DeHavilland Mosquito FB Mk VI by Danstream - Tamiya - 1/48 scale - PLASTIC

[Danstream]

Hi all,

here I would like to start and share with you my new build of the wooden wonder De Havilland Mosquito 1:48 scale. The kit is the old, but still very nice Tamiya of the FB Mk VI (Fighter-Bomber).

Since long time, I wanted to build a model of this aircraft because of its fame and because of its remarkable design. For me, this is the first Mosquito build as a grown up modeler if I exclude the ancient Revell 1/32 kit that I built when I was a kid. 

 

To start my build, I followed to the letter the Tamiya instructions which called the engine nacelles as a first step:

For added 3-D effects, I just thickened the frames of the nacelles and added few interior details. The white panel shown on the inside walls is an artistic license of mine having used a piece of thin styrene to hide annoying ejection pin marks which I didn't want to fill and sand. In the following, the nacelles are shown completed:

They are test fitted with the wings and with the main undercarriage struts to check that no interferences with the new added parts are present:

I was a bit puzzled by the way the main undercarriage is supposed to be assembled. If I follow the Tamiya steps, I am going to get the large wheels in the way when I will have to finish off and paint the truss structure. Actually, it is desirable to be able to install the wheels only after everything is assembled and painted. To resolve this issue, I removed altogether the molded plastic wheel axles and replaced them with a brass tube 1.6 mm dia. that can slid in and out as shown in the picture.

Once trimmed in length, the new axles could be slid in place to install the wheels at the most convenient moment. Without the wheels in the way, I could assemble and finish the undercarriage structure properly and fit the brake lines made of lead wires. I also drilled lightening holes in the supports of the mud fenders to add a little, but nice detail. Here the completed undercarriages are posed within their locations on the lower wing halves which have been painted interior green.

I read that to improve commonality of parts, the real undercarriages were not handed, but I left them as they are intended in the kit because their modification it would have been a complication for me. Finally, the nacelles were glued in place and the half wings were completed. The undercarriages are now ready to be painted.

Not much, but that's all for now, thanks for having you following,

best regards,

Dan

 

[Egilman]

Nice work....

[king derelict]

Another great build starting. Lovely aircraft 

Alan

[Canute]

Great start, Dan. Love those Mossies.😄

[davec]

Great start! I will be following along.

 

Dave

[Dave_E]

I’m in. 🍿🥤👍😀

[Danstream]

Hi, thanks for your feedback! Unfortunately, the progress with my build is quite slow, so I am updating my WIP just to show that it is still going on. I started with the parts for the interior of the cockpit.

Actually, there are quite a number of parts and the best way to proceed is to take the necessary time for each of them. For the seat belts, I also bought the Eduard P.E. fret shown above and that contains them. With the seat belts, there are also a number of other details that are a welcome addition, including a plate with the name of the aircraft. However, when I tackled the instrument panel, I realized that this is colored with a blue tint instead of the usual black.

I checked several reference photos and I never found that tint. It looks to me quite odd that Eduard opted for such a strange color. At any rate, I don't like it and I prefer not to use it. The problem is that I already sanded down the instrument details in the original kit part so I cannot use it anymore. I need to shop around for a suitable replacement. Meanwhile, I started to add few details to the kit parts. It isn't my intention to superdetail the cockpit, but I am adding just few things that might be visible through the Mosquito closed canopy. For example, this is the addition to the radio compartment:

Here with some colors and the radio boxes:

Not much, but this is all for now.

Cheers,

Dan

 

[realworkingsailor]

If you just want to replace the IP, try Yahu models. Here’s an example from a Canadian retailer:

 

https://thunderbirdmodels.com/en/132-aircraft-accessories/446-yma3210-yahu-models-132-mosquito-nf-iifb-vi-instrument-panel.html

 

They’re relatively inexpensive, and ready to use.

 

Andy

[Danstream]

5 minutes ago, realworkingsailor said:

If you just want to replace the IP, try Yahu models.

Thanks, just found it here in the Netherlands (1/48 scale) at less than 5 euro. I just ordered it, together with an 'in action' publication about the Mosquito (you know, just to achieve an amount worthy of the order).

Cheers,

Dan

[chadwijm6]

Love these. I'll follow along 😁 

[king derelict]

19 hours ago, Danstream said:

you know, just to achieve an amount worthy of the order

That’s always my downfall. You have to make the postage worthwhile 😁

Great start 

alan

[Danstream]

Hi,

I went on with the cockpit parts. I eventually received the super nice Yahu replacement for the instrument panel which is shown here glued to the other kit parts:

I have added three prominent control levers in the center of the panel made of thin aluminum foil to complete the appearance of the IP. These are the cockpit parts that are now basically completed:

Differently from the instrument panel which was a disappointment, the Eduard seat belts worked fine and added a nice level of details to the kit seats. These are the same parts seen from another angle:

This time, I am going to depict a used aircraft, so I added some grime and dirt by brushing on some pastel powder. Now the parts are basically ready to be assembled, but before I will spray a mist of matt clear to uniform the finishes and mute the glint of metallic parts. On the underside of the cockpit, we have the ceiling of the bomb bay which I also started to color. I first sprayed a black primer followed by a light coat of colors that let the black to be seen through (although not very visible in the picture):

I will finish the bay by adding some more weathering effects to it. Presently, I am preparing the fuselage halves that need to have some of their annoying extractor pin marks to be addressed.

That is all for now, thanks for following,

Dan

 

 

[king derelict]

The cockpit details look great. 

[realworkingsailor]

Looks great Dan! I’m glad the Yahu IP worked for you!

 

Andy

[Old Collingwood]

Lovely work,  the  cockpit area  was my fave  part  when I built the  Revell  version  some years back.

 

OC.

[Danstream]

4 hours ago, king derelict said:

The cockpit details look great.

Thanks Alan! Glad that you like it.

 

3 hours ago, realworkingsailor said:

Looks great Dan! I’m glad the Yahu IP worked for you!

Thanks Andy! Yes, the Yahu IP was a great addition. After you mentioned it, I got a light bulb switched on.

 

1 hour ago, Old Collingwood said:

Lovely work,  the  cockpit area  was my fave  part  when I built the  Revell  version  some years back.

Thanks OC. I also liked this one, with few additions I easily busied it up. However, the Mosquito has a closed canopy, but I am confident that something will be anyway visible.

 

Cheers,

Dan

[CDW]

Very nice start, Dan. Looking forward to more.