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Tamiya 1-32 Mosquito TEST SHOT (picture Heavy) Update 14 June 2015


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Well I am chuffed. This wee Tamiya's Canadian distributor handed me a box full of test shot sprues for the new Mossie. It is not a complete kit as it is missing mostof the engines, the engine nacelles , photo-etched sheet and decals. The instructions are an incomplete set as the parts map and marking options are not complete. I can say this about the options; there are three options; version A has the shorter air intakes, B&C have the longer style. Two types of exhausts, shrouded and the longer un-shrouded type. There are no rockets in the kit but the wings can be loaded with slipper tanks (ver C) or 500lb bombs (Ver A& B). There are also 500lb bombs for the bomb bay.

I will also say that the parts are marvelous. Just as good or better than the recent Corsair which is Tamiya's best effort to date. And without a doubt this kit is better than that other one about to be released.

Today I am posting pics of the sprues. ASAP I will post pics of the sub assemblies as best as I can make them with the supplied parts.

Here goes!

PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE TEST SHOTS AND MAY NOT REPRESENT THE FINAL PRODUCT.

The figures are really good

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1-32%20MosTest%20Sht%20002%20P%20copy_zpThe fa

TWO TYPES OF SPINNER ver C gets #30 the pointy type

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RIVETS ARE VERY SUBTLE

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Fabric effect is realistic

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The instrument cases are included,

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Those funky wheels. #26 are cores, #25 are side walls and then the block treads... different and complex but it's Tamiya so they will all fit 100%

Also you can see the landing gear legs.

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The exhausts are on this sprue. The longer, exposed type could use a bit of work to deepen the outlets.

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The Bomb Bay doors are moulded in one piece. You will have to cut them as you want to display them.

Those are not ejector marks on the cockpit sidewall. They represent wooden discs for mounting controls and instruments to the fuselage interior,

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Check out the fram rivets! There are internal support brackets to go inside the canopy.

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The air intake screens are moulded as clear parts. Not the best and a bit of a compromise. Aftermarket/scratch builders - here's your opportunity!

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Edited by Bill Bunting
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Thanks for posting Bill,

Can you tell if they have rectified the height of the fin/rudder assembly and the canopy height from those of their 48th Mossie series?

Cheers

Dave

Hi Dave.

You should have no fears with the fin and canopy dimensions on this Tamiya 1/32 kit as a number of genuine components were measured to obtain accurate dimensional information. Looking at the pictures of the sprue test shots it's quite clear that the Tamiya kit parts are of a very high standard, with nice crisply molded detail unlike the clunky unrefined detail of the HK kit.

Cheers

Joe

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Thanks for posting Bill,

Can you tell if they have rectified the height of the fin/rudder assembly and the canopy height from those of their 48th Mossie series?

Cheers

Dave

Hi Dave. I measured the heights on the kit parts. Base of the fin to the horizontal rudder hinge line is 53mm. The rudder is 67mm from the base to the highest point. Now is that accurate your plans and are your plans 100%?

I haven't measured the canopy yet but I will. But it will be difficult to judge if it's correct to scale unless someone knows the exact legnth of the frame members etc. I think the best assessment will be if it looks right. I won't know for some time but I will post pics when I dry fit it.

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I've started construction of some of the sub assemblies of the TEST SHOT kit. I will post pics of them soon but right now in response to all of the interest in the tire assembly I am posting pics of the partial assembly of one tire.


It's interesting to note this might Tamiya's response to all of the negative comments about their rubber tires in other 1/32 kits. (although I have never experienced anything negative about their rubber tires even on the 15 year old kits I have around).


My conclusion is that this is a pretty neat solution to no seam lines. A bit complex but very cool and kind of fun. It certainly avoids the tedious sanding, filling, sanding routine and avoids the risk of sanding the wheels out of round trying to hide seams.


The main parts are a core in two halves and two sidewalls.


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The centre core halves fit perfectly and you do not need to worry about fixing the seams. The side walls fit well and only with the "bulge" in the right place. They do need a little pressure on them while the glue sets to ensure they are tight to the cores. I use Tenax 7 glue which sets in a few seconds. If you are using slower glue you may want to tape or clamp them.


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The flattened part.


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There are 7 small tread block parts for the round part of the tire, 1 for the flat bottom and 2 for the transitions. They only fit one way. Clever.

Here are some of the block parts added. I used a large drop of Revell Contacta liquid cement (thicker than Tenax) on the locating lug. The block was applied and then the tiniest amount of Tenax was flowed (capillary action) along the edges. The block was held in place for a few seconds and then the next block applied.


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As you can see the fit is very very good. There are a couple of tiny gaps that can easily be filled with Mr. Surfacer or an acrylic thinner like Perfect Putty or Vallejo putty. The excess would be wiped away using rubbing alcohol. No sanding!!!


Another angle:


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And the 'flattened" part"


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Edited by Bill Bunting
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I think it easily wins the award for the highest parts count for a tyre, but an ingenious and authentic looking solution to a thorny problem.

Or expressed another way- Brilliant.

-d-

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Thanks for that Bill.

Although I'm not a rivet-counter by nature, based on actual measurements that I have here it seems that their 32nd kit is much better in this area than their 48th offerings and thankfully doesn't have the "starved cow" fabric appearance.

Cheers

Dave

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Here is the same tire painted and with a little weathering. NOTE. I did NOT FILL any gaps in order to show the result.


I think the fit could be improved by: (a) cleaning up the seam on the "Core" - not filling but just ensuring there are no high spots or (B) filling with Mr Surfacer or an acrylic putty and cleaning the excess with rubbing alcohol. I will be stripping this wheel down , filling and repainting (later)


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And for those of you who want to know how "Flat"...


Also note that the hubs are seperate making the painting much easier.


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Lovely. Miles above the stupid vinyl tires. That's for sure. It will probably be hard to pass on Barracuda resin replacements when they come, but this is great for those who want to save money not buying AM.

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I have assembled some of the cockpit parts. NOTE this is not a complete kit (no PE, no decals, no masks and some sprues missing) and there some Photo-Etched parts that would be added to these assemblies such as an armour plate for the Navigator, Seat Harnesses (multi-part, trigger for the control stick some panels, boxes etc.


Also note I cannot build up the instrument panel as Tamiya is using PE panels over the clear lens/reverse decal instruments. In the past they have used a plastic part.


Fit so far is typical Tamiya.


Pilot's seat

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According to the instructions, this is the "Drift sight". It goes on the floor next to the pilot. Note the 'drawers" -nice!


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Navigator's seat. The porthole window has been masked.


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The back of the IP. you will need to add your own wiring if you want to.


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The front of the IP and the rudders. The offset rudder bars are captured nicely. The instrument holes would be covered with the instrument panel parts (decal on the back of a clear part and a PE front face.


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Control stick is missing the PE trigger.


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The big box is the "Gee" receiver and sits behind the pilot next to the navigator.


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The bottom of the cockpit floor also forms the front of the lower cannon bay. More parts to go here for sure once the cannons start to go in.


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The cockpit floor and the mounts for the machine guns at the front.


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That's it for a few days - I have to go work a for a couple of days (*&^%*$#%).

BB

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Things all look good Bill except for the rudder pedals. They look out of place and clunky. Is this how the real ones look or will some etched versions have better scale fidelity?

Thanks for sharing the info.

p.s, ever considered adding all of the info in one thread and just changing the first post title as you add new details? It might help keep all of the updates in an easy to find "one-stop" reference.......just a thought.

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Wow Bill, I hadn`t realised that you`d got your hands on a Mossie,......I take it that you are enjoying it so far? The detail parts look brilliant and you are tempting me towards a model that I am really trying hard not to be interested in,....... as I just cannot justify £150 for a model kit and my other half would castrate me if I bought one!

I really hope that Tamiya send you the missing parts so that you can do your magic to it,.......I reckon you`ll go for Black Rufe or one of the other 418 Sqn RCAF night intruders.

Does anybody know the decals options for this kit yet?

Cheers

Tony

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Things all look good Bill except for the rudder pedals. They look out of place and clunky. Is this how the real ones look or will some etched versions have better scale fidelity?

Thanks for sharing the info.

p.s, ever considered adding all of the info in one thread and just changing the first post title as you add new details? It might help keep all of the updates in an easy to find "one-stop" reference.......just a thought.

Yes they are a bit heavy handed but PE would not be suitable for them. On the original the sides are cut from plywood and the bars are metal tube. There should be lightening holes in the sides . All that said they may be OK when assembled and the canopy on we'll see. Of course it would be easy to improve the kit parts too.

I will see if I can figure how to join the threads - good idea.

BB

Wow Bill, I hadn`t realised that you`d got your hands on a Mossie,......I take it that you are enjoying it so far? The detail parts look brilliant and you are tempting me towards a model that I am really trying hard not to be interested in,....... as I just cannot justify £150 for a model kit and my other half would castrate me if I bought one!

I really hope that Tamiya send you the missing parts so that you can do your magic to it,.......I reckon you`ll go for Black Rufe or one of the other 418 Sqn RCAF night intruders.

Does anybody know the decals options for this kit yet?

Cheers

Tony

I ws quite surprised last week when I was asked to come pick it up at their office. Not sure if the other parts will show up and I don't know the kit decal options either. I t certainly will be a strain on many a pocketbook but you have to build at least one or two of these most recent 1/32 Tamiya kits, they're such a treat.

Cheers.

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