Ian M's PR Mosquito XVI Airfix, 1/48

[Ian M]

So After AN HOUR, several swear words and the canopy was masked!

Say what you will about modern paraffin burners but they have much simpler to mask canopies instead of the multi pane green houses of WWII aircraft!

And it 'almost' fits the fuselage..... Moderat force and a bit of filler after and I thing it might work out OK.

I have been dry fitting the Wings and Nacelles and it looks to me like they are going to be real fun to fit. Due to the rather hit and miss attachment points its hard to get a photo of but I will try to get one later...The wing root needs trimming to fit the 'hole' and the leading edge over the oil cooler rads., there is a wedge of air 2-3 mm at the edge going back 12-15 mm into the wing. These are the only parts in the build that are being a total pain, the rest had an OK fit. Tamiya it is not. Thankfully the other Mosquito in the stash is.
Suggestions to fix and fill the gap are as always welcome...

Cheers.

[AlanG]

Bit late to the build Ian but you're doing a grand job. I really want to do a mossie one day. But mine would have to have rockets lol

[Jack L]

How did you go about the masking, cover the whole lot and then score along the pane lines? It is something I have not mastered yet!

[Ian M]

Bit late to the build Ian but you're doing a grand job. I really want to do a mossie one day. But mine would have to have rockets lol

Good to have you tag along Al.

How did you go about the masking, cover the whole lot and then score along the pane lines? It is something I have not mastered yet!

I use thin strips to mask around the frames and then fill in the rest with bits. You can do it the way you said but in this instance the frames are only very slightly raised and following them with the blade can be next to impossible. Also use a VERY sharp pointed blade.

[papa 695]

Coming along nicely Ian

[Jack L]

I use thin strips to mask around the frames and then fill in the rest with bits

Thanks Ian, I will give this one a go.

[Guest]

You can do it the way you said but in this instance the frames are only very slightly raised and following them with the blade can be next to impossible.

I find it’s easier to see where the framing is if you hold the canopy up to the light, though cutting through the tape can be a bit tricky that way.

Also use a VERY sharp pointed blade.

Definitely.

[Ian M]

So yesterday I set about cutting into the wing to make the leading edge landing light of the Mk that I am doing. I cut out the place and made the light box and was just starting to sort out some kind of clear plastic to make the cover. Guess what?
Wrong wing! Bugger. Spent the next half an hour finding something to re-fill the hole and then cut the position into the correct wing.
Duh!

Looking at all the photos I could find of a Mk 34, None of them had those dorsal antenna that are shown on the profile I posted. Also the wing tip lights are only the forward ones, so no need to faff about with those either. Yea!
Oh I made a new pilot tube for the tail fin as the rather ratty plastic part got the chop. Looked pretty naff anyway, so no worries there!
When I get back to the bench, I'll pop a couple of pictures up. Right now I am having problems just standing up let alone walk! Grrr.

[colin m]

Coming along nicely. Only an hour to mask the canopy, you're a master canopy masker.

[Ian M]

I have no problem admitting I made a boo-boo

Like cutting the leading edge light out in the wrong wing. ..Then having to fix that!
Here it is in the right wing.

just needs a quick swipe with a sanding stick then some lights drilled into it, then a cover!

Now about the wing root:

On looking at the other Mossies I have built, (there are about six or seven). It is not the wing that is wrong but the fuselage. On all the others the area by the cabin in slightly bulging out. On this one it is almost straight...Hmm. Even on the other kit which is exactly the same boxing as this one..

Thought it was a lot easier to make a fillet on the cooler than to faff about with the fuselage. A splodge of filler and we should be good to go.

[Fernando N]

A bit late here too Ian, neat looking interior work and seems she’s ready for paint soon too :thumb2::smiling: .

[Ian M]

Welcome Fernando Buckle down its a pretty bumpy ride.

Been fighting with fitting the nacelles yesterday and trying to figure out if I am brave enough to go in the hobby room and see how they look now the glue has dried.
To put it in a way we all understand they are not a great fit...One of them has a list to starboard, pushing the U/C struts inboard! Looking more and more like this one will be sent to the bone yard when done :-(
More later....

[Ian M]

Well I limped down to the hobby room. Then back to the living room for my mobil then back to the hobby room. I think I should buy me one of those fit bit thingies! LOL
Right then.

The Wheels fit and the wonky leg dont look as bad once they are on the wheels. You can see that the whole U/C on the right (as you see it) is leaning a bit. I put it down to a hard landing.

Just a quick view of the top.

I found a bit of clear plastic and sorted out the landing light. Turned out that it was perspex. A bugger to file into shape. But it worked out and polished up OK.
I notice now that the droptanks are totally the wrong shape and should be pretty much round in profile at the front. Not a lot to do about that now. They are stuck good and propper.
So now all the newest bits of filler need to set up and tomorrow I will pull the wheels and start to paint! Yea!

[Ian M]

She has got her winter socks on and has just been primed. Tomorrow I can give her a look over and sort anything that's not good enough and then throw some paint over her...
Might have a problem there as well Just given the PRU Blue a good shake, I hope there is enough!

Primed with Vallejo light grey primer... Almost the same colour as the plastic! Hope that I didn't miss to much.


Even though I have masked her legs off, I think that she will need touching up a bit ( Er... ummm, you know what I mean).

What the heck I might even go the pre-shade path as it will be quite plane otherwise.

[papa 695]

Looking good Ian, and a nice fix with the wing