[TAMIYA 1/48] MOSQUITO B.IV/PR.IV - First Mossie on the Stockholm Run

[Antoine]

 

 

Hi there,

 

Well, time to get on the starting blocks!

 

As you must have noticed, I'll bring to the party the well-known 1/48 Mossie from Tamiya, which I want to build as I usually do, I mean OOB.

Ok, I'll certainly add a set of masks, and maybe a pair of suspender! But no more!

 

I'll spare you the usual "what's in the box", 'cause you don't need it with this one.

 

I don't have much in term of technical documentation, maybe the old Squadron  in action, nearly older than me, and that's all. Yet I don't plan on practicing surgery, and as I hope the kit is accurate enough, this should be fine.

On the historic side, I've Nils Mathisrud's book, "The Stockholm Run", and this shoud help a lot!

 

Well, see you on the start line,.

[Zephyr91]

Hi Antoine and welcome.   I look forward to seeing this develop.  I don't know too much about the "Stockholm Run" so hope to learn a bit about that too.

 

Good luck with the build.

 

Rob

[Antoine]

11 hours ago, Zephyr91 said:

 I don't know too much about the "Stockholm Run" so hope to learn a bit about that too.

 

Hi Rob, and thank you!

Usualy, I don't write much about the story behind the kit during the WIP, but I put nearly everything I have in the RFI (here's an exemple).

I suppose that for a GB, RFI is mixed with the WIP, so not a problem, you'll have what you want.

Edited March 28 by Antoine

[Zephyr91]

Thanks Antoine.   

 

Just a point.  For the completed Gallery pictures there is a request not to put comments, just a simple description and up to 5 photos of the finished build, and link to the wip if you wish.  So any text, comments, background and discussion would best be  put in the WIP .   I think this is set out in the GB rules  and noted in the Gallery area here .

 

That sounds a bit heavy handed.  Not meant to be;  just wanting to be clear so we don't have to start moving things around later.

 

Having said that, the biggest rule is to HAVE FUN  !!  Starting soon

 

Thanks

 

Rob

Edited March 27 by Zephyr91
speeling

[Antoine]

and that's ok with me, rules are the rules.

[Antoine]

Calm before the storm...

 

I've just put the sprues into warm water to clean them with a soft brush, and I'll then start to "butcher" them, so that it'll leave only the parts that I need to build G-AGFV, the biggest parts ready for assembling, and grouped in elements.

 

There's still time for me to show you the decals.

Here they're, showing the three colour options.

 

 

 

I would have happily done any of the three, but I've a little preference for the third one

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's the back story.

I'll come back to it at the end of the build, but feel free to comments in the meantime.

 

 

 

And last, a few modelling notes

 

[Rabbit Leader]

What a cracking scheme, that’ll look just lovely in those colours and markings. 
Cheers and all the best.. Dave 

[Antoine]

Thanks Dave!

I had exactly the same feeling.

Also, I must be wrong, but I can't remember about any other aircraft wearing it.

[Johnson]

12 hours ago, Antoine said:

I would have happily done any of the three, but I've a little preference for the third one

 

 

A really great scheme Antoine, good choice (but they're all good).

 

Charlie

[Antoine]

Last thing I do to prepare the kit for the start.

Once the sprues have dried after the bath, I butcher them!

 

 

 

 

I cut off the big parts, then the non-needed part, with in the end only the smaller that remain attached to the sprues, or what's left from them. This way, I always know where I am, and what's left to do, and I don't have tons of plastic left in my hands .

 

[Antoine]

Well, let's glue plastic!!!

 

Here's the plan: 

 

With Tamiya's Mossie, the fuselage comes in 2x2 parts, that is, each side has a front and a rear section. 

What I want is a fuselage in two halves, one left and one right. So that I don't have a step between the front and the rear.

 

So, I glue each side, and then put them together for sometime to let it dry.

 

 

 

Then, if I want to glue the wings, I must take care of the landing and taxi lights, located in the middle of each wings.

I just put some black primer  on the top  inside of the wing, then a coat of chrome, before closing up everything.

 

 

 

All of this was specific to the kit, as usually, my first goal is to assemble and glue as much parts as possible before startng to play with the paint.

 

I proceed by zones, with one or more sub-assemblies per zone.

 

Here, the cockpit with a few "orphan " parts. I think I'll take the time to plug some wires here and there, around the radio.

 

 

 

The engines.

 

 

 

And the landing gear.

 

 

 

From now on, I can start to paint. And the next target will be to close the fuselage.

Edited March 29 by Antoine

[Zephyr91]

Nice start there Antoine.   I like your methodical approach.

 

Rob

[Rabbit Leader]

Nice start Antoine, that’s quite good progress already for Day 1. 
Cheers.. Dave 

[Antoine]

Hi Dave,

You told me to start, so I start!!!

Day two should be quite fine, too!

 

But then, I'll most certainly be quiet, as the priority will go to something else for a time...

But still, I'm already thinking about another Mossie to build before the deadline...

 

 

[Antoine]

A quick test-fit, but hopefully, more pics and comments  tomorrow..

 

[Antoine]

Still working on sub assemblies.

 

When building a landing gear, I'm always trying  to glue every parts but the wheels before starting to paint, so that I've something more stronger. But if you want to do this with the Mossie, you just can't, or you'll have the wheels to paint with the rest...

 

So, I cut the axxle, and drill a hole in each leg.

 

 

 

I choose to paint the wheel wells at this point, together with other bits not relevant at the moment.

 

 

 

Then the wing comes handy to help bulding each gear

 

 

 

And in the end, the engine nacelles are in place.

 

 

 

 

I've also started to wire-up the cockpit, but it's a long process.

 

[Ventora3300]

That's lovely work @Antoine and it's interesting to see the level of detail at 1/48. Cockpit wiring!! Do you have a 1/48 test meter to make sure you connect the correct 'A' to 'B'...,,, All the best. Mike.

[Antoine]

Thanks Mike

 

 

1 hour ago, Ventora3300 said:

Do you have a 1/48 test meter to make sure you connect the correct 'A' to 'B'.

 

Got it!

Looking for the cigar lighter at the moment.

 

 

 

 

 

[Ngantek]

Yikes what a lot of detail. Looks very good so far. I don't think I've seen blue filler before...

[Antoine]

9 hours ago, Ngantek said:

I don't think I've seen blue filler before...

 

Hi, ....

That's not filler, only coloured ultra thin glue.

I'd get some a few months ago, but never really tested. Now it's time.

 

[Antoine]

Hi there,

 

As it seems that I'm going nowhere building jets (STGB F-16 and GB Vietnam), better continue to build props!

 

I've yet to finish the cockpit, so here we go with the dashboard.

 

It's painted black, with then a white drybrush.

 

And a few colour touch up, as for the engine, with dials in red, blue and yellow.

 

 

 

 

 

                                             

 

 

[Antoine]

Sorry guys, I've just seen that I forgot some pictures....

(Note to myself, stop drinking whisky, or change label...).

 

I'm starting to feel at home, with Tamiya's Mossie dashboard.

So, why not try to push it further, instead of doing exactly the same thing from one build to the next?

 

Strange tool isn't it?

 

[Antoine]

That's a first try.

Dials are much too big!

Let's try again!

 

[Rabbit Leader]

That’s looking really good Antoine, sometimes I think we strive too much for perfection when it comes to IP’s and cockpits but what you have an achieved here is excellent work. What’s not to like? 
 

Cheers.. Dave 

[JWM]

14 hours ago, Antoine said:

That's a first try.

Dials are much too big!

Let's try again!

I n Poland we have a  phrase "the better is a biggest enemy of good" .  They are good