Hello,
this is my new project, Roden's unfamous Gotha GVa/GVb. The main issues I identified at the start are the terrible lozenge decals provided by Roden, the non perfect fit and some inaccuracies that have to be ammended. The issue I wasn't able to identify in advance was the wrong sprue D that was in my box. For some reason I have the Gotha GII/GIII's sprue D and not the one for GVa/GVb :-/. I send Roden an e-mail, but for now there is no answer and with the current situation in Ukraine, I'm not sure that there will be an answer at all.
Here comes my first question to anyone that have the same kit - can you please post a picture of part 10, spue D and some dimensions? More speciffically the dimensions of the plates that are under the engines, as this are the part that I miss! I will probably have to scratch it, but as it is fairly simple shape I suppose it won't be too hard. Here is a picture of what I have and what there should be according to the instructions:
I really like Gotha GVa 723/17 with the white dragon on the side and this will be the bird, that I will try to recreate.
The next pictures show the content of the kit, the PART PE and the terrible decals. My initial plan was to get decals from Doug Bauman (unsuccesfully for now) or buy Orion models Gotha Decals (sold out) or use 5 colour AVIATTIC lozenge and darken it with dark blue or similar colour. There is plenty of time until I get to this stage so I'm not in a hurry - will give Doug a month to answer my e-mail and then will proceed as I necessary.
As I haven't built anything in 1:72 for more than a year, I decided to start with the engines, as they are more or less similar to the DIII engines and this will help me "feel"the kit and the build and overcome the "1:72 rustiness". I will built the two engines one by one and not simultaniously, as I plan to detail the second one a little bit more and if I like it, to open the nascelle and expose it.
The work on the first engine is close to the end, the work on the nascelle itself is also almost done. The engine was not fitting inside at all, but this is somethign minor and was easily amended. The next step is to scratch the engine bearers for the second engine and detail the engine itself. Speaking of this, I would liek to ask for a diagram or pictures of the engine stand and soemthing that looks like oil tank and or/diagram of the whole thing? I have collected pictures from books or over the net but anything extra to ake the concept clearer will be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance for hte help and best regards,
Sasho
