Halberstadt CL. IV, (Rol.) Mirage Hobby, 1:48, Ltn. Hans-Joachim Rath, Schlasta 5

A very nicely made model with lots of small details and a realistic surface. However, this is a more demanding construction, due to the fact that all parts (even the small ones) are attached to the frame at four and six points. Removing small and weak parts without damage is very difficult, if not impossible. Therefore, I had to make a large part of the small parts and struts again. Nevertheless, I can only recommend this kit. Ingested Gaspatch turnbuckles and fishing line. I didn't like the coloring included in the kit, so I purchased decals from Techmod. Unfortunately, they are of very poor quality and break at the slightest touch. Thank you for watching.

Karl Thies, chief designer at Halberstädter Flugzeugwerke, GmbH, designed the CL.IV as a replacement for the CL.II. As the CL.II proved particularly effective in the ground support role, the aim of the improved version was to create a specific ground attack aircraft.

The new CL.IV featured a shorter, reinforced fuselage and horizontal stabilizer with a larger span and higher aspect ratio than the CL.II. These changes, along with a one-piece horn-balanced elevator, gave the CL.IV much more maneuverability than its predecessors. After prototype trials were completed in April 1918, at least 450 aircraft were ordered from Halberstadt and a further 250 aircraft were ordered from a subcontractor, LFG (Roland), as the Halberstadt CL.IV(Rol).

The Halberstadt CL.IV was one of the most effective ground attack aircraft of World War I, relying on its good maneuverability to avoid ground fire. It appeared on the Western Front towards the end of the German offensive in 1918. Flights of four to six aircraft flew close to the support mission, at an altitude of less than a hundred feet, suppressing enemy infantry and artillery fire just ahead of the advancing German troops. . After these late German offensives had stalled, Halberstadt's CL.IVs were used to disrupt advancing Allied offensives by striking enemy assembly areas, and night sorties were also made against Allied airfields.

Towards the end of the war, on clear, moonlit nights, CL.IV squadrons attempted to intercept and destroy Allied bombers as they returned from their missions.

I couldn't find more detailed information about the crew of this machine,

6 additional images. Click to enlarge.