail pieces are added.
Be aware, though, that all of the flying surfaces - as well as the upper
and sides of the fuselage - were covered in lozenge, so I suspect that
you'll want to cover the pieces before they are put together. Dry fitting
is definitely the name of the game so you can get the parts sitting flush
with no putty or filler.
 The
most time and patience on this model will be the final stages - adding
the wings to the model as well as the landing gear and engines. Once that
is all squared away - and having it all square and lined up is the name
of the game - then it's time to proceed with that aspect that has a lot
of WW1 modeler's bald - rigging. There is a ton of rigging on this thing
and it's definitely best tackled across multiple nights (maybe venturing
into weeks). However, finish this model including all rigging and you'll
have other modellers shaking their heads. Either in awe, or thinking that
you're insane for actually completing one.
Conclusion
Roden is definitely to be commended for tackling an aircraft not only
of this size but also this magnitude. To be truthful, right now no other
model company is willing to risk something of this complexity, nor do
I think that they can pull it off any better than Roden. For the Gothas
(and now the Felixstowes) are definitely the "flag ship" of
the Roden line of WW1 aircraft. This is definitely recommended but only
if you're not afraid of WW1 aircraft, nor the rigging that's entailed
to finish something this mighty.
Hopefully once they finish the Felixstowe line we'll see both the Caudron
R.11 and the Caproni series of bombers from Roden - personally I opt for
the Caudron first.
My thanks to Roden and Squadron Shop for the review copy.
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