Wally's 1/48 Tamiya Mosquito NF MK.XIII/XVII

[wally]

Hello Folks
As I mention in the invitation for this SIG I start with the kit in 1/48 scale Tamiya Mosquito NF. XIII/XVII.
For this build I will be using lot of after market bits such like: Resin wheels and mud guard as well as resin exhaust. Besides that I also will be use PE parts from Eduard for interior and exterior and masks for the canopy.




I think will start this kit in May time period. This my plan.
Cheers

[Nige201980]

Welcome to the SIG mate

[wally]

Hello All
Thanks Nigel. I started working on my Mosquito, the pictures will be put shortly. In the mean time I will put the information about the Polish 307 squadron in which markings I will be doing my kit.

No. 307 (City of Lwów) Polish Night Fighter Squadron (Polish: 307 Dywizjon Myśliwski Nocny "Lwowskich Puchaczy" ) was a Polish night fighter squadron formed in Great Britain on 24 August 1940 following an agreement between the Polish Government in Exile and the United Kingdom. It was the only Polish night fighter squadron fighting alongside the Royal Air Force during World War II. 307 Squadron is named after the Polish city of Lwów, and nicknamed "Eagle Owls".



History
The nickname "Eagle Owls" comes from fighters who defended Lwów (now Lviv; German: Lemberg) in Galicia, Poland from invading Ukrainian forces in the Polish-Ukrainian War of 1918–1919, who were referred to as the Lwów Eaglets (Polish: Orlęta Lwowskie). The nickname is also appropriate to a night fighter squadron, as the eagle owl is a predator that flies at night.

After its formal formation in Blackpool on 24 August 1940 No. 307 squadron was assembled at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey on 5 September 1940 as a night fighter unit, flying the Boulton Paul Defiant turret-fighter and took up residence at RAF Jurby, Isle of Man. An example of the Boulton Paul Defiant, with serial number N1671, EW-D, the sole complete surviving Defiant is to be seen on display at the RAF Museum at RAF Hendon. In August 1941 the squadron converted to Beaufighters which it flew until being re-equipped with Mosquitoes in late 1942. From 1943 the squadron was based at RAF Predannack, Cornwall, and was active as a night intruder unit over airfields in occupied France. This changed in January 1945, when its role was switched to bomber support, combating German night fighters. The squadron was disbanded on 2 January 1947 after the end of World War II.

Aircraft operated
From To Aircraft Version
17 September 1940 August 1941 Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I
14 August 1941 May 1942 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IIf
5 May 1942 February 1943 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.VIf
21 December 1942 January 1945 de Havilland Mosquito NF.II
19 June 1943 October 1943 de Havilland Mosquito NF.VI
22 January 1944 November 1944 de Havilland Mosquito NF.XII, NF.XIII
24 October 1944 January 1947 de Havilland Mosquito NF.30

Some pictures of the Mosquito from the 307 squadron:




Cheers

[Nige201980]

Some great history there mate. Thanks for sharing.

[wally]

Hello Folks

First update on my Mosquito build. I started traditionally from the cockpit. First spray all parts using XF-71 Cockpit Green, then pick up the details using various colours like black, red, silver. The resin seat were hand painted using Red Brown for cousin and Buff colour for seat belts. Then I protect all parts spraying gloss coat. Next step was weathering of the cockpit. For this I used MIG Dark Brown wash. Wipe the access using cotton buds. In the mean time I was adding all PE parts for the instrument panels and other part of the cockpit. Put all parts together and this it my cockpit for this moment.






I only need to add some wiring to the cockpit and seal all using flat coat then it will be ready for closing the fuselage.
Cheers

[Nige201980]

Great start mate.

[Joesdad]

Good stuff Wally, I like your weathering....quite a lot

[Coen]

That's awesome work bud!!

[wally]

Hello

Day two of my build. Today I closed the fuselage, sanded smooth all seam lines, glue in place horizontal stabilizers. i also start working on engine nacelles and other small bits like drop tanks and wing tips.



That's it for now. Next step working on wings and engine nacelles.
Cheers

[das84]

Cockpit looks great, are the radar controls/ screens kit parts or aftermarket?

[wally]

They are kit parts. Painting XF-19 sky grey plus all dials and switches painted black and silver.

[wally]

Hello Folks

i'm returning to the Mosquito build. I installed resin details in the wheel bays paint them using Tamiya AS-12 silver. Then glue together engine nacelles to the wings and wings to the fuselage.






Now I need to re-scribe some panel lines and tide up some seam lines and it will be ready for priming and painting.
Cheers

[Coen]

Wow! Looks awesome Wally. That cockpit looks excellent dude.

[Nige201980]

Looking great mate

[Avgas]

Great work Wally.

[jackielinz]

Awesome work, cant wait to see more

[wally]

Hello Folks

I've return after long long brake caused by vacation and working on different projects. I manged to complete major assembly on my Mosie. I maksed canopy using Eduard Masks and spray inside Interior Green color. Then I re-scribe all lost panel lines and sort out all seam lines. Then was the time to put the primer on. I used Badger Stynylrez Grey primer with my new Gunze Procon Boy LWA airbrush with 0.5mm needle in it. I goes absolutely like a dream, smooth finish no problem at all. I think the clue for using Badger Primer is get bigger nozzle in your airbrush, my 0.5mm needle/nozzle work fine. First I have an idea to add some resin exhaust that I've bought for this kit but because of blast covers they want't be see in it, so I decide to used kit one and leave the resin for my second Mosquito that I have in my stash. I've prime also all smaller parts like propellers and spinners, resin undercarriage covers and so on. I will also use the resin wheels that have nice bulged in it. So the kit is ready for painting





Plan is to start painting stage by the end of this week, so stay tuned.
Cheers

[wally]

Hello Folks

Next big update on my Mosquito build. I complete painting stage for now. But start from the beginning, first I've done some pre shading on using Tamiya XF-66 German Grey color.


Then I start laying first color. The hole underside of the aircraft and first color of camo pattern was painted using Tamiya XF-83 Medium Sea Grey color.
After that I've done some bleaching using XF-80 Royal Light Grey color.
Then after it dries was time to put second camo color XF-81 Dark RAF Green. The bleaching for this color was done by adding couple drops of Desert Yellow. The camo demarcation was done using warms technique from white tack. And this is the result




Yesterday I finishing painting stage by gloss coating entire kit using Future Floor polish. I also add the propellers and paint/assembled main undercarriage.



That's it for now next stage will be decals then I will start weathering stage. Stay tuned.
Cheers