One of the most eagerly awaited kits of recent months (if not years) must surely be Wingnut Wings' Gotha G.IV. Whether you're a dedicated WW1 modeller, or simply interested in aircraft in general, the sheer size and detail of the kit can hardly fail to excite.

To coincide with the release of the kit, Albatros Productions have published Windsock Worldwide WW1 Modelling Special No. 1, devoted to the Gotha. Editor Ray Rimell has been lucky enough to work on a number of pre-release examples of the kit and, barring the staff of Wingnut Wings themselves, probably knows more about building the new Gotha model than anybody else in the world. Based on his experience, Ray has presented a step by step guide to getting the best out of the model – adding details and avoiding pitfalls along the way.

Setting the scene

But let's not get ahead of ourselves; the 44-page A-4 magazine is far more than a simple construction overview - it's also quite a comprehensive reference on the Gotha. The guide doesn't actually begin with the model at all. Part 1 – Turk's Cross describes the daylight raid on London that took place on July 7th 1917. From the preparations in Belgium, to eyewitness accounts of Londoners caught in the raid, the 4-page article paints a vivid picture of the attack from the viewpoints of both sides.

Part 2 – G.IV Aeroplanatomy by Harry Woodman covers the development of Germany's strategic bomber force in general, and the Gothas in particular. With the aid of drawings and close-up period photos, the article focuses on the guns, bombs and bomb-sight, showing the interior layout and many details that will be of great help to anyone wanting to add detail to their kit.

The build

Parts 3 & 4 - with our appetite firmly whetted, it's time to look at the Wingnut Wings kit, beginning with a 2-page in-box review in the usual style of the Windsock Worldwide bi-monthly magazine, before embarking on the full build itself.

The core of the magazine is a detailed 20-page step-by-step construction guide. This not only shows the Gotha in the hands of a WW1 master-modeller, but is packed with helpful incidental tips for building early aviation kits as a whole. There are useful reference photos of the full sized Gotha's equipment dotted throughout the article, and a real boon for most modellers will be more than 120 clear colour shots of the model under construction that accompany the text.

Galleries & Profiles

Continuing the reference aspect of the magazine are a series of photo galleries from Harry Woodman, Volker Koos and Thomas Genth containing a fine selection of period shots, and supported by detailed captions.

Aviation artist Ronny Bar will need little introduction to readers of Albatros Productions' publications (or indeed builders of Wingnut Wings kits) and he brings two of the aircraft featured in the Galleries to life with superb colour profiles.

Other Gothas

The focus of the guide is obviously the magnificent new 1:32 Wingnut Wings kit, but the final section is a reminder that the Gotha has appeared in smaller scales a number of times over the years. Beginning with Aurora's 1:48 effort dating back to 1958, the 2-page article traces the releases of kits and accessories from Rareplanes, Roden and Copper State up to the latest Hippo and Sram models. The Windsock guide will serve as useful reference for anyone tackling one of these other kits, as many of the details and construction techniques shown can be readily adapted to the smaller models.

Conclusion

Albatros Productions' modelling guide to the Gotha is arguably essential reading for anyone who wants to get the utmost from the Wingnut Wings kit, whether it's adding extra details or simply ensuring the hassle free build. It's also a valuable reference to the aircraft and its equipment that will warrant a place on the bookshelves long after you've finished the kit. Highly recommended.

Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.