Post War Mossie Night Fighters

[Wez]

The forthcoming sheet from Freightdog features an NF.36 - now I have the Tamiya NF.XIII(?), but, is that nose the same as the post-war radar nose or are they different? I had it in my head the nose on the later marks was more bulbous than the mid-war night fighters and a lot of them were in clear perspex too!

Can anyone verify this? If so, who makes a later NF nose (right now I'm guessing Aeroclub)? Also, does anybody make the exhaust shrouds applicable to these later Mossies or can point me in the direction of a decent set of plans and photgraphs so I can whittle my own?

TIA

Regards

Wez

[AnonymousA667]

Wez, I stand to be corrected, but I think the Bull nose was universal and at least one of my references states this. The images I have seen of the Tam XIII suggest that it comes with the Bull nose rather than Thimble nose. The various incarnations of the Airfix Mosquito in 1/48 and 1/72 come with the Bull nose as does the 1/72 Matchbox kit.

With regards to engines, the two stage Merlin can be found in 1/48 with Airfix kits or the old Matchbox kit in 1/72, although the latter doesn't have the shrouds you refer to. Not sure about the Airfix. Other than that you will need to look for resin replacements - come in Neil 'Mr Paragon'!

If you can find a copy then Mosquito in Action Part 2 has good drawings, sketches and photos. I would think the Modellers Datafile has good info but this is as rare as rocking horse poo.

peebeep

[PHREAK]

It's the right nose but you'll need to convert the engines to two stage Merlins....Paragon do 'em.

[Wez]

Wez, I stand to be corrected, but I think the Bull nose was universal and at least one of my references states this. The images I have seen of the Tam XIII suggest that it comes with the Bull nose rather than Thimble nose. The various incarnations of the Airfix Mosquito in 1/48 and 1/72 come with the Bull nose as does the 1/72 Matchbox kit.

With regards to engines, the two stage Merlin can be found in 1/48 with Airfix kits or the old Matchbox kit in 1/72, although the latter doesn't have the shrouds you refer to. Not sure about the Airfix. Other than that you will need to look for resin replacements - come in Neil 'Mr Paragon'!

If you can find a copy then Mosquito in Action Part 2 has good drawings, sketches and photos. I would think the Modellers Datafile has good info but this is as rare as rocking horse poo.

peebeep

Thanks, I think you're right in terns of shape, the Bullnose was universal however, I've seen pictures of post-war Mossies with a clear radome that you can see the scanner through rather than a painted one - it was a clear one I thought I might need although I'm ready to be corrected!

I should have said that I'm looking at 1/72nd scale here, I have the Paragon two-stage Mossie donk's but I can't find any decent info on the 'zorst shrouds, when I looked at this before I think I found both references you quoted shall we say, suitably vague in this respect.

Thanks for the info.

Wez

[AnonymousA667]

Thanks, I think you're right in terns of shape, the Bullnose was universal however, I've seen pictures of post-war Mossies with a clear radome that you can see the scanner through rather than a painted one - it was a clear one I thought I might need although I'm ready to be corrected!

That is correct, you need to check references for your particular machine as some of the radomes weren't painted, but they were still the universal AFAIK.

I think you're referring to the semi-louvred exhaust shroud, there is a good photo on page 14 of the 'In Action' book, another not quite so good photo on page 16 and the drawing on page 15 that unfortunately would've been better at a larger scale.

peebeep

[Robert A]

Hi Wez,

The NF36 was fitted with the "Universal" or "Bull" nose, as per the later NF XII, XIII, XIX, 30 and 36. The earlier nose seen on XII and a few XIII airframes was the "thimble" nose and was for the A.I. mkVIII.

The clear noses you refer to are the same item as all were originally made of clear "plastic" and were regularly painted whi;st on the production line during the war, however post war you often see them as an opaque white colour ( this was not paint but the plastic was sanded so that it was no longer see through) or left completed unpainted.

As the others have said, this nose is in the Tamiya kit and the Airfix NF30 kit. THe airfix kit contains the correct 2 stage merlins and also all the various exhaust configurations.

My personal preference is for the Airfix kit, it may be old but it is dimensionally more accurate, however, the nose is a bit of a pain to fit and the 2 stage merlin nacelles need some work to improve the shape a litte and sharpen up some detail.

You do get everything in one box, which is always useful.

Another thing about the Airfix kit is the fact that you'd have to scratchbuild the AI mk10 equipment in the cockpit, but you could use the scanner dish from a Monogram Black Widow.

Hope this helps,

Bob

[Wez]

I think you're referring to the semi-louvred exhaust shroud, there is a good photo on page 14 of the 'In Action' book, another not quite so good photo on page 16 and the drawing on page 15 that unfortunately would've been better at a larger scale.

peebeep

Yup, that's the babies (just looked at the In Action book), the pictures give me a vague idea - I'd prefer a drawing (engineering first, scale second).

Quite taken by the grey over black scheme of the 199 Sqn NF36 in the colour section of the In Action book.

Regards

Wez

[Wez]

As the others have said, this nose is in the Tamiya kit and the Airfix NF30 kit. THe airfix kit contains the correct 2 stage merlins and also all the various exhaust configurations.

My personal preference is for the Airfix kit, it may be old but it is dimensionally more accurate, however, the nose is a bit of a pain to fit and the 2 stage merlin nacelles need some work to improve the shape a litte and sharpen up some detail.

You do get everything in one box, which is always useful.

Bob,

Is this the 1/72nd or 1/48th Mossie? I'm looking at 1/72nd.

Wez

[AnonymousA667]

Bob is referring to the 1/48 scale kits, there is no Airfix 1/72 scale offering with two stage Merlins.

peebeep

[Colin @ Freightdog Models]

Thanks for your interest everyone, the two NF36's do have clear noses, but John McIllurray's book 'Advanced Aviation Modelling' from Crowood Press shows you how to scratch build the clear nose on a Belgian NF30 using the Airfix 1/48 scale kit. Good suggestion about the Black Widow dish though, I hadn't thought of that.

Colin

Edited September 5, 2008 by Colin @ Freightdog Models

[Robert A]

Wez,

Peebeep got it on the nose there I meant the 1/48th Airfix kit, sorry I was rather tired after a long and stressful day.

Colin,

I'm a bit of a Mossie nerd and found out that the Black widow and late Mossies are both fitted with the A.I mkX/SCR 720. So I double checked they used the same scanner and saw a use for some bits out of the spares box.

I've supplied Trevor Snowden at Airfix a lot of info for the new 1/24th Kit, as he told me they were going to put the parts in so the buyer can build any of the fighter versions from one box and any of the bombers when they do the bomber version.

I'm glad to hear you've put the 199 Squadron aircraft on your new decal sheet. I gave tha info for that one to Tony O'Toole when he mentioned you were going to do a new sheet. I've loads more ideas for Mossies if you're interested.

Bob

Thanks for your interest everyone, the two NF36's do have clear noses, but John McIllurray's book 'Advanced Aviation Modelling' from Crowood Press shows you how to scratch build the clear nose on a Belgian NF30 using the Airfix 1/48 scale kit. Good suggestion about the Black Widow dish though, I hadn't thought of that.

Colin

[rossm]

In 1/72 there are 2-stage Merlin nacelles from Paragon, Airwaves and Czechmaster (full PRXVI conversion with decals so more expensive). The Paragon ones look like the easiest to use but I haven't tried them yet (too many projects, too little time).

For the 'semi-louvred' exhausts I got a C-Scale Sea Hornet conversion secondhand a few years ago as I thought the exhausts would be right for the NF36. They do look about right but how you can get just the exhausts these days I don't know. Maybe if a Special Hobby Sea Hornet NF21 contains parts to enable it to be completed as a single seater ? Otherwise even more expensive than my route !!!

If anyone has any photos of NF30 Mosquitos in the West Country (I think they were at Exeter {151 Sqdn} and Predannack {151,406 Sqdns} for short periods) I'd be very grateful for a scan to help with my RAF in Devon/Cornwall project - http://www.hrmtech.com/SIG/devcor.asp

Ross

[Wez]

Thanks all for your replies - it looks as though I shall have to whittle some exhaust shrouds out of purest plastic

But then again, maybe an enterprising white metal or resin manufacturer may take pity upon us

Here's hoping!

Wez

[Don McIntyre]

Looks like Revell may do doing a Mk.XIII sometime in the (relatively) near future.

You'll need to scroll down the page a bit, but check this out. Looks VERY nice to me: (can't wait for this one and the B.IX)

http://www.brazmodels.com/3D%20CAD/3D%20CAD.htm

http://www.brazmodels.com/3D%20CAD/Mosquit...mplete%2004.JPG

[The wooksta V2.0]

For the 'semi-louvred' exhausts I got a C-Scale Sea Hornet conversion secondhand a few years ago as I thought the exhausts would be right for the NF36. They do look about right but how you can get just the exhausts these days I don't know. Maybe if a Special Hobby Sea Hornet NF21 contains parts to enable it to be completed as a single seater ? Otherwise even more expensive than my route !!!

I've got a set of the C Scale exhausts somewhere and they are horrid! Magna do a set but they're a bit... Well, useble is probably the kindest work I can think of. The ones in the old Skybirds '86 Hornet NF21 are beauties though.

Aeroclub does indeed do a clear glazing for the radar but I suspect it's intended to fit the Matchbox kit given it's age.

I've got a set of the C Scale exhausts somewhere and they are horrid! Magna do a set but they're a bit... Well, useble is probably the kindest work I can think of. The ones in the old Skybirds '86 Hornet NF21 are beauties though. The Special Hobby Sea Hornet can be built as a single seater - the second cockpit has to be opened out by the modeller, so the exhausts could be utilised for a Mosquito.

Aeroclub does indeed do a clear glazing for the radar but I suspect it's intended to fit the Matchbox kit given it's age.

[mungo1974]

I told Neil when he was doing his Tamiya Mossie stuff to do those NF36 exhausts!!!....but he choose not to do them,maybe if you all PM him and ask nicely..

[Wez]

I told Neil when he was doing his Tamiya Mossie stuff to do those NF36 exhausts!!!....but he choose not to do them,maybe if you all PM him and ask nicely..

Good idea... ...wonder if he's lurking

Wez