ReccePhreak Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 I recently got the Tamiya 1/48 De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.VI/NF Mk.II kit in a trade. Since I mainly build photo-recce aircraft, can I make a Mosquito PR Mk.II out of it, or some other recce version? In the SAM Modellers Datafile on the Mosquito, there is a drawing of a PR Mk.II version that has a gun nose and camera ports underneath. A Google search didn't turn up any info on that version. Is it possible to convert my kit to that version, without too much hassle? Any info on markings on those birds? Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Look for the SAAF role in North Africa, using two F Mk.IIs as PR aircraft. Possibly 60 Sq SAAF? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Hello In his book Squadrons of the SAAF and their aircraft 1920-05 Steven McLean gives serials of converted Mosquitos, flown by 60 Sqn. SAAF, as DD743, DD744 (Mk.II), HJ672 and HJ673 (Mk.VI). Mk.IIs had Williamson camera (?) installed under navigator's seat and I presume the same was the case with Mk.VIs. Unfortunately, no photos of these aircraft are included. Cheers Jure 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Hi these links maybe of interest http://www.saairforce.co.za/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8915 and 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReccePhreak Posted March 18, 2018 Author Share Posted March 18, 2018 7 hours ago, Graham Boak said: Look for the SAAF role in North Africa, using two F Mk.IIs as PR aircraft. Possibly 60 Sq SAAF? Hi Graham, A Google search for Mosquito "PR Mk.II", found your excellent posting in the 72nd Scale Aircraft forum in February 2013. I just now joined that forum, just in case they might have more recce aircraft info that would be helpful to me. Searching the SAAF Forum has also proved useful, so I think I am getting closer to collecting all the relevant data I will need, in order to make my Pr Mk.II Mosquito. Thanks for the help. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReccePhreak Posted March 18, 2018 Author Share Posted March 18, 2018 (edited) 8 hours ago, brewerjerry said: Hi these links maybe of interest http://www.saairforce.co.za/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8915 and Thanks for the link and the photo. Lots of good info on the SAAF Forum. Is that photo supposed to be a recce Mosquito? It's hard to make out the type and the tail number. Larry Edited March 18, 2018 by ReccePhreak More questions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Hi the comment under the linked page photo says HP968, FBVI, armament removed so presumably a recce mossie unless someone knows otherwise ? cheers jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky dancer Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Hi, There is a second photo of this Mossie later in the album, which may be of some help:- https://www.flickr.com/photos/8270787@N07/6157774839/in/album-72157605269786717/ All the best, M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Hello, Larry There is an in-flight photo of DD744 in the book I mentioned, which I somehow managed to miss. There are also two other photos of the same plane here. It seems that cannon armament had been removed to make room for a camera, although machine guns had been retained. Cheers Jure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magpie22 Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Another possibility would be a PR.40. These were Australian production and converted from the MK.40 which was the same as an FB.VI. There would be some conversion work involved in doing the camera positions in the nose and rear fuselage. Colour schemes would be overall PRU Blue or Aluminium dope. PM me if you want more details. Peter Malone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloegin57 Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 In his book, "Above All Unseen" (ISBN 1 85260 528 6), Edward Leaf describes, on P.71, how 1 PRU having lost some of its early PR Mosquitos, obtained two Mk.II fighters and converted them to PR.II's. No further details are given. Again from the same book, on P.161/162, the author states that when 'C' Flight of 681 Sqdn was split to form 684 Sqdn at Dum Dum on 29-9-43 (the split actually occurred in the November), it was planned for the Unit to have 20 PR Mosquitos but at first only had four B-25 Mitchells and five Mosquitos (two PR.II's and three PR.VI's). Again no further details are regrettably given. A little - but may help Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 (edited) 5 hours ago, sloegin57 said: Again from the same book, on P.161/162, the author states that when 'C' Flight of 681 Sqdn was split to form 684 Sqdn at Dum Dum on 29-9-43 (the split actually occurred in the November), it was planned for the Unit to have 20 PR Mosquitos but at first only had four B-25 Mitchells and five Mosquitos (two PR.II's and three PR.VI's). Again no further details are regrettably given. According to Rawlings' Coastal, Support and Special Squadrons of the RAF and Their Aircraft, 681 Sq operated the following "de Havilland Mosquito II, VI": DZ696, HJ730 U, HJ759 W and HJ760 Y. Of those the HJ-serialled aircraft were Mk VI and the DZ-serialled one a Mk.II (source: Air-Britain serial listings). O/T but Rawlings also give the following idents for 3 B-25C Mitchell IIs operated by the unit: MA956 E, MA957 Z, N5/144 C, later Z. (N5/144 is an ex-Dutch aircraft that the RAF never got round to reserialling). Edited March 19, 2018 by Seahawk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReccePhreak Posted March 19, 2018 Author Share Posted March 19, 2018 (edited) 8 hours ago, Jure Miljevic said: Hello, Larry There is an in-flight photo of DD744 in the book I mentioned, which I somehow managed to miss. There are also two other photos of the same plane here. It seems that cannon armament had been removed to make room for a camera, although machine guns had been retained. Cheers Jure Hello Jure, 2 interesting items in that SAAF Forum posting: 1. They installed one vertical camera & two oblique cameras. Too bad I don't have info on exactly where the camera ports were located. 2. They mentioned the midnight blue paint scheme, which would look so cool on a Mosquito model. Too bad there don't appear to be any photos of the plane in that scheme. Cheers, Larry Edited March 19, 2018 by ReccePhreak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReccePhreak Posted March 19, 2018 Author Share Posted March 19, 2018 12 hours ago, brewerjerry said: Hi the comment under the linked page photo says HP968, FBVI, armament removed so presumably a recce mossie unless someone knows otherwise ? cheers jerry Hi Jerry, Thanks for that info. Too bad I don't know where the camera ports were located. Larry 10 hours ago, Sky dancer said: Hi, There is a second photo of this Mossie later in the album, which may be of some help:- https://www.flickr.com/photos/8270787@N07/6157774839/in/album-72157605269786717/ All the best, M Thanks for the photo. Larry 7 hours ago, Magpie22 said: Another possibility would be a PR.40. These were Australian production and converted from the MK.40 which was the same as an FB.VI. There would be some conversion work involved in doing the camera positions in the nose and rear fuselage. Colour schemes would be overall PRU Blue or Aluminium dope. PM me if you want more details. Peter Malone PM sent. 6 hours ago, sloegin57 said: In his book, "Above All Unseen" (ISBN 1 85260 528 6), Edward Leaf describes, on P.71, how 1 PRU having lost some of its early PR Mosquitos, obtained two Mk.II fighters and converted them to PR.II's. No further details are given. Again from the same book, on P.161/162, the author states that when 'C' Flight of 681 Sqdn was split to form 684 Sqdn at Dum Dum on 29-9-43 (the split actually occurred in the November), it was planned for the Unit to have 20 PR Mosquitos but at first only had four B-25 Mitchells and five Mosquitos (two PR.II's and three PR.VI's). Again no further details are regrettably given. A little - but may help Dennis Hi Dennis, Thanks for the info. Another recce model IO want to do is one of those PR B-25Cs, using the Accurate Miniatures kit. Someday. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloegin57 Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 29 minutes ago, ReccePhreak said: Hi Jerry, Thanks for that info. Too bad I don't know where the camera ports were located. Larry Thanks for the photo. Larry PM sent. Hi Dennis, Thanks for the info. Another recce model IO want to do is one of those PR B-25Cs, using the Accurate Miniatures kit. Someday. Larry If you don't have the book Larry, try and get hold of a copy. It has quite a good description of the layout of those B-25C's. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReccePhreak Posted March 19, 2018 Author Share Posted March 19, 2018 44 minutes ago, sloegin57 said: If you don't have the book Larry, try and get hold of a copy. It has quite a good description of the layout of those B-25C's. Dennis Thanks for the suggestion. The title sounded familiar, but I couldn't find it in my recce "library". I checked online, and most of the available copies are in European shops. In fact, one is for sale in a shop in Stamford, which is just down the road from Wittering, where I lived for awhile in the late 80s. I will have to save up for a copy. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jure Miljevic Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 Hello, Larry Agreed, Midnight Blue Mosquito with orange centered SAAF roundels would make an interesting model. Here is another page from one of SAAF forums with a photo of Mosquito FB Mk.VI HJ673. The photo must have been taken shorty after delivery as this particular Mosquito had been written off after landing accident after only three days service with 60 Sqn. While I am far from certain, I am inclined to interpret her colours as PRU overall with regular RAF Brick Red roundel centers. Cheers Jure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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