1:24 Airfix Mosquito

[Warris]

Lovely work so far,

Every time I see this makes me want to buy one, just got to convince the boss!!

Al

[FZ6]

I've not had much time to do modelling recently so haven't had time to do an update so here's what I've managed to get done.

The sprues are fast disappearing from the box as I cut the parts out and assemble them into sub sections ready for painting.

Big Mossie 023 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

Big Mossie 024 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

As I’ve cut out a section of the fuselage so I can add the torque bars I’ve had to box off this section of the wing with 40 thou plasticard as it can be seen through the fuselage.

Big Mossie 025 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

Although not finished yet I thought I’d show some of the fittings I’ve been painting. I used Alclad copper for the fire extinguishers and Humbrol 33 for the main parts then I over sprayed them with HU33 mixed with a little HU67. The markings on the compass are painted on. I’m a little disappointed that Airfix didn’t include a decal for it yet they provide tiny markings for the fire extinguishers and the flares.

Big Mossie 026 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

Here is the instrument panel and control stick shown dry fitted in situ. It is really impressive with the pre printed dials. Just a bit more work then it’s done. I’m pleased with how the stick turned out.

Big Mossie 027 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

I assembled the ammo box for the front bulkhead and glued it in place. The lid is just dry fitted at the moment. I also drilled out the hole and replaced the wire for the windscreen wiper motor.

Big Mossie 028 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

On the rear of this part I filled in ejector pins and mold marks on the back. I also added some basic surface detail using my Olfa P cutter and my drill bits.

Big Mossie 029 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

Whil I add the alclad out I did the wheels. The radiators were painted black and dry brushed with Games Workshop Boltgun Metal. I'm happy with the wheels and think they should look great after weathering.

On the rear of this part I filled in ejector pins and mold marks on the back. I also added some basic surface detail using my Olfa P cutter and my drill bits.

Big Mossie 030 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

As Pickards aircraft had the exhaust shrouds removed the colour profile shows the area underneath the removed shrouds was natural metal. I’ve painted the engine panels in Alclad duralumin. I plan to add the shrouds to the model temporarily and spray them the correct colour. Once I remove them I should have a perfectly shaped aluminium area on the panel.

The next task is for my to build the torque control bars and corresponding brackets.

Thanks for looking,

Mark

[Mark M]

cracking build mate, cant wait to see more, id love one of these but the cost and my skills would not do it justice

[FZ6]

cracking build mate, cant wait to see more, id love one of these but the cost and my skills would not do it justice

Thanks Mark, I have to admit I almost broke the bank getting this one for myself but thought it would be worth it.

This isn't really an update as such as I have done little on the Mossie over the last few days. I just wanted to share some of my research. I've just purchased the Aviation Guide on the Mosquito by SAM Publications. I can highly recommend this book to anyone building the Mosquito and wants to add detail, as it is full of original drawings detail photographs of the real thing.

As a result of this book I have noticed that the stunning Radio sets supplied in the Airfix kit are only applicable to early production FB.VI's, and as Pickards Aircraft HX922 is later than the production batch using this set up I will have to change it. I'm tempted to use the kit ones as they look really good but think I will have a go at changing it. Got the drawings in the book, just need to find some photos now.

There are a couple of model magazines out this month with interesting Mosquito articles in them. Military Aircraft Monthly has an article about FB.6's in Post war markings which look great. Also Model Aviation World has part one of Spence's build of this kit, which is inspiring to say the least.

[FZ6]

I've not had time to do much modelling recently due to other things going on at the moment but I have made a bit of progress so I thought I'd post an update.

I have almost finished detailing the port sidewall. I used a Historex Punch and die set lent to me by a good friend of mine to do the discs. Now I need to go out and buy one as they are really useful and I don't know hoe I managed before lol! I just need to add a few more then I have to drill small holes in them. I think they might be slightly on the large size but I am happy with them. THey are visible when you dry fit the fuselage and put the canopy in place so well worth doing. I've decided I'm also going to replace the linkages on the throttle quadrant as they are lumped together as one piece of plastic. Some Brass rod should do the trick.

Big Mossie 031 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

I've also made a start on the A.R.I 5083 GEE set that was located behind the pilots seat. I made a very basic scale template in Word for the shape of the boxes which worked out well. If anybody needs it I can email it on. Just got the detail to add then I can make up the other electronics box.

Big Mossie 032 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

I have a week off soon so should be able to make real progress then.

[atdb27]

I've not had time to do much modelling recently due to other things going on at the moment but I have made a bit of progress so I thought I'd post an update.

I have almost finished detailing the port sidewall. I used a Historex Punch and die set lent to me by a good friend of mine to do the discs. Now I need to go out and buy one as they are really useful and I don't know hoe I managed before lol! I just need to add a few more then I have to drill small holes in them. I think they might be slightly on the large size but I am happy with them. THey are visible when you dry fit the fuselage and put the canopy in place so well worth doing. I've decided I'm also going to replace the linkages on the throttle quadrant as they are lumped together as one piece of plastic. Some Brass rod should do the trick.

Like the 'disc detail' Mark.

Can I please ask,..

1/ What size punch you used?

2/ Have you a shot of the stbd side with disc's yet?

3/ Thickness of the disc's?

Would much appreciate the info aas having seen the pics and now your progress they are quite a prominant freature and do need to be added don't they!

Adrian

[FZ6]

Like the 'disc detail' Mark.

Can I please ask,..

1/ What size punch you used?

2/ Have you a shot of the stbd side with disc's yet?

3/ Thickness of the disc's?

Would much appreciate the info aas having seen the pics and now your progress they are quite a prominant freature and do need to be added don't they!

Adrian

Hi Adrian,

In response to your questions...

The size of the punch is 2mm I think they could be a little smaller though and If I did another I would probably use the next size down.

I haven't done the starboard side yet. what with the crew access door and the large control boces and cabling I don't think I'll be adding many.

The thickness of the discs is 10 thou.

I hope this info helps. I'll post a pic with the cockpit dry fitted with the canopy on to show how prominant they are.

Regards,

Mark

[rob]

Sorry about the small picture but taken from Stuart Howes excellent book "The de Havilland Mosquito an illustrated history"

Hope that helps with the control rods

Regards Rob.....

[FZ6]

It's been ages since I did any work on this one but as I have got back on with the model I thought I would post an update. I'm glad I hung on because some great aftermarket stuff has been released which will add the extra detail a kit in this scale deserves.

My first purchase for this kit has been the .303 gun barrels in brass from Master Models. Each of these perfectly formed barrels come in five parts, which fit precisely.

The following photo shows a standard kit gun, an unassembled barrel with the kit barrel cut off and a fully assembled gun.

Mossie 303 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

This photo shows the guns assembled and ready for painting. The guns are a marked improvement over the kit pieces and if anyone is considering them I would highly recommend them. A large proportion of the barrel sticks out of the Mossies nose so they will be seen. I have also ordered their 20mm Hispano Barrels on the strength of these.

Mossie 303 x4 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

I have the Paragon Wheels and Ammo Chutes already and I have also ordered the exhausts and ID lights from Hannants. Unfortunately the undercarriage doors are currently out stock so I will order some when they get them back in.

I’ve been doing some more work on the cockpit parts. I finally got around to drilling out holes for the control rods and have started to make the brackets and linkages. I originally intended to have them like the real thing and have a single piece rod running from engine nacelle to nacelle though the cockpit but when test fitting it is a nightmare to thread them through the radiators so I will have them as much shorter lengths so they are easier to fit.

As well as the online links in this thread Dave Brown's Aeroguide book on the Mosquito FB.VI has become an invaluable companion to this build. I have now assembled the basic shapes for the A.R.I 5083 Gee sets and now need to add detail.

A good reference to what these sets are like can be found here.

http://www.qsl.net/pe1ngz/airforce/lancast...-equipment.html

and here

http://reference.findtarget.com/search/Gee%20(navigation)/

The Indicator unit is installed at an angle behind the seat so I need to figure out how this is fixed in place.

In the preserved example there is what looks like a rubber mat on the cockpit floor. I’m not sure if this is an original feature but I have made one out of foil from a wine bottle, which was cut to size. I then scored along it many times with a blunt scalpel blade and a straight edge. The effect is very effective and the beauty of buying this material to model with is that it comes with complimentary wine.

I’ll post some pics of the control rods, Gee sets and floor mat in my next update.

Regards,

Mark

[Overhaulin]

Hardly seems like a year, cheers for updating the WIP, those barrels look really nice.

[Mark M]

glad to see you back at it mark

[FZ6]

Talk about raising an old thread from the dead! I have a very belated update on this model. I can't believe it's 5 years since I started this model and so long since I updated this thread.The kit has been released gone out of production and a re-release has been scheduled in that time!

The kit has been languishing in it's box since my last update and I have not touched it. I blame my distraction on too many awesome new kits being released. I had the urge over the Christmas period to dig it out and crack on with it. (I did make myself promise I wouldn't start the Tiffie until I had completed this one!) In a way I'm glad I haven't finished it yet as my scratch building skills have come on a lot in this time and I have acquired better tools so should be able to do the kit more justice.

I'm still working on the control rods in the cockpit and decided to crack on with the armament. First up was the 20mm Cannons.

I thought the kit muzzles lacked finesse so I was delighted when the Master gun barrels were released and purchased them as soon as they came out. I was amazed by the quality of the parts. I'm a big fan of Master products and I feel they make a big difference to the finished model. Despite 1:24 being one of the larger scales to work in, the etched parts that form parts of these gun barrels must rank amongst the smallest etched parts I have worked with! I managed to lose one of the parts and used a piece of metal foil as a substitute.

Here you can see the guns in various stages of construction showing off the parts included in the set. I think I need a new cutting mat!

Mosquito Build 01 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

Here is a comparison shot of the kit cannon and the updated one using the Master parts. I think the improvement over the kit part is sufficient to warrant the purchase although I will now need to keep the covers open on the completed model so the detail is not lost!

Mosquito Build 02 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

Here we see the cannons along with the mounting frames for the Cannon, the ammo boxes, ammo chutes, fuel tanks and bomb carrier. The parts needed a fair bit of clean up and the bomb carrier needed careful cutting to get some of the parts off the sprue due to them being quite fragile and having large sprue attachment points. It was also tricky to assemble but I'm happy with the results. The .303 guns are included in the shot to show just how big the cannons are.

Mosquito Build 03 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

This shot shows the bomb bay details dry fitted to the kit. As you can see it busies the bomb bay up nicely! There are lots of different colours in this area so I will paint the parts as sub assemblies and bring them together once this is done. I will paint the cannons a gun metal colour the frames will be gloss black (or maybe satin for scale effect) Gloss Brown for the ammo boxes. Aluminium for the ammo drums and chutes with brass shells. The bomb carrier will be either interior green or aluminium. Brick red for the fuel tanks and interior green for the bomb bay itself with the section that houses the fuel tank being painted white.

Mosquito Build 04 by Mark Maclean, on Flickr

I'll be cracking on with cockpit detail until I get the chance to make a start on painting. I hope it's not as long till the next update!

Thanks for looking,

Mark

[Ex-FAAWAFU]

Those cannons are stunning!