Jim Whitbread builds Airfix's big and beautiful Mossie.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Hi Jim,
very nicely done I love to see this model finished and I've seen a few now, it seems to be very popular with modellers, and rightly so. I have one waiting to be built and I'm thinking about doing mine as NE-D, from the same squadron; mainly because I have masks prepared for that Machine.

Jim you must contact me about masks for your next build, painted on markings are so much better than decals; especially in the larger scales. I can even cut masks for the "No Walk" area, including the "KEEP OFF" writing
As a Kitmaker member you get a discount

Hi Mal, thank you so much for the kind words. As a matter of fact, if I had masks for my Dragon P-51D Mustang for aircraft WZ-I, Serial No. 472218, also known as Big Beautiful Doll, I would be a happy man. My wife absolutely loves that scheme as well making the purchase ordeal minimal (I know all of you married modelers know what I mean so fess up :-)). Is there a way to let me know how much such a thing would cost? The kit stencils are OK so just the unit markings and stars and bars would be great. Thanks

Jim

Wish Airfix would "downsize" to 1/32nd scale. But I guess this larger version makes them unique, whereas they'd be up against DML, Eduard, Trumpeter and RoG in 32-scale.

A beautiful build of a beautiful airplane.

Thanks for the kind words Bill! I think once you get past the enormity of this airplane you appreciate the quality of Airfix's kit. I had SO much fun on the detail builds (Merlins, landing gear, gun/bomb bay etc...) because they were almost kits in themselves. I think the worst part is finding somewhere to put the damn thing! I am very interested to see the new 1/32 B-17G coming out this summer. Now that will be neat! Thanks again :-)

Mal, I am working on a 1:24 Spitfire VB and a 1:24 Huricane Mk 2. Do you offer masks for these? If so I would be interested.
Andy

Hi Jim,
I have been working on "Big Beautiful Doll" for some time Now that I have a new professional plotter there's not much that I can't do. There is a limit but where before I couldn't cut RAF 8"serials (4.23mm) in 1/48 I recently cut Mosquito "No Walk" markings including the 3" (2.38mm) "Keep Off" script. The biggest hurdle for BBD is the checkers on the nose, they won't be difficult to cut but getting them the correct shape will be difficult as they won't be square on the compound curve of the cowling. I have the 1/32 scale kit on which I intend to use the masks and test fit the checks and I hope to start it soon to do so. I do however have a commitment to produce markings for LOU IV as I have several customers who are waiting for that. I hope to start the 2 P-51Ds, early and late, for both these schemes in the next couple of months.

Hi Bill,
At the Scale Modelworld show in Telford last year I filled in Airfix's questionnaire on what I would like them to produce. My 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices was a 1/32 scale Mosquito I would also like to see a 1/32 Westland Whirlwind I'm hoping that if Airfix don't do them then Wingscale will.

Hi Andrew,



Yes Andy I produce masks to order, just drop me a line at [email protected] and let me know the markings that you are planning on and we can take it from there. If I don't already have the markings that you require already drawn I simply draw the ones that you want. There's no charge for that service as it simply adds to what I have already done. Do remind me that you are a member of the Kitmaker group as you qualify for a discount.

Sorry for hijacking the thread, back to Jim's excellent Mossie

Jim

I missed your pics when they were first posted because we were having a lovely summer holiday at the beach.

That is a fantastic model you have finished - I can only hope that my Airfix Mossie approaches the same standard when I complete it! Of course now I'm regretting that I didn't choose to do a Coastal Command scheme… You may find I keep coming to you with questions about the best way out of the numerous corners I just know I'm going to paint myself into…

cheers Brad

Thanks a bunch for the compliment Brad. Us northern hemisphere dwellers are coveting your summer right about now but we know our turn is comimg despite global warming. I'm always happy to commiserate about kit construction so don't hesitate to ask. I'll probably fumble through my answer. It was a hoot to build my Mossie and I'm sure you will love doing it too. I love the kit so much I almost bought a second one today at a local hobby shop but chickened out. Thanks again for the kind words and hopefully we can touch base later. Jim

Excellent work Jim.

Thanks again for the compliment Grenadier, it is much appreciated.

So I have been hoping that someone out there has completed this kit and is willing to share their photos. So far to no avail but I am still hopeful :-).

It is such an amazing offering from Airfix and one of my absolute favorite aircraft that is is nice to see it out there. I agree with a previous remark to this that a 1/32 kit would be great also. It would be a good companion to WingScale's upcoming B-25 (which I of course have already pre-ordered). So, all that being said, can anybody out there in cybermodelworld, please step up and share. Thanks all! Jim

Beautiful workmanship, but, one small point; if one aileron is down, the other should be up. It is, in fact, rare to see displaced ailerons on a Mosquito.
Edgar

Thanks Edgar, I didn't even realize that they were beyond neutral until I'd hit the send button on the e mail. Neither are glued in-place so I had been messing around with them before the "photo session". At that point I didn't want to point out what a dummy I was. Otherwise the dumb thing turned out OK, it was sure fun to build! Take care Jim