DONE +++ 1:72 Gotha Go 146 (license-built Ki-46 in Luftwaffe service), mid 1940

Dizzyfugu · October 08, 2015, 12:37:14 AM

While the Fokker D.XXIII is drying work on this one will resume.

Dizzyfugu · October 08, 2015, 11:51:39 PM

Things move, fast. Since the basis is the rather simple Ki-46II from Airfix, mostly built OOB except for some details and a change of engines, the major parts have already been assembled during the last two days. No problems so far, except for the clear parts - both canopies were somewhat damaged along the lower edges, as if the material had been brittle. This left some gaps, and I tried to cover them with white glue.
Pilots were taken from the kit, just the observer had his head turned a little, and I added a map (just a piece of paper) in the rear cabin, since there's a table and lots of space... On the wings, the flaps will be lowered and I'll use different wheels (IIRC, these come from an Academy F6F).

1:72 Gotha Go 146 A-0 (license-built Ki-46II 'Dinah') - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Captain Canada · October 09, 2015, 06:19:39 AM

Looks good ! Love the way you work....I gotta start taking notes !

Dizzyfugu · October 09, 2015, 08:03:01 AM

News from the "real" whiffy parts, the DB601s, taken from an Airfix Bf 110 (looks like a recent mould, not the ugly 1st genaration thing). Height of the new engines is almost perfect, just width is a few mm short. Strangely, the engines come as single parts on the sprue, so I made two cuts into the upper cowling, so that the engine fairing can be widened and pushed onto the the original attachment points for the radials. THIS actually works, just some putty needed to fill some gaps... Here's a look after first sanding; the radiators are already in place, too (could be fitted with only minor mods), and the flaps' interior has been filled with (white) styrene sheet. For the propellers, I installed my standard styrene-tube-holds-metal-axis solution.

1:72 Gotha Go 146 A-0 (license-built Ki-46II 'Dinah'), aircraft '5F+EL' of 3(f.)/14. Aufklärungsgruppe, Deutsche Luftwaffe; Froid-Chapelle (France), summer 1940 (Whif/Airfix kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Captain Canada · October 10, 2015, 05:08:52 AM

Nice work. I bought that same kit last week for my build, rather nice eh ? The one piece engines are handy, but for whiffing it would have been nice to have halves. Still, looks like you have them fitting rather nicely !

Dizzyfugu · October 10, 2015, 09:37:56 AM

You mean the Bf 110? Yes, it's a nice kit, better than expected. Some engravings (e. g. on the fuselage) have some Matchbox retro quality, but I guess this evens out when some paint is added. The interior has lots of details, too - no comparison to the old Airfix kit, which was/is rather primitive and chunky.

BTW, here's the inspiration for what the Go 146 will carry as paint scheme - actually a mix of schemes and tones from these 1939 experiments at JG 53:

Dizzyfugu · October 11, 2015, 01:36:11 AM

Wings have been fitted to the fuselage - thing slook very good, I only had to clip the propeller blades a little because the engines are rather close to the fuselage and the original propellers are considerably smaller than the German implants.

1:72 Gotha Go 146 A-0 (license-built Ki-46II 'Dinah'), aircraft '5F+EL' of 3(f.)/14. Aufklärungsgruppe, Deutsche Luftwaffe; Froid-Chapelle (France), summer 1940 (Whif/Airfix kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

And painting has started en suite:

1:72 Gotha Go 146 A-0 (license-built Ki-46II 'Dinah'), aircraft '5F+EL' of 3(f.)/14. Aufklärungsgruppe, Deutsche Luftwaffe; Froid-Chapelle (France), summer 1940 (Whif/Airfix kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The pattern is taken from "5+- White", while I use "<o+"'s colors: RLM 63/02/71. RLM02 is, this time, Revell 45, which was a slight olive tint but is basically a very good option for this RLM tone. RLM 63 is simulated by Humbrol 165, RAF Medium Sea Grey, which is a bit dark for this purpose, and the base color for Luftwaffe Dunkelgrün is Revelle 67 (RAL 7009, still missing in the pic), which is also darker and more yellow-ish than RLM 71, but I want more contrast to the lighter tones. Curious how this turns out?!

Dizzyfugu · October 11, 2015, 08:10:18 AM

Paint scheme comes together. Looks... orginal!

1:72 Gotha Go 146 A-0 (license-built Ki-46II 'Dinah'), aircraft '5F+EL' of 3(f.)/14. Aufklärungsgruppe, Deutsche Luftwaffe; Froid-Chapelle (France), summer 1940 (Whif/Airfix kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

DogfighterZen · October 11, 2015, 08:14:51 AM

I love that scheme!

Dizzyfugu · October 11, 2015, 11:25:55 AM

Yup. I wanted "something different" from the standard Luftwaffe RLM 70/71 or 02/71 from the fighters. And these experimental schemes provide an interesting alternative, esp. for a pre-production aircraft like the one this is supposed to become.

RAFF-35 · October 11, 2015, 11:33:25 AM

Uchhhhhh that scheme looks fantastic on the Dinah

looking very nice indeed

Dizzyfugu · October 12, 2015, 09:28:29 AM

Entering the home stretch with the Go 146/Ki-46II:

1:72 Gotha Go 146 A-0 (license-built Ki-46II 'Dinah'), aircraft '5F+EL' of 3(f.)/14. Aufklärungsgruppe, Deutsche Luftwaffe; Froid-Chapelle (France), summer 1940 (Whif/Airfix kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Captain Canada · October 12, 2015, 09:38:26 AM

Oh man.....that is just wicked. Love the look. Sure does look German her roots aren't showing at all ! Love that camo scheme as well. I'm saving that pic you posted of the 109s might have to try that one !

Hotte · October 12, 2015, 10:55:33 AM

That's great.

Hotte

KiwiZac · October 12, 2015, 02:43:52 PM

Looking darned good! Those engines fit very well to that airframe. Nicely done.