PhantomBigStu Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 (edited) Something that has bugged me for a while, remembering Airfix have you cut the nose of the 1/72 kit to make the mkxviii, just wondering how different is the shape of it? Got a mind to convert the Tamiya in the future Edited October 22, 2020 by PhantomBigStu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJP Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 AIrfix has had a lot of Mosquito kits over the years - which one do you mean? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 1 hour ago, PhantomBigStu said: Something that has bugged me for a while, remembering Airfix have you cut the nose of to make the mkxviii, just wondering how different is the shape of it? Got a mind to convert the Tamiya in the future Different enough, the XVIII has a modified cannon panel, and bulge for the gun and armour plate Just google same images. eg The XVIII does have some other detail differences not accounted for when Airfix did their kit. I say this as in 1/48th Paragon did conversions for the Airfiax and then Tamiya kits, and the later on had armoured flaps and some other bits. Bear in mid if you want to do the conversion it might be worth asking for a leftover Airfix nose? 1 minute ago, RJP said: AIrfix has had a lot of Mosquito kits over the years - which one do you mean? Airfix has made two 72nd kits, a FB VI in the 50's, and a 70's era that was a II/VI, and had the nose to make the XVIII, which is the one the OP refers too. The other are a 48th kit, done a FB.VI in 1980, and then had added parts to do a NF.XXX/30, and a B/PR XVI, and the 1/24th kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomBigStu Posted October 22, 2020 Author Share Posted October 22, 2020 Thanks @Troy Smith, can see the difference now, looks simple enough with a blade and sandpaper to achieve, though may end up with a spare nose anyway, local has both and might get the airfix to do as an nfii at some point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 The original (Airfix II) kit had both Mk.VI and Mk.XVIII bits - the later issue had the bull nose and 4-blade props for a Swedish NF Mk.XIX. That you did have to cut off the nose for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Swindell Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 2 hours ago, Troy Smith said: I say this as in 1/48th Paragon did conversions for the Airfiax and then Tamiya kits, and the later on had armoured flaps and some other bits. Paragon did the conversion in 1/72 for the Tamiya kit as well https://www.scalemates.com/kits/paragon-designs-72071-mosquito-fbxviii-molins-conversion--1004468 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 (edited) Here's a conversion I did a couple of years ago, that shows some of the required mods for a Tse Tse , hope it helps ... ... and some build photo's ... https://www.flickr.com/photos/150700625@N03/albums/72157691377659631 Edited October 22, 2020 by Tail-Dragon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomBigStu Posted October 22, 2020 Author Share Posted October 22, 2020 (edited) Lovely build @Tail-Dragon, and thanks for other comments, so looks like any XVIII I build will be inaccurate as I cannot find the bulged canopy in 1/72 , still doesn't mean I won't give it a go, if one does exist Ill wait till it becomes available and build the airfix as an nfii short term Edited October 22, 2020 by PhantomBigStu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJP Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 The Airfix VI / XVIII didn't have you saw the nose off. I wonder if you're thinking of the bomber-nose Frog effort with its alternative Mk VI parts. That one did need rhinoplasty. It was nowhere as sly as the way Tamiya provided for alternate noses. Instead, the panel with the 20 MM gun apertures was separate on the Airfix kit and there was a similar one for the 57 MM. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomBigStu Posted October 22, 2020 Author Share Posted October 22, 2020 @RJP https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/7/7/0/206770-45-instructions.pdf 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XV107 Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Yes, I remember the XVIII required the removal of the nose, since when I built my first one, I decided that I wasn't going to faff about with removing the nose - or more accurately, asking my Dad to cut it off since it seemed to require the use of a sharp blade (I was at the age where Blue Peter's 'please ask an adult to do this for you' applied when it came to sharp items). A few years later, I lazily didn't bother with it, but told myself that I would next time. I'll get that third kit out of the loft and actually do it at some point... Didn't Paragon do a Molins conversion in 48th for the Airfix kit (complete with new nose parts)? I dimly recall seeing one in ED Models about 20 years ago (while I'd like to think it wasn't 20 years ago, but, by heaven, it must have been...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 18 hours ago, Troy Smith said: I say this as in 1/48th Paragon did conversions for the Airfiax and then Tamiya kits, and the later on had armoured flaps and some other bits. 10 hours ago, XV107 said: Didn't Paragon do a Molins conversion in 48th for the Airfix kit (complete with new nose parts)? I dimly recall seeing one in ED Models about 20 years ago (while I'd like to think it wasn't 20 years ago, but, by heaven, it must have been...) Indeed, as I noted above And, it most likely was 20-years ago As Paragon switched to using the Tamiya as the base kit for the upgraded conversion. I have the old versions stashed, and seen images/instruction for the upgraded one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted October 23, 2020 Share Posted October 23, 2020 In reality, the only aftermarket parts needed are a good set of plans, some brass tubing, and a Squadron ‘bulged’ canopy. Everything else can be accomplished with spare parts and plastic strip. It’s probably as much work fitting a resin set, as it is modifying the kit parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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