Wentworth Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 This has been a bit of a labour of love. In WWII my Grandfather was a navigator with 544 Squadron based at RAF Benson and flew on Mosquito PR Mk.XVIs. I have his logbook so was able to research the missions flown and aircraft serial numbers. This is NS500, an aircraft he flew in on an operational mission covering Flensberg, Berlin and Dresden on 11 April 1945. The aircraft, with a different crew was lost on its next mission on the next day.The model is the Tamiya 1/48th Mosquito B Mk.4 with the CMK PR Mk.XVI conversion, CMK control services, Quickboost mud-guards, Eduard Zoom fret and True Details wheels. This is the first time I've attempted a conversion, and am pretty happy with how it turned out. The only thing I wasn't brave enough to attempt was the vacform blister to go on top of the canopy. This has also been quite a lesson in how good at taking photos you need to be. I need some better lights. Still - not bad for my first posting on BM. Hope you like. The model, with base and case etc is going to my Dad as a late Fathers' Day present Alastair 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Very well done, I'm sure your Dad will be chuffed. Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOAN Posted June 23, 2013 Share Posted June 23, 2013 Wonderful build ! very nice and inspiring mosquito. thanks for sharing. olivier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Cox Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Hi Alastair, Thanks for sharing your terrific effort and the story of your Grandfather, I'm sure your Dad will love it, who wouldn't love such an effort in time and work not to mention a personal connection. Cheers, Daniel. P.S. Welcome to Britmodeller! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackBart Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Lovely Mosquito, Alastair. They always look so good in PRU blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wentworth Posted June 24, 2013 Author Share Posted June 24, 2013 Thanks for all of the positive encouragement guys. Alastair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Branch Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 I have a friend whose father was an RAAF pilot with 544Sqn and whose mother was a WAAF photo interpreter with the squadron. He has lent me a copy of his father's log book which, as I read it now, shows he flew this particular aircraft on 16 June 1944 on a mission over the Marseilles area and again on 17 August 1944 Rounne(?) in occupied France. Thanks for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sprue Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Cracking build, Mosquitoes are among my favorite aircraft. Well done and nicely presented. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Rounne(?)Rouen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Fletcher Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 I have a friend whose father was an RAAF pilot with 544Sqn and whose mother was a WAAF photo interpreter with the squadron. He has lent me a copy of his father's log book which, as I read it now, shows he flew this particular aircraft on 16 June 1944 on a mission over the Marseilles area and again on 17 August 1944 Rounne(?) in occupied France. Thanks for this. Hello Gordon, Would I be correct in thinking your friend's father is Harold Vickers? The August 17th sortie covered Roanne, Central France, about 50 km north-west of Lyon. Best Regards Andy Fletcher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Branch Posted August 11, 2013 Share Posted August 11, 2013 (edited) You are correct - Flt Lt Harold Vickers. His son Ian is my wife's ballroom dancing partner. Funnily enough Ian's uncle has a street in the suburb of Canberra I live in named after him. He was a pilot with the original Flying Doctor Service. There is book written by a New Zealander, Ronald Foster, named Focus on Europe. Flt Lt Vickers is mentioned quite a lot in that book and I recommend it to anyone interested in WW2 aviation. I bought a copy for Ian, as well as myself, when I discovered it. Interestingly, Harold did not receive a DFC in spite of flying about 60 missions over occupied Europe and being shot down by some BF109s south of Paris (on the mission after the 17 August mission). BTW the spelling for the target on the 17 August flight comes from the slightly illegible entry in the diary. I can only assume he didn't get a DFC coz' he was a very naughty boy (read the book ) http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/Site/page_images/mosquito_corryfoyness/544-sqdn-a-flight-1944_50.jpg This picture shows A Flt of 544Sqn at Leuchars in 1944. Harold Vickers is 3rd from the right in the front row. 2nd from the left is Malcolm Mosely, Vickers' navigator. The WAAF in the front row centre eventually became Harold Vickers wife. P.S. I let Ian know about this thread. Edited August 11, 2013 by Gordon Branch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Fletcher Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Hi Gordon, Many thanks for the reply. I second your recommendation on "Focus on Europe". WWII photo recce doesn't get the recognition it deserves in my opinion. Cheers Andy Fletcher 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Fletcher Posted August 19, 2013 Share Posted August 19, 2013 Hi Gordon, Did you receive my PM? Glad to try and help with any queries. Best regards Andy Fletcher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Branch Posted August 20, 2013 Share Posted August 20, 2013 (edited) Sorry Andy, Yes I did get your PM thanks. I've been away from home (Canberra) for a week in Perth visiting my Grandmother who took a tumble. As she is 105 years I thought I better go over to see her. She actually seems pretty good so I came home on the weekend. I'm pretty confident she'll be around when my 2nd Granddaughter is born in late November and my Grandmother turns 106. Back to the subject: Another Mosquito Flt Lt Vickers flew was NS502/M which was the subject of a 1/32 Corgi diecast model and well documented in a series of photos at the IWM. Harold Vickers would have flown this aircraft in this colour scheme as one of the two missions he flew in this aircraft was just after D-Day. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205210632 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205127015 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205087416 In addition he flew this PR.IX on a test. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205127124 I've got an Airfix 1:48 Mosquito PR.XVI in the process of being assembled that I'm going to do for Ian in the NS502 scheme. I'm buiilding it wheels up and mounting it on an acrylic rod. Edited August 20, 2013 by Gordon Branch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhuxt Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 There is book written by a New Zealander, Ronald Foster, named Focus on Europe. Flt Lt Vickers is mentioned quite a lot in that book and I recommend it to anyone interested in WW2 aviation. I bought a copy for Ian, as well as myself, when I discovered it. http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/Site/page_images/mosquito_corryfoyness/544-sqdn-a-flight-1944_50.jpg This picture shows A Flt of 544Sqn at Leuchars in 1944. Harold Vickers is 3rd from the right in the front row. 2nd from the left is Malcolm Mosely, Vickers' navigator. To judge by the author's photo in the book, I reckon that's Foster next to Vickers, front row 2nd from right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don McIntyre Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 Any comments on the conversion itself, Alastair? I've seen the conversion on eBay a number of times and have been tempted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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