Collin

MicroScale 48-1091. 63rd FS/56th FG.

Tamiya base kit, aftermarket 2-stage Merlin engines (Jason Chatwin's original castings, recently reproduced by Brengun -BRL48124). Resin conversion pieces were great. Needed an in-flight bomber Mosquito to keep my FB in-flight Mosquito company on my work desk. Fun conversion, learned some valuable lessons in re-scribing and once again realized I need to improve my canopy masking. Prop Blur props utilized. Aeromaster 48-552 markings corrected for ML907 (HS-B, not GB-B as the markings state). Pilot and Nav figure in there if you can see them. I realized on this build

From Mr Vark: About 30 AGM-65As were fired during an operational evaluation in Vietnam. Four hundred AGM-65As were transferred from U. S. stocks to Israel during the 1973 War with 69 of those being expended. Of these first 99 launches, 87 hit their intended targets. 555th I’m trying to upload the photo. F-4D or E with triple rail launcher 3xAGM-65A’s

I will ask Jim Rotramel (MrVark)....expert in that area. USN didn't have them....USAF....don't know for sure. It was just coming into inventory. I know we sent a bunch to the IAF at the tail end of the YKW in '73. Cheers Collin

https://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/dh98-mosquito-two-stage-merlin http://www.brengun.cz/e-shop/1-48-accessories-22/dh98-mosquito-two-stage-merlin-(tamiya)-1672 I bought a few sets of these....and am using one of Jason's original sets he sent me on this build. They are identical. Cheers Collin

The lower half is a mix of off-black (NATO Black) and some darker grey colors from the paint pile. Actually used straight black enamel as a weathering step during the initial painting. Unfortunately this can’t really be seen with either a gloss or semi-gloss coat. That should pop out when I hit it with a matt coat. My original point is I don’t like light colored panel lines on dark night fighter schemes. I get the artistic side of it, but I’m trying to avoid that. I’m actually thinking of some panel filters with deep blue and other dark washes I have. We shall see. Big thing

Some light weathering on the top side. Still wondering how to weather the black lower surface...and still keep the panel lines dark. I'm not a big fan of the light color panel lines on a dark/black aircraft. Cheers Collin

Decals on, sealed and drying overnight. Took the opportunity to take her for a test flight in the model room...silly putty holding on the props. Good test flight. Mix of Tamiya and Aeromaster decals for B-HS. Used Tamiya branded Mark Fit Super Strong. Worked wonders on all the decals....it's pretty hot stuff, but not "melt the decals" strong. Great stuff. Tomorrow comes the fun part of putting down a semi-matt acrylic coat in prep for some oil and enamel weathering. When that semi-matt coat hits and everything blends together and the paint modulation comes back to

Initial painting done. First time I used masking tape or paper masks. I tried freehand airbrushing which I have done on other builds...but the Mossie had close to a feathered edge or sharp edge that I just couldn't reproduce freehand. Tried to mottle the top paint a bit...just to break it up. I use the display stand as a makeshift aircraft holder for painting and letting things dry. Next comes the clear coats and decals....then some weathering. Cheers Collin

All ROCKEYE are white....the MK 7 outer canister is white with either yellow or blue bands to denote if the cluster munitions inside are either live or inert and if the weapon is thermally protected. I've dropped thermally protected (TP) and non-TP ROCKEYE...both with inert and live munitions inside, outside canister has always white. Peacetime/wartime isn't a factor. Below...on this BUFF...first yellow stripe means the munition is thermally coated, the second blue stripe means the munitions inside the canister are inert (some even have blue "X"'s....see below).

USN ROCKEYE MK-20 series are white. Never saw, carried, or dropped one that wasn’t a white body, with either blue or yellow stripes. Cheers Collin

Very nice. Looking forward to this build of the FINEST aircraft ever (other than the Mosquito). Cheers Collin

Thanks for this info. I missed that sheet. Guess I can just mix and match to get the DZ633 letters/numbers from all other other sheets I have. Cheers Collin

I thought 627 Squadron (AZ code) had some B.IVs concerted to bulged bays? DZ633 for example. While I’m asking questions: what size 1/48 size decals would be correct for the aircraft identification codes (AZ-?) and the aircraft IDs (DZXXX)? Edit: Actually AeroMaster 48-553 has AZ-Q on the sheet....which should be a bulged bay aircraft. Now I just have to find that sheet. Thanks Collin