Alan P Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 Hi all, All ready to move on to my next project - a conversion of the Revell 1/32 B Mk.IV Mosquito to an FB Mk.VI of the Banff Strike Wing. While I'd love to use the Tamiya kit for this, it's comfortably out of the price range and probably way too detailed for what i have in mind anyway. So step up Revell Mossie, this is your moment! There's obviously a fair bit of work to be done to achieve this, so here's the collection of parts so far... First of all, the kit! It's the most recent rebox of the very original Revell 1/32 Mk.IV (1971 vintage!) with its lumpy detail, sink marks and raised panel lines - all the things modern modellers love! I have the five-stack exhausts from eduard Brassin, (also have the round-pipe Quickboost ones); Aviaeology stencils and Barracuda radio sets to spruce up the otherwise sparse cockpit. I'll be making all the other adjustments to the cockpit by scratchbuilding bits and pieces. Top centre of the picture is the Grey Matter resin nose conversion for the Mk.VI/NF.II which will be required! Other bits include the (incomplete) Xtradecal set for the subject aircraft: RS838 EO-A of 404 Sqn RCAF in standard MSG/DG. The British 60lb rockets are from Special Hobby, AMS Resin 100-gal slipper tanks, and Master .303 machine gun barrels. This will be built as an anti-flak aircraft with double-stacked HE 60lb rockets, cannon and machine gun armament. The finished model will be posed in flight on its way to smash up the Kriegsmarine in a Norwegian fjord, something the Banff Wing was extremely good at in the early months of 1945. Hoping this will be a fun build - looking forward to a bit of scratchbuild detailing (don't expect too much though!) All the best, Alan 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted June 9, 2021 Author Share Posted June 9, 2021 And we're off! Using plastic card (various thicknesses), spare PE and blu-tac to add detail and make corrections to the kit cockpit. The shortfalls in this ancient product are well-explained and thoughtfully corrected/detailed in @Max Headroom's lovely build of this kit so I won't go into much detail about that. You can see I've made a new radio shelf, rear bulkhead, corrected the seats and added back cushions. Other additions were some extra radio boxes and the repositioned entry hatch on the right hand sidewall. Some of this is pure fiction or just roughly rendered - my attitude to detailing can be summed up as 'close enough is good enough' so you might want to look at Max Headroom's build for some proper dimensions and details! Wondering if I can get away with using the kit crew, otherwise that will be a major expense to source from after market... Cheers, Alan 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 @Alan P nice start there! Glad to think that my dabblings to date are of help. No updates from me last week (weather too good and was told I had things to do in the garden.....) For the price and scale, this is a great kit on which to make your mark and you will end up with something unique. Bonus is that as the Mossie is mostly wood, not much rescribing will be required. Those Aviology stencils look intriguing and appear to have a lot more going on than the ones provided with the kit. Needless to say, front row with popcorn in hand! Trevor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Gidday Alan, although I'm mainly into model ships I like a few of the big twin-engined fighters of WW2, the Mozzie being one of them. I'm interested in seeing what you do here. Regards, Jeff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Just curious, does the resin nose come with the FB. VI fighter style canopy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Hi Alan Looking forward to seeing this build, slightly late I know but made it in front row still. Great start fella, you've certainly got some nice extras there. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 On 6/10/2021 at 3:54 PM, Tail-Dragon said: Just curious, does the resin nose come with the FB. VI fighter style canopy? Ha ha ha, as if I'd be so lucky 😂 Seriously, the long lamented Paragon conversion had the nose, cockpit and canopy but nobody's managed to repeat that feat since. I'll be doing my own canopy conversion, as with the cockpit. On 6/10/2021 at 4:17 PM, bigbadbadge said: Hi Alan Looking forward to seeing this build, slightly late I know but made it in front row still. Great start fella, you've certainly got some nice extras there. Chris Everywhere's the front row with my builds Chris 😂 you'll probably end up in here on your own again, but I'll be very happy with that mate 🍻 Thanks for starting the course with me, hopefully I won't be keeping you too long, this is planned to be a quick build. Cheers, Alan 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 So the cockpit got assembled this morning (I'm on leave for a bit ) and I've now moved on to the crew figures: This is the crew as portrayed in the kit, they look like Tutankhamun's crack fighter corps so there's some work to be done there... I used to be squeamish about chopping up crew figures, but I've got over it now I drilled out the collars to create the illusion of jackets rather than sarcophagi, and the sprue necks for the heads fit down the neckholes to make poseable heads! You can also see the seats are finished (more or less) although the details aren't perfectly reproduced Just about to move on to painting these guys but it's made me realise something - I have no idea what RAF aircrew were wearing by this stage of the war (Coastal Command, April/May 1945?) Full leathers and boots? Leather jacket over standard blues? Lightweight flying suits? Any help on this much appreciated! Alan 12 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 59 minutes ago, Alan P said: Ha ha ha, as if 😂 Seriously, the long lamented Paragon conversion had the nose, cockpit and canopy but nobody's managed to repeat that feat since. I'll be doing my own canopy conversion, as with the cockpit. Everywhere's the front row with my builds Chris 😂 you'll probably end up in here on your own again, but I'll be very happy with that mate 🍻 Thanks for starting the course with me, hopefully I won't be keeping you too long, this is planned to be a quick build. Cheers, A great subject fella and will look great next to the Beaufighter too. Got one in the stash too, not sure what direction to go in with it at the moment though and a long way off in the queue!!! I like your builds , are you keeping the raised panel lines too??? Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 I’m loving your ‘reanimation’. Can’t help you with the uniform I’m afraid other than to say flying from Banff it could be rather cold! As for the canopy I don’t need to tell you that it’s split vertically and that could cause a world of pain to hide the join. At least you will be able to chop off the windscreen and replace it with a flat one. Just remember it’s too tall at the windscreen end (look at the panels as they are square rather than rectangular) so butchering it may cure this fault. Will you need to remove the side panels with the blisters too? Looking good 👍 Trevor 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted June 10, 2021 Author Share Posted June 10, 2021 38 minutes ago, Max Headroom said: At least you will be able to chop off the windscreen and replace it with a flat one. Just remember it’s too tall at the windscreen end (look at the panels as they are square rather than rectangular) so butchering it may cure this fault. Will you need to remove the side panels with the blisters too? Thanks very much Trevor, and yes to all of the above. Looking at the construction of the canopy, the appropriate application of the razor saw should do the trick. 41 minutes ago, bigbadbadge said: I like your builds , are you keeping the raised panel lines too??? Thanks again Chris, there aren't many raised lines, as Trevor said before it's made of wood so I'll be able to work with what's there. Just went back through @11bravo's brilliant Tamiya build, and while this will be nothing like that it's made me wish I'd saved up for the Tamiya kit after all 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 following with interest, I love building and enhancing older kits, it is proper modelling, lovely to see and even better to do. I'm sure the tamiya kit is nice (also way out of my price range and light years beyond my value for money level !) but it probably wont be as enjoyable as what you are doing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Hi, just marking my place. john 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 (edited) Me too! Just about my favourite aircraft of all time - especially the fighter bomber versions. I mangled this kit as a kid in the 70’s - so there’s even a nostalgia vibe for me! Edited June 10, 2021 by Fritag 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Quack Posted June 10, 2021 Share Posted June 10, 2021 Hey, it flew from Banff so I'll take a look-in. Looking good, though the heads on poles are slightly unnerving - I don't think that's really a Banff thing ....... perhaps more appropriate for Wick !? said Q from his naughty step. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 It’s sticking cocktail sticks in their bums that makes my eyes water! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted June 11, 2021 Author Share Posted June 11, 2021 No joy on the flying attire question, so I've had to go for the original source material... TURN IT UP!!! Yes, it's a film but if your heart isn't pumping three bars into that Ron Goodwin masterpiece, then you don't have one 🥲 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 29 minutes ago, Alan P said: Yes, it's a film but if your heart isn't pumping three bars into that Ron Goodwin masterpiece, then you don't have one 🥲 pure porn like this so early in the morning is not good for this old heart. Born in 1962, this film along with the dambusters, battle of britain, thunderbirds and airfix kits sums up my childhood !!!!! 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted June 11, 2021 Author Share Posted June 11, 2021 2 hours ago, npb748r said: pure porn like this so early in the morning is not good for this old heart. Born in 1962, this film along with the dambusters, battle of britain, thunderbirds and airfix kits sums up my childhood !!!!! Ha ha 😂 there's also a kind of Godwin's Law for any Mossie build: at some point in the thread, someone will invoke 633 Squadron 😁 (Goodwin's Law? It should be a thing!) 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 I have a CD of Ron Goodwin film music which includes, amongst others, the themes from 633 Squadron, Battle of Britain, Where Eagles Dare, and similar. Stirring stuff! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted June 11, 2021 Author Share Posted June 11, 2021 I think I'm more or less finished in the cockpit: I only added a few additional details, like the fuel panel on the Obs side and changed the control yoke to the fighter-style joystick. The instrument panel is the kit decal over the moulded raised detail. Painted with MRP over Mr Surfacer 1200 primer. Enhanced with a light wash (MIG Starship wash) and @airscale decals and placards (excellent, I'd say indispensable for modelling in this scale). This is the Barracuda radio set and it's just brilliant. Includes all the decals and tuning selector knobs (not yet fitted). The additional box at left is a homemade plasticard effort by me. Again, I'd thoroughly recommend this set for your Mosquitos as it will be clearly visible under the canopy and adds an excellent bit of detail to the cockpit. Unfortunately means you can't fit the Gee radio nav kit as that's where the R1155 needs to go - I built a little platform for it which will be added after the cockpit is installed. I don't think all aircraft had Gee installed, especially the strike wing which tended to travel en masse by sqns/flights. Anyway. Here are the slightly reptilian crew - the heads are poseable so we can have them enroute minding their own business, or... ...identifying the target to port before the rocket run, or... ...having a 'broment' on the way home Can't decide which pose looks best at the moment but they'll be fixed in place prior to installation in the cockpit! Anyway, that's the most time consuming bit done, the rest of the construction should be pretty straightforward (canopy excepted!) Cheers, and thanks to so many people who have added their comments and interest so far, Alan 17 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 Excellent job on the cockpit details Alan and the crew have a chat looks great. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 Broment 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Trevor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 I'm liking the look of this & enjoying it very much to date, must be the cheerful mob you've attracted. It's way to big for me but what the heck, it's a Mossie & I'm bound to learn some things so I'll try to keep up. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted June 12, 2021 Author Share Posted June 12, 2021 Just had a weird memory jog from watching that 633 Sqn theme... back in the dim and distant I used to go to Goth Night at the Ritz ballroom/nightclub in Manchester. At the end of the night, after the goths had been shambling around to the Cure and Sisters of Mercy, the last track was always the theme from 633 Sqn! All these goths would link arms around shoulders and run around the giant dance floor to the strains of Ron Goodwin's finest until the lights came up and we were kicked out. It was the next best thing to flying, I suppose 😂 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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