1/72 new tool Airfix Mosquito, vs Hasegawa or Tamiya?

[Robertone139]

I was greatly surprised when I found out that Airfix's new tool Beaufighter was better sized that Hasegawa's (at least according to some drawings), and as I do not own any Mosquito specific publication with scale drawings here I am asking the usual question.

I have a Tamiya FB Mk.VI and it seems a well behaved kit but I am partial to Airfix's PR.XVI US markings, so would it be a good kit compared to Tamiya's or an Hasegawa one.

 

Thanks folks.

[Rabbit Leader]

I’m sure you’re aware of this, however the obvious first answer is that the Airfix kit represents the latter / longer two stage Merlin engines, whilst the Tamiya kit has the shorter single stage Merlin engine nacelles. Your final choice of scheme / version will probably dictate which kit you’ll need.
 

In my opinion, the Tamiya kit has finer / crisper details, especially around the undercarriage, however the Airfix kit has been designed to fit these u/c parts later on in the build, so is probably an easier kit to assemble. 
 

There has always been a suggestion that the Tamiya’s kit tail fin is too tall, so that’s something to consider if accuracy bothers you to that degree. Personally, it’s acceptable to my eye. 
 

Airfix’s PR boxing has parts for the photo version, whilst the initial boxing was for the (Bomber) B. Mk. XVI. Unfortunately the kits designer scanned a museum Target Tug version and got the bulged under fuselage fairing a little wrong. 
 

I’d make the selection easier on yourself and just go and buy / build both kits! 
 

Cheers.. Dave 

[Chuck1945]

Or you could end up as I did 

I started the Airfix B XVI and corrected the errant bomb bay parts. However the clear window inserts in the nose ended up feeding the carpet monster, since they were to painted over it really didn’t matter however, then I had a horrible time getting the multi part canopy together and finally realized I had missed the step inserting the tail wheel before gluing the fuselage halves together. At this point after all the cumulative builder errors I figured it was time to regroup.
 

I had left the wings off, the spar arrangement meant the wings could be painted separately so I scrapped the B XVI plan and decided to use a Tamiya B IV fuselage with the Airfix wings to get an early B.IX. All went swimmingly until I was ready to mate the painted wings and fuselage. One set of engine exhausts came adrift and ended up loose inside the nacelle. Completely frustrated at this point I used the Tamiya wings and made a standard B.IV😛

 

 

 

[Robertone139]

I can easily get a Tamiya B.VI for less than 20 bucks on eBay, but the nice US AAC PR.XVI in PR blue and invasion stripes is only made by Airfix and my concern is actually how it would look dimensionally net to the two Tamiyas.

My (more expensive) alternative is to get the Brengun conversion for the Tamiya and add the PR decal from Xtra Decal.

 

Edited September 11, 2023 by Robertone139
added text.

[Chuck1945]

I’ve just been scrolling through the lengthy Rumormonger thread on the Airfix B.VXI as it was being released, see here. I remember seeing tail height addressed but my skim didn’t show it. As I remember, Airfix got it correct so it it is just a bit shorter than the Tamiya tail. If the Airfix kit were to be parked In between two Tamiya kits the difference might be noticeable although I think one would have look rather carefully to notice. Again, based on memory the difference is 1.5-2mm so perhaps noticeable if lined up in profile and as close together as possible but probably not if offset and jammed together.

 

 

 

 

 

[Robertone139]

8 minutes ago, Chuck1945 said:

I’ve just been scrolling through the lengthy Rumormonger thread on the Airfix B.VXI as it was being released, see here. I remember seeing tail height addressed but my skim didn’t show it. As I remember, Airfix got it correct so it it is just a bit shorter than the Tamiya tail. If the Airfix kit were to be parked In between two Tamiya kits the difference might be noticeable although I think one would have look rather carefully to notice. Again, based on memory the difference is 1.5-2mm so perhaps noticeable if lined up in profile and as close together as possible but probably not if offset and jammed together.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, but other than the fin height difference ( manageable to correct in the Tamiyas), the unsightly stiffening strip on the wings and the obvious different nacelles, would other dimensions be grossly different?

Thank you.

[Chuck1945]

No, the stiffening strip is the only issue. That can be sanded down, just a PITA. I rather like Airfix’s molding the entire wing tip in clear plastic, much easier to mask the lens and do any seam mending than working with the tiny lens Tamiya provides. Those are too easy for me to loose.

Overall fuselage length is virtually the same between the kits, the cockpit openings are in the same place although Airfix’s shape is slightly smaller. The u/c legs are squished together more in Airfix, only noticeable head on.

 

It is sort of like the newspaper puzzles, “find six differences between these two pictures”

[elger]

I don't like how the finished undercarriage looks in the new Airfix kit. Puts me off from buying it.

[Robertone139]

4 hours ago, elger said:

I don't like how the finished undercarriage looks in the new Airfix kit. Puts me off from buying it.

Mine will be flying, so Airfix it is!

Thank you all.