Wm Blecky Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Can someone confirm for me the size (ie, how many gallons) of the drop tanks that come with the Tamiya 1/72 Mosquito kit? TIA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FZ6 Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Hi, I think they are the smaller ones. Sorry I don't know the size in gallons. Hope this helps, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 the small tanks are 50 gal, the larger ones 100 gal. If it's the kit seen here: http://www.mossie.org/models/Tamiya_1-72_NFII-FBVI/Tamiya.htm they are 50 gal by the look of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwart Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Yup the small ones in the Tamiya, aftermarket for the larger ones . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wm Blecky Posted March 21, 2017 Author Share Posted March 21, 2017 Thank you fellas, I appreciate the confirmation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Just to drift a bit off topic, but were these actual drop tanks or just extra fuel tanks to extend range? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Swindell Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Drop tanks, in some photos without them you can see the mounting bracket, and on coastal command strike wing mossies that used double tiered rockets on the outer two mounts special guard rails were fitted inboard of them to defloct the tanks away from the rockets when they were dropped. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Yes, drop tanks, although for a lot of Mosquito missions the opportunities for bringing them back empty for re-use were greater than if you were in a P-51D and actively seeking out aerial combat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 They were very good for blowing up trains, I was told by a former Mosquito crew member in 1988. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 (edited) I can certainly imagine the story, and it's a belter, but... hmm... given that they have no stabilising fins I have a high degree of scepticism about a part-filled one's arrival at any particular point on the ground being a matter of anyone's intention. It's one thing to napalm a forest, but railway engines are only nine feet across... Edited March 22, 2017 by Work In Progress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kiker Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Hi all, On the other hand, railway engines are many feet long, depending upon your orientation! :-) Cheers, Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wm Blecky Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share Posted March 25, 2017 Can anyone comment as to which variants were more apt to have used the 100 gal drop tank and in what sort of role/mission? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 They were in fact used as napalm bombs for attacks on enemy airfields and other non-precision targets by 100 Group squadrons in 1944 and 1945, so my napalm reference above wasn't totally tongue in cheek. Other than that, long range photo-recce would be an obvious user. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 Banff strikewing aircraft used the smaller tanks - i think the 100's were used in the far east (at least i think i remember reading that somewhere). The airfix pr came with 50 gal tanks me thinks..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Swindell Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 7 minutes ago, Lawzer said: Banff strikewing aircraft used the smaller tanks Up to early march 1945, they used 100 gal tanks after that. The double tier rocket/drop tank combination used 100 gal tanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 1 hour ago, Dave Swindell said: Up to early march 1945, they used 100 gal tanks after that. The double tier rocket/drop tank combination used 100 gal tanks. Really? That's handy to know - I was thinking about doing another mosquito with the 2 tier rockets so I would have gone with the 50 gal ones. forwarned is forarmed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Swindell Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 There's a really good article with photo's drawings and plans on the Coastal Command Mossies by Terry Higgins (Aviaeology) in the current Airfix Modelworld Mosquito special. Plans show the tiered rockets, 100 gal tanks and various aerial setups. Freightdog have re-released 100gal tanks And aviaeology have a few interesting bits coming Banff strike wing Mossies Gee de Havilland Mosquito R/P rig (tiered Mk.IIIA) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 Were these tanks actually filled with napalm or just Avgas and some form of igniter? Here's an image of the double-tiered rockets and wing tank on a Mossie. Forgive me bot I do not recall the source. It's been in my Photobucket for about as long as this forum has been operating. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 11 minutes ago, dogsbody said: Were these tanks actually filled with napalm or just Avgas and some form of igniter? Here's an image of the double-tiered rockets and wing tank on a Mossie. Forgive me bot I do not recall the source. It's been in my Photobucket for about as long as this forum has been operating. Chris That's the photo I'm basing the rockets on.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Lime Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 1 hour ago, Lawzer said: That's the photo I'm basing the rockets on.... Problem with that photo is that it doesn't show an operational rig. The ones in use by the Banff Wing had a simple frame attached to protect the rockets and rails from the drop tanks if they were jettisoned. I don't have a photo I can post myself, but none of the ones I have in my references show that set-up on an operational Banff Wing aircraft. Mark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 (edited) 12 hours ago, dogsbody said: Were these tanks actually filled with napalm or just Avgas and some form of igniter? 100 Group used napalm gel. They experimented out of West Raynham with three different recipies giving different thixotropic qualities for different effects. Napthenic and palmitic acids combined with aluminium to make the thickening agents for the base petrol, and white phosphorus to set it off. It's all in Martin Bowman's book https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Group-Bomber-Support-Aviation/dp/1844154181 Edited March 26, 2017 by Work In Progress 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Swindell Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 14 hours ago, Lawzer said: That's the photo I'm basing the rockets on.... That's the first trial installation. The rails are correct, but as Mark says the protection frame is missing between tank and rails. The rockets were installed staggered with the lower rocket far enough forward for the full set of fins to be fitted to both rockets without interference. The lower rocket fins had slots at the rear to accommodate the mounting bracket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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