This is Tamiya's 1/48 Mosquito B MkIV. I used WEM Colourcoats enamel for the camouflage colours. They really do airbrush nicely. I'd like to thank Mal for the info on how best to paint the inner canopy frames (What a nightmare of a job that was!).

Ah, my baby.....It doesn't matter how many times you see her the Mossy is still beautiful!

Nice Job Martin. Does the eduard canopy mask set not work with the interior frames? My next British aircraft will be a mossy but I havn't decided which version yet.

Lee

To be honest I don't seem to have much luck with eduard canopy masks, they always seem to slip slightly out of position. Mal suggested thin strips of masking tape for inside the canopy. I was using every swearword I knew to make it work but it turned out OK.

I know what you mean, the older style green plasticy masks were pretty cack but the new 'Kabuki' tape ones are very good.

I take it you cut thin strips of masking tape and painted them 'cockpit green'?

Lee

No, I cut thin strips of masking tape and masked along the interior frame lines, then used wider pieces to mask the "glass". I then airbrushed interior green into the canopy. I only did this where there was no exterior framing. Tamiya supply this framing as decals but the colour is not right being almost an emerald green.

For the exterior frames I masked the exterior "glass" and airbrushed interior green, then applied the camo colours over them as I did the rest of the airframe.

Ok, yep, got it - I'll have to remember that when I get 'round to building mine......

Lee

Very nice Mossie. Congratulations.

Very nice Martin. Do you usually do enamels or acrylics? I started with and have used acrylics but am thinking of switching / playing with the enamels. Just curious about your experience.
Thanks and great job again.
Leon

Hi Leon,

I used to use Humbrol enamels for airbrushing but after I got married I switched to acrylics as there is less of a smell. The brands I stayed with were Hannants Xtracrylics and Vallejo Air. They have a good range of millitary aircraft colours and they are suitable for airbrushing when thinned with water although I also used their own brand thinners and also thinned the Vallejo with their airbrush cleaner.

Now the wife works the evening shift I have the house to myself for 4 or 5 hours so I have plenty of time to do some airbrushing and clear away any odours so I have gone back to enamels. The best I have found so far are White Ensign Models' colourcoats. They cover beautifully and I thin them with plain white spirit without any problems. I don't know if they use a finer pigment than Humbrol but I do find them better.

I prefer enamels simply because with acrylics I was constantly having the airbrush needle clog with dried paint. I don't get this with enamels and they seem to give a finer spray, better for post shading.

The down side of course is the lengthier drying time. With Xtracrylics and Vallejo I could do a complete camo scheme in a day, with the Colourcoats I have to do each colour on consecutive days to allow them to fully dry.

Martin,

Excellent build and paint job on the Mossie, know the pains with the canopy framming on these from building several.

A gem of a Mossie Martin - just one minor point, I have a photo of DK333, 'Grim Reaper' which appears to show the fuselage bomb aimer's windows painted over in Night Black (p.124 Mosquito at War).
The crew, by the way, were Fg/Off. H B Stephens and navigator F Russell (rank not given).

Jeff W.

In the unlikely event I ever build another I think I will paint the internal frames on the outside of the canopy and give it a coat of gloss to make them look like they are beneath the "glass".

Martin, you could use the Future/Klear dip method. Paint the frames on the outside as you suggest then dip the whole canopy in Klear. I know several modellers who always dip their canopies anyway. I do it every now and then but you have to watch out for dust!!!!

Lee

Thats a beauty Martin!
Lovely job all round.
Breaks my heart though knowing its fate.
Whats next on the bench?
Nige

Thanks for the info, I have seen some FBIVs with this done but didn't know this particular aircraft had it done.





Heh heh, I think I've destroyed more aircraft than the Red Baron. I'm yhinking of doing a Beaufighter TFX but I'm nervous about all the masking for the D-Day stripes.

Im sure youd think twice about your "storage" method if you saw what sort of price built kits of far lesser quality are fetching on Ebay,,,,heavy hint!!!

Stripes,,,,,,,,,STRIPES!!!!!!!!!!,,,,,,twitch twitch,,,,,,,dont mention stripes!!!

Nige

Some more information on DK333 can be found here. Still not SURE about the nose windows, but it was very likely because DK333 was using OBOE. OBOE aircraft also had an extra whip antenna just behind the canopy.

Thanks for the link Jeff, some interesting info there.