1:32 Gotha G.IV

A Gotha in Polish colors of 1920

The Gotha G.IV entered history as the first machine to attack British cities in daylight, in 1917. This biplane with pusher engines had a span of over twenty-three meters and became famous for the so-called tunnel, a passage in the rear part of the fuselage through which a gunner could defend the aircraft from below. Some of the machines were built not by the parent factory but by licensed works, and it is just such a machine that lies behind the subject of this sheet.

After the war over the Vistula

Once the First World War ended, several of these bombers came into the hands of the newly created Polish Air Force, which assigned them to a unit whose designation translates as the destroyer squadron. In 1920, that is at the time of the fighting for the eastern border, they were among the largest aircraft this country operated. The decals are therefore aimed at the modeler who enjoys the less usual chapters, when German equipment flew under foreign insignia. For a display case it is a rewarding piece also because a bomber like this looks almost out of place beside ordinary fighters, simply for its size.

Work on large areas

The fabric covering of interwar machines has a rougher surface than smooth metal, and so a decal easily stays on it with a visible edge. The surest route is to apply a gloss coat under it, use a softener once it is stuck down and finally even the surface out with a matte overcoat. The checkerboards on wings of this span are moreover large, so it is advisable to work from the center outward and to draw the surplus water off as you go. The model and the paints are not here. It also works to try one small decal from the edge of the sheet as a test and find out how quickly the film releases before you start on the large areas.