The Gotha

[gbrivio]

Beautiful detailing and painting work. I'm impressed by the amount of tiny things you managed to have in these engine bays.
And looking forward to the next steps.
Ciao
Giuseppe

[krow113]

Thanks G

 WNW is NOT kidding when they say all of these parts work together to line everything up. Thankfully the parts fit is near perfect so its tough to get something out of line. I mixed up the top cowls, easy fix , but def something o watch out for , I recommend keeping the cowl pieces as separated as possible to avoid mix ups, highlighting the instructions will help too. I glued the rad into the cowl to ensure fit, as well the gas gauge was cut off its fiddly mount and glued into the cowl side. I will say even with the stellar instructions , the fit and everything else at play , its not perfectly clear what is going on with the parts interface. You learn quick as you go in this part of the Gotha kit.
 Strapped up and drying:



 After the ends and  top cured for a while I popped in the side panels , again with the exemplary fit they fell into place:

Guage cut off and mounted to cowl:

[krow113]

  ...and with the wing center section winding down , I went back on the fuse.
 Custom mask set developing , started with fuse masks , this shortened the masking time considerably:

Flat black primer base:

[RAGIII]

Absolutely AWESOME progess!
RAGIII

[krow113]

RIII Thanks!
 
 Engine fitting for perhaps the last time. Four or five  lines to connect once in place , oil feed/return , the greaser , and the water feed/return. Fittings are in place just giving the final checks:



Engine under fittings:

[lcarroll]

Absolutely awesome detail Steve, and I really like your "wear and chipping" finish on the cowl panels. this is going to be a spectacular model!
Cheers,
Lance

[krow113]

Thanks Lance!
   Switching back and forth between the two main assy's , as we speak I am laying on the gloss black.
First coat:

 
 My mask worked flawlessly. Even with the doghouse separate no blow-by can be seen , now the wooden starboard edge and the padded perimeter of the cockpit can be finished easily. Here you can see the easily dealt with demarcation on the inside edge of the doghouse:




 Super happy with this , the wood tones stand out more and I can finish up some work in the commanders ring as well. Black is smooth and glossy by using flat black primer first and gloss black and gloss clear mixed together in light coats too finish. Followed by straight clear to seal.


 
 The first hint of the ominous look of a dark finished Gotha emerges...

[jeroen_R90S]

Awesome work, Steve! Look forward to what magic awaits the fuselage

[RAGIII]

Not much to say other than Beautiful work!
RAGIII

[krow113]

RIII & Jeroen  -Thanks for checking in.
 High Detail means High PITA. I managed to get the parts onto a wire for easier handling , but these castings are pushing the limit of what can be done in resin.
 Get them sorted and they look the part:

[Manni]

This is already the best Gotha I have ever seen, Steve! THe details you have added are mindblowing, perfect!
Bye,
Manni

[krow113]

 Thank you , Manni!

 Thought I might have went too far on the engine:


...but it looked ok in place:

[ktrembacz]

Awesome work fully worth this rare kit 

[RAGIII]

If not for the white plastic rod one could mistake the engine photos for Museum shots of the real deal!
RAGIII

[krow113]

 Thanks RIII , & kbacz !
 Rare ? Is it a rare kit now?
 I just spent an hour or so going through the WNW customer models pages of Gothas . Some very decent examples , a few pushing the envelope higher.
I hope to elevate the bar with my work.

 Todays effort is an all out one, no rush , no delineated procedure , just observation of the engine pod internals , the finished models on the site giving numerous clues. Regarding the bits needed to clean up the 'model' look of the engine area. Wiring for the genny and starter mag routed and painted. Chipping gone over to 'relax' the previous intensity . And details like the oil tank gone over as well.  All this as I ask  the question ; 'Can the engine stay in place now'...
 First of all this is way too clean:

 Small piecess of plastic card were used to cover the exposed framework at the F/R  vertical bulkheads:


 'Embedding' treatments to come tonight and the engine WILL  be in its final position for the start of tomorrows day.