#14 1/72 Tamiya De Havilland Mosquito

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Tue May 01, 2018 4:03 am

Afternoon fellow capitains....

My entery to this Sig with be as follows

This kit was donated to me by a good friend when I was struggling $$ wise

Im hoping I can do it some justice

Anyway here are the sprue shots etc

Chose the colour scheme purely on the fact that it is the only one with some nose art.... and a grim reaper at that!

Wish me luck boys.... Tally Ho!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Tue May 01, 2018 5:41 am

All right, who let this Lagger Lout into the sig

Looking forward to see a night version if this Mossi...I think that is what you said you were doing
Awesome to see you set it up and great to have you along and I do wish you luck my friend

bud
Scott

Mylightweight · Post by **Mylightweight** » Tue May 01, 2018 6:05 am

I love a good mossie, never see one with nose art though.

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Tue May 01, 2018 6:35 am

A little historyof the 109 Squadron flying the Mossie

Taken from historyofwar.org

The association of the Mosquito with the Pathfinders began in August 1942. In that month No. 109 Squadron, a special duties squadron that had been working on the new Oboe radar navigation system, was transferred to the Path Finder Force (No. 8 (PFF) Group from January 1943). At the same time the squadron received Mosquito B. Mk IVs.

The Oboe system used two radar ground stations to pinpoint the position of an aircraft, guiding it to its target. It would be used by a small number of Pathfinder aircraft, which would find the target for a raid and mark it with flares. The main bomber force would then aim at the flares. If the Pathfinder’s could find their way accurately to their target, Bomber Command would have a way to bomb any target in Germany.

No. 109 Squadron flew the first Oboe mission on 20/21 December 1942, attacking a power-station in Holland. The success of this mission led to the first combined raid on the night of 31 December 1942/ 1 January 1943. This time two Mosquitoes from No. 109 Squadron used Oboe to find Düsseldorf. Once over the target they dropped parachute flares, and a force of eight Pathfinder Lancasters bombed the flares. This sky marking system could be used to bomb specific towns or cities in Germany in just about any weather. It was not precision bombing – the parachute flares were moving targets – but “Bomber” Harris didn’t want precision bombing – the last thing he wanted was for 200 Lancasters to drop their bombs on the exact same place!

The Oboe system could be used for precision bombing, as demonstrated on the same night as the Düsseldorf raid, when another force of Mosquitoes from No. 109 Squadron used it to bomb the German night fighter base at Florennes, Belgium.

After nearly a year as the only Mosquito squadron in the Pathfinders, No. 109 Squadron was joined by No. 105 Squadron in June 1943 and No. 139 Squadron in July 1943.

The Mosquito squadrons now began to combine Pathfinder duties with bombing raids of their own. The three Mosquito squadrons became known as the Light Night Striking Force (although Air Commodore Donald C. T. Bennett, the command of No.8 Group, preferred the term Fast Night Striking Force). While the main bomber stream could hit one or two targets per night, small numbers of Mosquitoes could be found roaming across Germany, keeping the air raid sirens busy. By the end of the war No. 8 Group contained eleven Mosquito squadrons.

Two developments helped make the Mosquito into an effective bomber. The arrival of the B Mk IX in April 1943 and then the B Mk XVI in December 1943 allowed the Mosquito to bomb from ever increasing altitudes, making it increasingly difficult for German night fighters to intercept the raiders.

More importantly, in April 1943 the B Mk IV was modified to carry the 4,000lb “cookie”, by then the standard bomb used by the heavy bombers. The first operational use of the capacity did not come until 23 February 1944, when No. 592 Squadron dropped the big bomb on Düsseldorf. The number of 4,000lb bombs dropped by the Mosquitoes of No. 8 group increased steadily. In the first five months of 1945 Mosquitoes dropped 2,959 “Cookies” on German targets. Berlin alone was visited 170 times by the LNSF. The B Mk XVI was the main Mosquito type used to drop these bombs.

This is not to say that the Pathfinder Mosquitoes concentrated entirely on bombing raids. They continued to act as Pathfinders for the main bomber stream, often both leading a raid and taking part in it.

The Pathfinders was also used for other special duties. One of these was “spoofing”. This involved a small flight of aircraft dropping Window, originally developed to block German radar, to mimic the radar signal of the main bomber force. This was done by dropping Window at careful intervals along a set route. It was first tried by No. 139 Squadron, on 18/19 November 1943. The hope was that the German night fighters would be directed onto the false bomber stream, ignoring the main stream. It could also be used as a double bluff, with spoofing force flying ahead of the main bomber force, in the hope that the Germans would realise that the first apparent raid was false and then ignore the main force. The same spoofing technique was later used by Lancaster bombers of No. 617 Squadron on D-Day, to create a fleet of ghost ships crossing the channel from Kent to the Pas-de-Calais.

1944 saw the appearance of H2S, a downward looking radar system that could clearly pick out urban areas. As this was carried by the aircraft, it did not have the same range limits as Oboe, and was ideal for targeting cities that contained large areas of water, amongst them Berlin, which contains large lakes.

The Pathfinder Mosquitoes ended the war with a most impressive record. In 28,215 sorties they had only suffered 108 losses, a lose rate of only 0.03%, the lowest of any aircraft type in Bomber Command. The Mosquitoes of the Pathfinder Force played a crucial role in improving the accuracy of Bomber Command, which by the end of the war had become a precision weapon, even if it was not always used as such.

digger303 · Post by **digger303** » Tue May 01, 2018 9:24 am

Can't beat a good mossie

Les0012 · Post by **Les0012** » Tue May 01, 2018 11:48 am

A wooden wonder in plastic, canna beat it.

Good luck fella

Les

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Wed May 02, 2018 10:15 pm

That was a really good read about the Mossie and her role and low mortality rate

I know that some bozos in Canada, Halifax I think it was, clipped a flag pole and crashed a Mosquito showing off.
Killed everyone on board. Was supposed to be a demo aircraft for the war effort
Funny I can't find the reference now
Anyhow, carry on

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Fri May 04, 2018 9:40 am

Alrighty.... Planning on making a start tonight, my girl are heading out to a friends for a girls night..... leaves me to my own devices at home...... So plastic therapy or ps4 vr therapy?? Decisions decisions......

Stay tuned

InvalidUsername · Post by **InvalidUsername** » Sat May 05, 2018 5:33 am

Fridgy wrote: ↑Fri May 04, 2018 9:40 am plastic therapy or ps4 vr therapy?? Decisions decisions......
Stay tuned

Both

alextheblue · Post by **alextheblue** » Sat May 05, 2018 8:20 am

Love the mossie, such as classic shape.

Looking forward to this one!

Stokesy44 · Post by **Stokesy44** » Sat May 05, 2018 9:00 am

Lovely aircraft, only the Brits could have come up with the wooden wonder!

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Sun May 06, 2018 10:31 am

Made a start tonight..... looked at the size of the landing gear where the instructions would have me start..... 1/72.... what was i thinking???

So skipped a head quite a few steps to the cockpit, nose section and fuselage...

Have cleaned all the parts up and have been coated in Ultimate grey primer.... worked perfectly with mycheap chinese ab with unknown needle size....

Tomorrow with shoot somecolour at the parts and get some detail painting underway

gaz45 · Post by **gaz45** » Fri May 11, 2018 11:11 am

Cool bird there mate

pourquoi61 · Post by **pourquoi61** » Sun May 13, 2018 9:12 pm

Looking good .
Have a cheap airbrush which I use very often with good results.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon May 14, 2018 4:54 pm

Door prize draw coming up this weekend

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Wed May 16, 2018 11:07 am

Yay! some bench time today

Tommorrow is a day off for my wifes birthday

Anyway, got the interior sprayed green tonight

hopefully I will get some bench time this weekend to start the detail painting of the interior

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Thu May 17, 2018 1:00 pm

Started some detail painting

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu May 17, 2018 4:41 pm

Looking good

What green are you using??

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Thu May 17, 2018 8:48 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Thu May 17, 2018 4:41 pm Looking good
What green are you using??

Morning buddy
Vallejo model air green sky
70.974 is what was laid down

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu May 17, 2018 8:59 pm

Fridgy wrote: ↑Thu May 17, 2018 8:48 pm
Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Thu May 17, 2018 4:41 pm Looking good
What green are you using??
Morning buddy
Vallejo model air green sky
70.974 is what was laid down

Looks really good

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Thu May 17, 2018 9:24 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Thu May 17, 2018 8:59 pm
Fridgy wrote: ↑Thu May 17, 2018 8:48 pm
Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Thu May 17, 2018 4:41 pm Looking good
What green are you using??
Morning buddy
Vallejo model air green sky
70.974 is what was laid down
Looks really good

Thanks mate
Instructions called for a mix of 3 different colours
But i found pics of the pit which matched up fairly well with the green sky
Much easier

Skullfish · Post by **Skullfish** » Fri May 18, 2018 3:03 am

Cool bird! Love the mossie , heard good things of the Tamiya. Kits
Good luck with her , following along.
Jase

digger303 · Post by **digger303** » Fri May 18, 2018 3:59 am

Fridgy wrote: ↑Thu May 17, 2018 8:48 pm
Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Thu May 17, 2018 4:41 pm Looking good
What green are you using??
Morning buddy
Vallejo model air green sky
70.974 is what was laid down

It's a good looking choice

Les0012 · Post by **Les0012** » Fri May 18, 2018 9:06 am

Looking good, I am not one for mixing paints together it's just a pain to me

Les

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Fri May 18, 2018 9:20 am

Les0012 wrote: ↑Fri May 18, 2018 9:06 am Looking good, I am not one for mixing paints together it's just a pain to me

Les

digger303 wrote: ↑Fri May 18, 2018 3:59 am
Fridgy wrote: ↑Thu May 17, 2018 8:48 pm
Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Thu May 17, 2018 4:41 pm Looking good
What green are you using??
Morning buddy
Vallejo model air green sky
70.974 is what was laid down
It's a good looking choice

Skullfish wrote: ↑Fri May 18, 2018 3:03 am Cool bird! Love the mossie , heard good things of the Tamiya. Kits
Good luck with her , following along.
Jase

Cheers fella's

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Sun May 20, 2018 11:55 am

Not a huge amount done this weekend, had to travel to Deniliquinn to help the step son move house

Just doodling away with some detail painting on the interior, might not be historically accurate, but meh.... its my model and it adds some visual interest

Kevthemodeller · Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Sun May 20, 2018 3:03 pm

Some nice things happening here mate

Les0012 · Post by **Les0012** » Sun May 20, 2018 4:39 pm

Liking very much

Les

pourquoi61 · Post by **pourquoi61** » Sun May 20, 2018 4:59 pm

Nice eye candy mate.

pourquoi61 · Post by **pourquoi61** » Sun May 20, 2018 5:01 pm

Thanks for the idea.

Bent wings.

demarcation · Post by **demarcation** » Sun May 20, 2018 7:31 pm

Great work!!

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Fri May 25, 2018 1:58 am

Not much done lately

Got biten by the black dog early in the week and have struggled ever since

Slowly getting myself back together and gaining traction in life again

Stokesy44 · Post by **Stokesy44** » Fri May 25, 2018 8:07 am

Fridgy wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 1:58 am Not much done lately

Got biten by the black dog early in the week and have struggled ever since

Slowly getting myself back together and gaining traction in life again

Happens to us all mate. You are not alone. Hang in there.

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Fri May 25, 2018 8:09 am

Stokesy44 wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 8:07 am
Fridgy wrote: ↑Fri May 25, 2018 1:58 am Not much done lately

Got biten by the black dog early in the week and have struggled ever since

Slowly getting myself back together and gaining traction in life again
Happens to us all mate. You are not alone. Hang in there.

Cheers buddy

alextheblue · Post by **alextheblue** » Fri May 25, 2018 8:29 am

Sorry to hear that Mick, hope you keep managing to find that traction mate.

pourquoi61 · Post by **pourquoi61** » Wed May 30, 2018 10:50 pm

I was walking with the black dog for 18 months when I lost my wife mate, you will get through.
Good luck and use plastic therapy to help.

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 9:42 am

Mojo took a big hit with my unwelcome guest, got back to the bench for about 30mins last night. Cockpit detail painted, just need to add the decals for the ip and the seat belts

Hopefully now ive got myself back to the bench i will be able to push on with this build

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 3:31 pm

Fridgy wrote: ↑Mon Jun 04, 2018 9:42 am Mojo took a big hit with my unwelcome guest, got back to the bench for about 30mins last night. Cockpit detail painted, just need to add the decals for the ip and the seat belts

Hopefully now ive got myself back to the bench i will be able to push on with this build

Little steps at a time mate, little steps.
We have tons of time to finish and no pressure to do so
Model when it is enjoyable, not when you feel you have to
All the best to you

Garion77 · Post by **Garion77** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 11:13 am

I'm not sure to understand what you have ?...I'm French speaking.... so don't give up!

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 12:25 pm

some photos

Receiver

Transmitter

Cockpit assembled

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 4:42 pm

Awesome details Mick

Post by **Tomcat64** » Wed Jun 06, 2018 3:02 pm

Great to see you back at the bench mate - that cockpit is starting to come together really nicely and as Scott said the details are starting to pop out too. Nice work mate

Les0012 · Post by **Les0012** » Thu Jun 07, 2018 2:33 pm

Cockpits looking good

Les

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Sat Jun 09, 2018 1:17 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Wed May 02, 2018 10:15 pm That was a really good read about the Mossie and her role and low mortality rate
I know that some bozos in Canada, Halifax I think it was, clipped a flag pole and crashed a Mosquito showing off.
Killed everyone on board. Was supposed to be a demo aircraft for the war effort
Funny I can't find the reference now
Anyhow, carry on

found it for you......

http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/ ... eddie.aspx

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Jun 09, 2018 3:43 pm

Fridgy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 09, 2018 1:17 pm
Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Wed May 02, 2018 10:15 pm That was a really good read about the Mossie and her role and low mortality rate
I know that some bozos in Canada, Halifax I think it was, clipped a flag pole and crashed a Mosquito showing off.
Killed everyone on board. Was supposed to be a demo aircraft for the war effort
Funny I can't find the reference now
Anyhow, carry on
found it for you......

http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/ ... eddie.aspx

Ya, there it is. Tragically stupid
Hope your mojo is returning. Your build has been great so far

demarcation · Post by **demarcation** » Sat Jun 09, 2018 10:16 pm

Nice work on the cockpit, looks great!!

digger303 · Post by **digger303** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:27 am

looking forward to seeing more of this.

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 3:01 am

digger303 wrote: ↑Sun Jun 10, 2018 1:27 am looking forward to seeing more of this.

Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Sat Jun 09, 2018 3:43 pm
Fridgy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 09, 2018 1:17 pm
Twokidsnosleep wrote: ↑Wed May 02, 2018 10:15 pm That was a really good read about the Mossie and her role and low mortality rate
I know that some bozos in Canada, Halifax I think it was, clipped a flag pole and crashed a Mosquito showing off.
Killed everyone on board. Was supposed to be a demo aircraft for the war effort
Funny I can't find the reference now
Anyhow, carry on
found it for you......

http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/ ... eddie.aspx
Ya, there it is. Tragically stupid
Hope your mojo is returning. Your build has been great so far

Mojo is back... but (why is there always a but??)

The kids and grandkid are visiting this long weekend, which means the youngest has been kicked out of her room and has taken up residence in my modelling room..... i need a bigger house.....

Fridgy · Post by **Fridgy** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 6:40 am

Wings assembled

Forgot to add on of the nav lights in the wing... will try the pva glue trick....

Assembled the fuselage

Landing hear together, primed glossy black and shot some aluminium at it. Currently in the box drying

alextheblue · Post by **alextheblue** » Sun Jun 10, 2018 8:44 am

That's coming on a treat Mick!