Valiant Wings De Havilland Mosquito - Airframe & Miniature 8

[Mike]

The De Havilland Mosquito

Part 1: Bomber & Photo Reconnaissance

Valiant Wings Publishing ISBN 978-0-9935345-1-5

This book is Number 8 in the Airframe & Miniature series, penned by that dynamo of aviation literature, Richard A Franks. There can't be many people that don't know at least a little about the much beloved Mossie, but even those with a fair knowledge can always learn more. I think I probably fall in that category, having had a love of the Mosquito since boyhood when I was lucky enough to see one flying overhead from Hawarden on many occasions.

The Mosquito began as a private project that garnered little interest from the Ministry, as wooden construction was considered so passé in the age of the all metal airframe. Fortunately, the De Havillands weren't put off and presented them with an almost completed design that was fast, agile, adaptable and just what they didn't know they needed, just when they didn't know they needed it. Its ability to take on any job assigned to it rapidly earned it the nickname the Wooden Wonder, due to its mainly wood and balsa wood construction that utilised a huge experience base of the furniture making industry that might otherwise have been idle or having to be retrained. Loved by pilots and aviation enthusiasts alike, it was a rugged aircraft too, thanks in part to the wooden construction that took damage differently than metal. After WWII she remained in service around the world for many years until they were obsolete even in the target towing role.

As the title tells us, we concern ourselves with the bomber initially, which was the original planned role for the Mossie, relying on high speed to evade the enemy fighters, so therefore unarmed. The glass nose was used by the bomb aimer at the target, and is one of the most striking features that differentiated it from the fighter bomber versions that would follow. There were a plethora of sub-variants manufactured, converted and cobbled together, both here and in Canada, with them all covered inside the covers. It is perfect bound in a card sleeve with 192 glossy pages inside, plus a concertina fold-out set of plans in 1:48 attached to the inside of the rear cover. As well as detailing the aircraft, there are also modelling related sections, plus a handy ready-reckoner for those wishing to build an accurate variant, showing what was added of removed to make that version. The chapters are laid out as follows:

Airframe

Evolution – The Bombers

Prototype

Production

Evolution – Photo-Reconnaissance

Other Variants

Camouflage & Markings including colour profiles

Miniature

Mosquito Bomber, PR & Target Tug Kits

Building a Selection

Building a Collection

In Detail

Nose
Cockpit & Canopy
Mid & Aft Fuselage
Tail
Engine, Propeller & Cowlings
Wings
Undercarriage
Bombs & Drop Tanks
Bomb Sights
Cameras
Radio, Radar & Misc. Electrical
Target Towing Equipment
Access Panels
Miscellaneous

Appendices

Mosquito Kit List
Mosquito Accessory List
Bibliography

1/48 Scale Plans Fold-Out


Conclusion
As usual with this series the photographs are well printed, the models well made, and the layout clear and logical. There is plenty of material for the avid aviation reader as well as the modeller, and although the Appendices will soon date, they only take up five pages, so it's no big deal.

Highly recommended.

Review sample courtesy of