The wooksta V2.0

My apologies for the confusion. The last post was intended for @Kari Lumppio as it was dealing more with the 107 rather than 11sqn. However, whilst it may not be of use now, it all helps build a picture. I'm still gathering the information together for 618 squadron's aircraft and the research is interesting in and of itself.

P.254 of the Ian Thirsk book also yields a photo of a trio of 107 sqn aircraft just before they were renumbered as 11sqn. Two are in srptandard nightfighter colours, one being possibly TA120, but no code letter as it's hidden by the wing. The middle aircraft, TA581 OM-O, is in overall Aluminium dope. All three have type D markings. The letters could be either red for yellow and outlined in black. They're too light to be green. Unsure of spinner colour but they have dark back-plates. There's one other interesting photo I turned up in the Edward Shacklady book, Classic WW.II Aviation Volume 6. De Havilland Mosquito. TBH, it's not a good book and many of the photos are mis-captiioned, but many are of interest. P.156 has a photo of PZ169 OM-R. Standard night fighter scheme with type C markings, the wing upper ones look to be 36in with a yellow surround, so my guess it's taken in summer '45. Looks to be toting 100gal tanks underwing. Shot taken from starboard rear so no good view of the spinners bar a small light flash. Code letters look to have a black surround and could be either yellow or red. Hope that's of some use.

Adam Poultney is your man for Vulcans.

Definitely in that photo in MAM. That photo is in at least three books on the Mosquito, one of which (the Ian Thirsk Illustrated History) identifies HR338.

Ideal reference for the Merlin PR Spitfires is the two volume set released by Ventura in New Zealand. Not sure if it's OOP, but it's worth it's pricetag.

Both Paul Lucas and Ian Thirsk agree that the spinners on EX-C were red. Given that there are so few photos to go off for 11 Sqn, I think you could paint the spinners red and add a unit marking on the tail. Most other units did so, With no photos and little available info, who is to prove you wrong? EX-C appears to be the only known code tie up after the change from OM. I scoured various books and drew a blank. I have similar plans for a 249 Sqn FB.26 in Kenya using Tempest markings. Lookinjg forward to seeing the finished product. @Kari Lumppio, there *may* be a photo of the aircraft you're looking for. It's that common photo of a line up of 107 and 21 Sqn aircraft at Wahn with a couple of armoured cars. It's not big enough to read the serial but I think that it's one of the aircraft. Spinners and nose cones look to be aluminium. Sure it's in that issue of MAM with BAFO Mosquitoes. 4 Squadron is the one that interests me, specifically TA539. I've several shots but no side view!

Ta. I knew it was a high number.

There was a third squadron using mk.XIIs. One of the second line units, possibly a bomber defence flight, got a trio in late '44(?), but I don't recall which one.

It is the same kit. Just with different parts for the two marks. The instructions tell you to fill certain lines for the ailerons depending on which variant is chosen.

The simplified Vc, along with the simplified Hawk, is out in the new combo kit. The former looks really nice. Ideal as a clothes horse.

To convert a non retractable to retractable is easy. Just take the closed tailwheel door from the Airfix 19 and use that as a template to cut the area out. Strip the retractable tailwheel from the Hasegawa 9 and the doors too as they're spare in that kit.

Not the Revell one. The one in the new tool black boxing is awful, along with plenty of other bits in that kit, which is a shame as it has a decent outline. The older 96 tooling had the oil cooler integral with the lower wing half.

Possibly, but the engine on the 14 would need shortening (by how much I'm unsure) , the port radio hatch scribed in. Radiator bath filled and smaller Vb oil cooler attached and the fin reworking. Pointy rudder from the AZ IX.

TBH, it's not too difficult to convert the earlier tailplanes. Either fill and rescribe, or chop the elevators off a set of spare AZ or Eduard late tailplanes and add to the suitably modified Vc tailplanes. The good thing about these conversions is that a lot of kits are giving the relevant necessary spares in addition to a complete Spitfire.

I'd use a similar recipe, although using the spare C wing from the Sword Seafire III. But the suggestion of using an Eduard VIII is intriguing. Apart from the engine, the only real issues are the ailerons, but the kit gives you the ones from the MK.IX anyway, so a minor surgical cut is all you need there. Oil cooler spare from the Airfix Vc, once the bath is filled in. Then you just need a short Grifffon. One of the spare fuselages in either of the Sword Seafire XV or XVII kits with a Quickboost resin top cowl. They also do a five blade Grifffon prop which could be modified using the one in the Sword Seafire as a pattern. The engine swap would also work with the Airfix Vc, if you were to build one of the XIIs built from Vc airframes. Graham may have the serials to hand.

Apparently 11 sqn aircraft were very camera shy and the only photo I know of is of SZ984. That appears in Mosquito: An Illustrated History vol.2 by Ian Thirsk, p.251. Allocated to 605, remained at Volkel until transferred to 107 at Wahn in April 48. Continued to serve with 107 then 11 until July 50. To UK and storage at 27 MU. Non effective stock Nov 50. To RAF Yatesbury as Instructional Airframe, 6809M, until sold as scrap 29 59. Photographed at Yatesbury as 6809M, it's in Med Sea Grey over night, probably with red spinners, still retaining it's 11 sqn codes EX-C, which look to be white, and post war national markings. Serials painted out. No sign of any more colourful unit insignia. Looks to be a standard late FB.VI, paddle blade props and tropical filters (available from Freightdog). It's an aircraft I'd like to have a crack at. There is another photo, but it's of several aircraft in flight from the front and decidedly unhelpful for id purposes. The codes appear to have changed from OM to EX in late 49/early 50. Other aircraft listed with 107/11 were TA118, TA581 OM-O, NS898, RS816 OM-D, RS816 OM-J, TA489 OM-D. Chaz Bowyer's Mosquito Squadrons of the RAF lists a number of serial/code tie ups for aircraft used by 107. Hope that's of some use.

I'm sure some enterprising person will come up with a resin solution. For myself, a spare Tamiya door may fall into some moulding rubber. Purely for personal use, you understand. As for the tail wheel, unless they fix it, I have several spare Tamiya ones that may have a similar accident.

Another scan and that tailwheel needs looking at - it needs the groove for the twin contact anti shimmy wheel. The detail on the cockpit sidewalls looks better than the Tamiya in places, not so much in others. Given the canopy most likely has drop in panels, is it possible they may be planning a mk.IX at some point?

I've just remembered that I might have a set, intended for a what if B.35, but it''ll be a few days before I can check.

The Sea Hornet NF21 and PR22 both had similar exhausts. Perhaps a set cloned and cast in resin from the parts in a Classic Airframes 48th Hornet may work? I've done it for the wing of NF30 and NF36s I have planned, using the exhausts from the Skybirds Hornet as a pattern.

Still got the wrong canopy side blisters for a 16 though. I really want to see the canopy sprue. Apart from that, it all looks very promising. I'm especially happy that the bulged bay is separate, meaning those wanting a very early B.XVI or PR.XVI, can do one without recourse to surgery. I'm wanting to do a 1409 Met Flight aircraft - amongst many, many others.

Other than filling some moulding flaws, adding a cockpit interior (which can't be seen as it's all black) and a decent canopy, the Matchbox kit holds it's own. I'd also round off the cowling ring at the front a bit as otherwise it looks a bit square.

The fit of the plastic is fine, add the resin bits - especially the wheel well insert - and you're in a whole new colour of hell. I got so far and gave up, hating it more than you could possibly dream about. Life is too short and the Matchbox one was good enough for me.

I can't speak for the 48th, but the 72nd Tamiya FB6 and NF19 have the same canopy with an optional drop in panel for flat or blown. Is the 48th the same? The recent release of the Airfix 48th Mosquito PR16 allegedly came completed with NF.30 exhausts. Again, like the NF30, not all NF36s had the louvred exhausts, having exposed 6 stack. Just a choice of picking your aircraft. Reference-wise, I heartily recommend Mosquito: The Pictorial History Vols one and two. The latter book especially.

Not all NF.XXXs had the louvred exhausts, so a different aircraft may make things easier. In addition, other than a leading edge landing light, externally there's little or no difference with the NF36, these wore your colourful markings. The Airfix NF.30 in 48th has the louvred exhausts, so a request for a spare set may be worth asking.