Jump to content

Recommended Posts

11 hours ago, JesusNut said:

Fantastic work!  I love watching your builds as you put a lot of effort into showing us how and why you add the details that you do.  

Thanks very much everyone, your feedback means a lot.  I really enjoy learning as I go, glad you find this interesting!  

Link to post
Share on other sites

 Work continues on the port cockpit side wall.  From my previous post, I'm trying to replicate this:

 

ka114_015

Just note that this Mosquito is a different version, some of the fittings on the sidewall aren't the same as mine but you get the general idea...

 

So here is the nearly completed sidewall.  I added the pilot's oxygen hose (taken from the kit's pilot figure), his intercom connection hanging next to the hose, multiple wires, light fixures, dimmer controls for the lights, etc, etc. 

IMG_0963

 

IMG_0965

Honestly, this isn't my best work but again, from the viewing angle once the cockpit is assembled, it gets the job done. Most of the lines towards the lower back of the cockpit will barely be visible.   

 

Here is how things look with the cockpit floor in place:

IMG_0977

 

IMG_0966

 

IMG_0971

 

IMG_0969

 

IMG_0976

 

As I look at these pics, I see multiple areas that need touchups.   I'm on it guys!   For now though, thanks for looking and have a great weekend!

Link to post
Share on other sites

To echo the others, this build is really turning into a learning experience about the innards of the Mossie! You have inspired me to seek out one of these kits. Are they still in production? Available for sale?  Thanks for sharing this outstanding build!

Link to post
Share on other sites

That's sick detail work, 11bee.  And incrediby life-like.  How did you achieve the effect on the scratched flooring?   Was that multiple layers of paint with the top layers scratched off? The shapes on the chipped areas look very realistic and would be difficult to do by brush.

Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, Jamie Cheslo said:

To echo the others, this build is really turning into a learning experience about the innards of the Mossie! You have inspired me to seek out one of these kits. Are they still in production? Available for sale?  Thanks for sharing this outstanding build!

Thanks very much Jamie.   I'm hooked on Tamiya 32nd scale kits, they are amazing.    Yes, the Mossie is still out there and for sale.  I'll warn you it's pricey,  my wonderful wife got me this one for Christmas. 

 

Thanks again,

 

John

Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, crackerjazz said:

That's sick detail work, 11bee.  And incrediby life-like.  How did you achieve the effect on the scratched flooring?   Was that multiple layers of paint with the top layers scratched off? The shapes on the chipped areas look very realistic and would be difficult to do by brush.

Thanks Crackerjazz!   I used the "hairspray" technique.   I first used it on my "Dark Blue Killer" Corsair build to try to replicate the paint was characteristically worn off the wing roots.

IMG_0521

 

It's quite easy, as long as you use water-based paints.  Apply your first layer of paint (in the case of the Corsair above, flat aluminum), then grab some hairspray from the GF or Ms and lightly brush on a layer.  The stuff dries evenly and quickly.  Then spray your next color (if you have one).  In this case, it was yellow zinc primer.  More hairspray and then your final color (in this case, glossy sea blue).   After letting the paint dry for around an hour, take a stiff brush (I cut the bristles short on a thick paint brush I no longer needed).  Dip the brush in water and gently work an area. Keep the brush wet and keep working until you see the first layer of paint appear. Leave some of that as is, in other areas, continue working until you are down to your base layer of paint.  You need to be careful at this point, if you go to hard, you might end up with bare plastic showing.   If you want to avoid this for sure, have your base layer of paint be an enamel that won't dissolve with water contact.   Just go slow and you'll end up with a nice effect.   In the case above, I was modeling a pretty new aircraft so I didn't want to get carried away.    I did the same thing for the Mosquito.  A base layer to represent the plywood floor, then a dark brown layer for the primer they used, followed by the final coating of interior grey-green. 

 

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions.

 

John

Edited by 11bee
Link to post
Share on other sites

Awesome John, the detail just gets better and better, you must have to leave open as many windows or hatches you can on that cockpit.

 

Thanks for sharing

 

Carlos

Link to post
Share on other sites
6 hours ago, cruiz said:

Awesome John, the detail just gets better and better, you must have to leave open as many windows or hatches you can on that cockpit.

 

Thanks for sharing

 

Carlos

Thanks Carlos.  With regard to leaving open some parts of the canopy -  My plan is to open up the large rectangular escape hatch above the crew and possibly one (or both) of the sliding side windows.  I'm trying to source a spare canopy from Tamiya USA (checked, EBay, etc, nothing is out there).  They are shut down due to COVID but at this point, it doesn't look promising based on some emails from them.  

 

I've cut into clear plastic before but it's quite tricky.  The material is very brittle and since the Tamiya part is extremely thin, it's even more so.  One wrong move and the canopy could crack or you could cut through or badly scratch a section you didn't intend to.   I wanted the spare canopy as a "safety blanket" so if I screwed this up, I wouldn't have a very expensive model with a ruined canopy.  

 

Now that it looks like I may not be able to get a spare, I'm not sure what I should do.  I'll be working without a net for sure. Thankfully I've got some time to figure this out but if anyone out there has a canopy they want to part with (can't imagine this would be the case but it never hurts to ask), please reach out to 11Bee, I'll make you an offer you can't refuse!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Work continues (a bit).   Now that the cockpit is mostly complete, I'm puttering around with the nose MG bay (no real progress to show) and the bomb bay.   The FB.VI version of the Mosquito used the forward half of the bomb bay to house 4 x 20mm cannons and their ammo boxes.  The aft section of the bomb bay was identical to the bomber version and could house 2 x 500 lb bombs or a long range fuel tank.  The Tamiya kit gives you the option of having the bomb bay doors fully closed, just the aft section (housing the bombs) open or fully open with the cannons also exposed. Tamiya did a nice job on the cannons, so I'm opting to have the full bomb bay exposed.  

 

Here's a drawing that shows the aft bomb bay.  Originally, the British only could mount 250 lb bombs (as seen above).  However, they quickly figured out that if they shortened the tail on their standard 500 pound bomb, it would also fit in the bomb bay.   500 pounders became the standard bomb after that, although some bomber variants had bulged bay doors and could carry a massive 4,000 lb "Cookie" demolition bomb!  Pretty impressive, a fast, high altitude 2 person bomber that could carry the same payload as a B-17.  

 

Here's a period drawing showing the layout of the aft bomb bay.

Capture

 

Here's a shot of a 333 Squadron Mossie being re-armed.   Note that this aircraft is fitted with the long-range tank in the aft bomb bay.

A Norwegian aircraft mechanic working on a mosquito .

 

Anyway, as far as modeling goes, not a great deal to show.   I completed the aft bomb bay assembly.  This includes the internal frame work.   If one was inclined, they could use this as the basis for the aft radio compartment.  I thought about doing this but didn't feel like cutting out the compartment access door.   This assembly is nicely detailed and has all the basic structure included, including the bomb bay illumination light in the aft bulkhead.  What Tamiya didn't include was all the wiring, control lines, fuel lines, etc.   I've got some work to do in this area!   Here is my current progress.  Only thing added so far is the bomb loading cable running from winch to pulley on the roof and some electrical lines. Much more work to do.

 

The four black pads are supports for the optional long range fuel tank.  

IMG_0978

 

Here is the assembly dry fitted into the aft fuselage half.

IMG_0980

 

That's it for now folks.  More updates soon, thanks for looking! 

Link to post
Share on other sites
On 5/11/2020 at 8:03 AM, 11bee said:

Thanks Carlos.  With regard to leaving open some parts of the canopy -  My plan is to open up the large rectangular escape hatch above the crew and possibly one (or both) of the sliding side windows.  I'm trying to source a spare canopy from Tamiya USA (checked, EBay, etc, nothing is out there).  They are shut down due to COVID but at this point, it doesn't look promising based on some emails from them.  

 

I've cut into clear plastic before but it's quite tricky.  The material is very brittle and since the Tamiya part is extremely thin, it's even more so.  One wrong move and the canopy could crack or you could cut through or badly scratch a section you didn't intend to.   I wanted the spare canopy as a "safety blanket" so if I screwed this up, I wouldn't have a very expensive model with a ruined canopy.  

 

Now that it looks like I may not be able to get a spare, I'm not sure what I should do.  I'll be working without a net for sure. Thankfully I've got some time to figure this out but if anyone out there has a canopy they want to part with (can't imagine this would be the case but it never hurts to ask), please reach out to 11Bee, I'll make you an offer you can't refuse!

 

Getting a spare canopy is a smart thing to do, we modelers are brave but not reckless, let's hope that you can get one. You surely know better than me, using a Dremel allows me to make cuts with little risk of damaging the part, it may work for you too if simply burr away (not sure if it's the right term) the hatch and windows and make new ones from scratch, just a suggestion, looking forward to more progress on this build.

 

Thanks for sharing

Link to post
Share on other sites
13 hours ago, cruiz said:

 

Getting a spare canopy is a smart thing to do, we modelers are brave but not reckless, let's hope that you can get one. You surely know better than me, using a Dremel allows me to make cuts with little risk of damaging the part, it may work for you too if simply burr away (not sure if it's the right term) the hatch and windows and make new ones from scratch, just a suggestion, looking forward to more progress on this build.

 

Thanks for sharing

Thanks Carlos!   I do think I could nail the canopy mods with minimal issues but the though to breaking the canopy and not having a spare to complete the model is upsetting to say the least.   I've got time to figure things out though.

 

Quick update on the bomb bay.  Thanks to a very kind gent over on Brit Modeler, got some quite helpful info on the layout of the bomb bay.   I've started to add additional lines and fittings:

IMG_0983

 

Much more to do in this area but it's not practical until I get the rest of the bomb bay installed.  I also will be adding some additional weathering.   More to come for this aspect of the build. 

 

 In addition, here is the two-part fuselage side glued together.   She's a big bird!

IMG_0986

 

That's it for this update, I'll be back in a bit with some progress on the nose mounted MG's. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Moving forward (no pun intended), the FB.VI had 4 x .303 Browning machine guns in the nose.   The British seemed to have an obsession with rifled-caliber light machine guns that lasted all through the war.  These weapons had proved inadequate as early as the Battle of Britain but the British persisted with using them.   Now keep in mind that the Mossie also had a very powerful battery of 4 x 20mm cannons (more on these later in the build) but another issue was that the mg's had a different ballistic trajectory than the cannons so it was also next to impossible to get all the rounds to hit at the same point.   Very inefficient if you ask me.   Most folks acknowledge that the American approach of 6-8 heavy machine guns was more practical than having a mix of light and heavy weapons.  

 

Anyway, I digress a bit.  Tamiya provides a nice representation of the MG gun bay.   Mounted forward of the cockpit armor plate, it contained the MG's, their ammo boxes and the gun camera.  I'm not a huge fan a bunch of open access panels on my models but I may make an exception here, not sure yet.   Here is the real thing being rearmed.  No idea how the mechanics managed to get up there without climbing over the canopy but this was typically how it was done.  

ad1cb084f4f073faff3b6fd6ed81ea56

 

Here is where I am at so far.   The Tamiya MG's are pretty decent.   I added the cocking solenoid and it's wire (note that the bottom of the wire won't be visible once the fuselage is buttoned up, so I didn't spend a great deal of time on it.  I also added the drive cable for the windshield wipers and various wiring to/from the other "black boxes". MG's where painted semigloss black with a dab of silver added.   I'll finish them with a bit of pencil graphite.   I also painted the ends of the barrels to represent shot out units that had the finish baked off from sustain firing.  I may or may not keep this effect.  Gun bays typically got filthy from leaking lubricant, soot, etc.   I dusted the armor plate and floor with black pastel, also added some oily stains to the floor (which is now pretty much impossible to see).  There is some touchup work needed on the MG's but when finished, those areas won't be visible, they will either be hidden by the fuselage sides or the large ammo boxes and their feed trays.    

 

Some pictures:

IMG_0988

 

Don't mind the ejector pins on the cartridge collectors and barrels, they won't be visible (I promise)!

IMG_0990

 

I continued the wiper drive cable and electrical lines through the armor plate into the cockpit area.  These lines will be partially visible through the open crew access door.

IMG_0992

 

Last picture.  I always wondered how the Mossie mechanics were able to work on the area behind the instrument panel.  While reading up on the aircraft I discovered that a section of the armor plate was hinged to give (limited) access to this area.   Mosquito avionic technicians must have had long, skinny arms!

IMG_0988

 

That's it for now, thanks for looking!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Barkin, looks like you are living somehwere near Banff.   I know there isn't much left of the base but I'd still love to visit it some day.

 

Ammo boxes completed.  Only addition was some scrap PE, cut to replicate the carrying handles.  Ammo feeds were a lot of fun.   I used Barracuda's resin set (they also include feeds for the 20mm cannons).  The Tamiya parts don't have any shells present in the feed cut-outs.   I think the Barracuda parts are a nice upgrade and like all their stuff, it's first rate quality at a very reasonable price.   Feed trays on many restored Mossies are natural aluminum, while most (but certainly not all) Mossies had the trays finished in flat black. I decided to go with the "hairspray" method to replicate severely chipped feed trays. I figured they would get banged up quite a bit during removal of the MG's for maintenance and rearming activities.  So again, just a bit of touchup and I think I'll be ready to seal up the fuselage.   Again, don't mind the semi-crappy paintwork and ejector pins on the bottom, they will be invisible once the fuselage is assembled. 

 

IMG_0994

 

IMG_0997

Link to post
Share on other sites

 I'm making a bit of progress lately.  Expect to have the fuselage glued together later today.  Pretty big milestone, only took me how many months to get here?  Here's a last few views of the entire cockpit exposed.

 

IMG_1003

 

IMG_0999

 

IMG_1002

 

And the half-fuselage, ready to get glued together.

IMG_1001

 

Thanks for looking! 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks very much ChernayaAkula!  

 

One thing I like about my subject is that the Strike Wings were pretty neglected during the war.  I'm not a big fan of ETO Mustangs, BOB Spitfires, etc, they are just much too common for me. 

 

During the war, the Strike Wings didn't get anything close to the publicity of Bomber Command or the tactical aircraft fighting over Western Europe. Very much a "Separate Little War".   Maybe part of it was being stationed in Northern Scotland, a case of out of sight, out of mind perhaps?   Anyway, I've been reading up on them, both in print (see page one for a couple of good books on the subject) and online.   I'll be posting some additional pictures here and there during this build to add a bit of reality to my build.   Here is one of the few air to air pictures taken.  A Ju-88 is seconds from it's demise, shot down by one of the Outriders of 333 Squadron.

Junkers_Ju_88_shot_down_off_Norway

The Strike Wing aircraft didn't get a large number of air to air kills but on occasion they did come across patrolling Ju-88's, -188's and seaplanes.   Most of the time, if German aircraft were spotted, they were on the receiving end of the FW-190's of Jg.5, who took a pretty heavy toll when they were fortunate to intercept the British aircraft.   This Luftwaffe unit also fought a mostly overlooked war, maybe a nice subject for an upcoming build of mine?   

 

Interesting fact - the only aircraft in the RAF that could provide adequate escort services for the heavily laden Mosquitoes and Beaufighters was the P-51D.   As such, the RAF assigned a couple of specialist Mustang squadrons to support the Strike Wings on their anti-shipping operations off of Norway. 

 

Anyway, getting back to the build, a quick update.  I glued the fuselage together, no issues encountered, typical Tamiya fit.   Just a small bit of putty to smooth the seam.   I also cleaned up the wiring to the wiper drive motor and finished the nose cone.   Tamiya provides a nice replica of the gun camera, all I did for this assembly was to add an electrical connection to the camera and then I also included a tiny light fixture in the very tip of the nose and it's electrical line.    Here are few shots. 

 

IMG_1018

 

IMG_1016

 

IMG_1017

 

IMG_1020

That's all for now, thanks for looking! 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Mini update - Horizontal stabs are completed.   No more of those silly PE hinges so you can have movable control surfaces (this was one of my major gripes regarding the Tamiya Mustang kit), you get the option to glue the elevators either in the neutral position or drooping.  I opted for drooping, just to add a bit of variety.   The horizontal stab also includes the tail wheel well.   It's nicely detailed, the only thing I added were a couple of control cables.   

 

For those interested in minutia, the fairing on the bottom of the tail cone was for an infra-red "flasher" lamp.  This was used on night fighters / night intruders as a form of identification to avoid friendly fire.   If you are interested in this subject, there is a discussion on it over on Brit Modeler.   https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235065576-dh-mosquito-tail-fairing-monica-or-signal-light/   Apparently, to simplify production,  the fairing was installed on all later-production Mosquitos, regardless if whether they would ever have a flasher device installed. 

 

Here a couple of pictures.  

IMG_1022

 

I think I'll do some touchups on the dried mud caked on the tailwheel guard.  Have a bit of putty/sanding work to do in this area as well. 

IMG_1021

 

Last up - started some preliminary work in the bomb bay.  Much more work to do in this area, as I'll have both the cannon bay covers and the aft bomb bay doors open.

IMG_1026[1]

Thanks for looking!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Quick update, I've continued puttering around with the inner wing spar assembly.   The section at the top of the bomb bay was divided into two sections.   One held a pair of 25 gal fuel tanks, the forward section (which held additional fuel in the bomber version) was left open to leave room for the 20mm cannon ammo boxes.  This section also has the roofs of the two main landing gear bays.  

 

Here is the assembly so far.  Tamiya does a nice job on the fuel tanks and wheel wheel details (note that the roofs are pretty high up in the wells so they didn't have to go overboard with detailing).  

 

IMG_1027

 

I added a few details to the wheel well roofs (arrows show my additions).  Also did some shading to try to give the illusion of those cross tubes being circular (they are actually molded flat with the roof of the wheel well).  I think they came out ok.

IMG_1032

 

IMG_1030

 

Here is the center section.  Arrows show the additions I added.  These include wiring for the interior lights, brackets for the tank restraining clamps (the kit piece was just flat plastic) and wiring for the tank level gauge (I think that's what it is). 

IMG_1034

 

I also hit this area with pastels, one of my favorite weathering tools, to replicate built up grunge from the cannon gases, etc.    Not happy with the chipped white paint, I'm going to go back and touch this up.

IMG_1036

 

Anyway, that's it for now, thanks for looking! 

Link to post
Share on other sites

I am so enjoying this build! Your painting skills really bring out all that detail. Those oil? hydraulic fluid? tanks look just like the real deal! Thanks so much for sharing your build with us! 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...