Coastal Command OTU Mossie

[franky boy]

Hello chaps. Apologies as it’s been a while since the last update. Life has been getting in the way of modelling again. 
 

This isn’t a very big update as I’ve only really working on getting the vac form canopy on and sorted. 
 

I added a little weight to get it bed down nicely. The fit was ok but not great. I had to sand the fuselage side back a bit on the starboard side and then there’s been a bit of blending work around the rest of it. Priming and the filling any small gaps with perfect plastic putty. I think one more session and it should be fine. 
 

IMG_2478 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

As this aircraft had its guns removed it would have had the holes covered with patches. This was replicated with Tamiya tape with a little bit of PVA glue to make sure it doesn’t come away in time. 
 

IMG_2482 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

IMG_2479 by James Halls, on Flickr
 

And that’s it all up to date. One small issue I now have is that my compressor needs the regulator removing, stripping and cleaning or a new one depending on what’s going on inside as it’s not building up any pressure and then losing what pressure it has almost immediately. 🤬 I probably shouldn’t complain to much as it’s 20 years old now and hasn’t given me any trouble until now. 
 

Thanks for looking. 
 

James

[Roland Pulfrew]

That’s coming along nicely. Sometimes the simple things can produce the best results; I do like your gun port covers.

[Doug M]

Looking very slick there. Looking forward to seeing the paint on this one.

[The wooksta V2.0]

Unless you've put any paint on, you may wish to think about a modicum of surgery to the starboard wing.  I've got the same photo and it appears to have the leading edge landing light.  Also it looks like only the two outer rockets were fitted, as the photo shows the mounts in those positions but no rails themselves.

 

Was always a training aircraft.

NT206    FBVI    132OTU/8OTU/132OTU    To 5637M 15.9.45.

 

Looking really good so far.

[franky boy]

@Roland Pulfrew @Doug M
 

Thanks Roland and Doug. 
 

@The wooksta V2.0 great spot with the rocket stubs Wooksta and thanks for the info on the service life of the aircraft. I had another look at the photo last night and to be honest I’m not sure if it’s a light or just some kind of mark on what’s a pretty poor quality photo. There are some other similar marks in other areas. I’m very happy to be proved wrong but I had always thought that the leading edge lights on Mosquitoes came post war?

 

Thanks agin

 

James

[The wooksta V2.0]

It may not even be a landing light per se, there's comment elsewhere on site that it could be for something else.  It was certainly being sported on PR.XVIs in early 1945, definitely before the war's end. I've seen at least two wartime PR16s with it.

 

I've got that Kits at War decal sheet and it's one of the aircraft I certainly want to do, hence the interest in how this one turns out.

Edited May 21 by The wooksta V2.0

[franky boy]

Thanks Wooksta. Hope this one passes muster. 
 

James

[modelling minion]

Nice work Jmaes, I like the patches over the gun ports.

[franky boy]

Hi everyone 

 

Apologies for the lack of updates recently but there has been some progress. 
 

Staring with paint. A primer coat (Mr Surfacer 1000) followed by a pre shade of Tamiya black. 
 

IMG_2495 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

Then onto the medium sea grey. Both camo colours are Hataka orange line. 
 

IMG_2501 by James Halls, on Flickr
 

IMG_2499 by James Halls, on Flickr
 

IMG_2500 by James Halls, on Flickr
 

And the green followed by a Tamiya gloss coat. 
 

IMG_2550 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

IMG_2549 by James Halls, on Flickr
 

And the decals on. These were a mixture of Freightdog for the national markings, Kits at War for the individual aircraft markings and Eduard stencils which I’m still finishing off. 
 

IMG_2574 by James Halls, on Flickr

These have all worked pretty well with set and sol. The only is that the yellow squadron codes are a bit translucent. It’s fine over a single colour but over a demarcation line as you can see below it’s not great. 
 

IMG_2575 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

Anyway I’m going to live with it and think of something to do with the weathering as to be honest although I’m generally happy with it so far I just want to get this one finished now and start something else. 
 

Thanks for looking. This one won’t be finished by next weekend but I’ll keep updating the thread. 
 

James

 

[modelling minion]

Thats excellent work James, the painting is superb and the decals look to have gone on really well. 

[Doug M]

yep.. nice work.  The pre-shading is really effective. 

[franky boy]

@modelling minion Thanks Craig. It must be my lucky day. 3 different flavours of decals and they all worked as they’re meant too. 
 

@Doug M Thanks Doug. A bit of streaking on top and that’ll do for weathering. 
 

Thanks 

 

James

[Doug M]

I'd be interested to hear how people are doing streaking? I always seem to make a complete mess!

[Zephyr91]

On 06/07/2025 at 11:43, franky boy said:

The only is that the yellow squadron codes are a bit translucent. It’s fine over a single colour but over a demarcation line

I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't said.  Looks fine to me.  The decals have gone on well.

 

cheers

 

Rob

 

[Collin]

Good looking build so far. Going to be a sharp looking Mosquito when finished. 
 

Cheers

Collin

[Keeff]

I've just read through this .... excellent build and superb work on the colours.  The preshading looks very good and clear through the top coats. 

 

Keep up the good work! 

 

Keith ☺️ 

[Rabbit Leader]

That’s some impressive paintwork, shame the yellow decals are a little thin, however they still make the overall aircraft pop. I’m sure over time you’ll ignore this and just sit back and marvel a well finished Mosquito. 
 

Cheers.. Dave 

[franky boy]

Hi everyone 

 

@Rabbit Leader @Keeff @Zephyr91 @Collin Thanks for the kind comments chaps. 

 

More progress to report. I’m calling the airframe done apart from some exhaust staining. Once the decals were all on I gave it a Tamiya flat coat followed by a Flory Models dark dirt wash. Further weathering was then achieved with pastel chalks and oils. @Doug M the streaks were done with oils with the brush just dragged back from where I wanted the streak to start. HTH. 

 

Fortunately the weathering has helped to blend in the rather see through yellow decals, I’m beginning to not notice them as much anyway. 
 

IMG_2595 by James Halls, on Flickr
 

IMG_2593 by James Halls, on Flickr
 

The undersides look much starker in the photo than in the flesh (or plastic).
 

IMG_2594 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

Thats all for now. I’ve started painting the props, spinners, rockets and UC parts over the weekend. More updates when we’re back from family holidays in August. 
 

Thanks for looking

 

James

[Doug M]

Looking good!

[modelling minion]

She looks great James. 

[Johnson]

The weathering looks fantastic, a really great job. And as you say, the yellow in the decals looks fine.

 

Charlie

[franky boy]

Hello chaps

 

I finally got the Mossie over the line last week after returning from summer holidays. There actually wasn’t a huge amount to do, undercarriage, props and exhausts being the main bits and then some outdoor photos on Saturday. 
 

Anyway here she is in all her glory!

 

IMG_2723 by James Halls, on Flickr
 

IMG_2724 by James Halls, on Flickr
 

IMG_2725 by James Halls, on Flickr
 

IMG_2726 by James Halls, on Flickr
 

IMG_2727 by James Halls, on Flickr

 

Thanks to those who followed along with the build. 
 

James

[Johnson]

Really nice! Top notch paintwork. Well done James.

 

Best regards,

 

Charlie

[franky boy]

2 hours ago, Johnson said:

Really nice! Top notch paintwork. Well done James.

 

Best regards,

 

Charlie

Thanks Charlie 

 

It’s good to have over the line at last. And thanks for hosting an enjoyable GB too. 
 

James