De Havilland Mosquito NF Mk. II, 605 Squadron, DZ717 / UP-O
Comments
46 23 January, 04:48
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Gonna shift gears with a more straightforward Tamiya build. I wanted to make the all-black night fighter option, but thought the color scheme was too simple and I also wanted to try some camo painting. So I got decals for a night intruder option, which is the best of both worlds, and the camo with black underneath just looks really cool.
23 January, 05:09
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There is nothing more complicated, to replicate a all-black aircraft not making it look too dull, in my opinion
23 January, 08:14
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Interesting choice. Both when choosing a machine and when choosing a kit manufacturer. Compared to the Crusader, we go back in time by choosing the aircraft, but it's a big step forward in kit quality.
I wish you a lot of fun and as little trouble as possible building this kit. And of course I will be happy to follow it 👀
23 January, 12:08
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Welcome friends! Yes Ludvik this is a "palate cleanser," I wanted to see how a nice Tamiya goes together, it's also the second kit I got so it's been sitting in my stash awhile. I'm already messing with ejector pin marks, we'll see how much trouble I create for myself 🙂 and Markus--yeah I figured the topside camo would add a lot more visual interest.
23 January, 13:47
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And so it begins!!! You have earned the right for a break from raised panel lines!!!
25 January, 22:07
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🤣 I guess I have! The Monogram Voodoo lurks around the corner. The Mosquito's fit sure is mostly nice so far
26 January, 00:19
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Wings and nacelles are glued together and been painting the many cockpit components. Drilled out the gun barrels on the .303 Brownings too, I like the look
30 January, 05:11
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Did some detail painting, and been pounding the instrument panel decal with micro sol. It's slowly conforming to the raised dials, but I have solvaset and mark softer on order since Tamiya decals are apparently known for this…
1 February, 04:30
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I improved the cartoony decal seatbelts by applying them to foil, cutting them out, and painting the black edges a similar color. Idea thanks to an old IPMS Stockholm article.
23 February, 18:52
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I have the FB and NF versions… I need to finish my P-8 and get started on a Mossy…
25 February, 04:03
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Thanks Marlin! Definitely my favorite part of the build so far. Actually just threw the whole thing together today, now that the cockpit has been all worked out. It's not exactly intentional, but because this NF version I chose doesn't have the radar features, I've been breezing through construction since it also doesn't use the FB rockets/bombs/bomb bay. Next I need to get the canopy on ASAP since I keep breaking off gunsight 🤬 the only construction left is the landing gear, props, and the crew hatch and boarding ladder. Looking forward to painting
25 February, 04:40
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Excellent work on the model. Looks great. 👍
I'm sure you're not the only one who breaks off small parts of the model. I have the same problem. All it takes is one very brief moment of inattention and one careless move and that's it. Although I try to handle the model as carefully as possible, for example, I have broken off the antenna on the bottom of the Gripen four times. 😭
25 February, 11:09
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Thank you all, and glad to have you here Guy and Aman! No more breaking off the gunsight for me now Ludvik, the green strip decals are on the inside of the canopy and masks are on. Just gotta mask off the guns and then it's time for surfacer
29 February, 04:03
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Nice! I just finished the cockpit on the P-8 so, I really appreciate this step you have accomplished!!! Cheers!
29 February, 04:41
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Guess I'm onto the painting phase! I already painted the propeller caps ocean grey, then decided to hit the bottom side with matte black. Also getting the undercarriage painted and assembled too.
10 March, 04:48
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Thanks Marlin! I got it ready to paint the dark green. IDK what others do for camo like this, but to make a "hard edge" camo I used Tamiya curved tape to make the lines, and then used regular masking tape and paper towels to mask off the rest. Excited to see the finished paint job
18 March, 02:37
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Thank you Neil! At first I was thinking the ocean grey looked too dark, but with the dark green I find it contrasts well. Just got to fix some overspray and touch up some areas and it's on to decals
19 March, 11:48
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Oh yes!!! Great Saturdays provide the opportunity to focus on all those little details seen in the mind's eye!
23 March, 14:02
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Hell yes Marlin especially a rainy one like this! Working on the landing gear while giving the gloss time to cure
23 March, 15:26
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Marlin, it looks like Rando was visiting the Czech Republic today. It's been raining here all afternoon 😄
Rando, that chassis looks fantastic. Didn't you put pictures of the real chassis here by any chance 🙂
23 March, 22:28
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If only Ludvik, I'd love to come out that way. Would have come by to say hello and see your workbench! Been a pretty nasty day here in eastern Massachusetts too. Was also a good day to bring the kids to a model train show, fun look at an adjacent hobby.
Here's hoping the chassis fit into the nacelles without too many swear words 😉
24 March, 00:01
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Rando, I believe it would be a pleasant meeting. I'm sure we'd have a lot to talk about. And of course I would love to show you my desk 🙂
26 March, 00:03
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Indeed Ludvik we sure would, I'd be thrilled to meet you Marlin and all my modeling friends on here someday.
Mosquito is like 99% done! Landing gear went in surprisingly easy and now just some wingtip lights to install, finish painting the crew hatch, and attempt to rig the antenna mast. Pics soon!
Definitely looking forward to seeing painted the P-8 Marlin!
26 March, 00:45
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So I have to say I'm disappointed with how the canopy looks. I used Eduard masks and they were a struggle to get on as they didn't fit great. In hindsight I should probably de-tacked them too, like I do with Tamiya tape, since it seems like they left adhesive residue. They left some rough paint edges. Not sure how to improve it, I've done some careful scraping with toothpicks and Leveling Thinner, which improved it some, but considering popping the whole thing off and repainting it.
26 March, 17:55
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Using a 000 brush, put a couple of coats of thinned out black along the bottom of the canopy glass then a similar thinned coat of color over the black. That would firm up the window frames. The rest of the frames look pretty good to me!
26 March, 20:53
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Thanks Marlin, so would that help with that weird splotchy white color, especially noticeable on the frames in back?
26 March, 21:57
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Those should be dressed with a thinner brushed on in very small quantities until the streaks relent. I had thought those were aluminum chipping which would also be valid!
26 March, 22:58
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The Mr. Color Leveling thinner with a stiff hobby swab would help clean the edges. The Mr. Color thinner doesn't seem to harm clear plastic…
26 March, 23:01
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LOL, amazing that my mistake looked like something good! Shoulda just rolled with it. I do have a stiff kind of swab, I'll give it a try
26 March, 23:12
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I actually got Leveling Thinner after you recommended it on my Crusader build and it's all I've been using lately. Good stuff, I like that it can leave a smoother finish
26 March, 23:12
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I can confirm. I have the same experience, Mr. Color Leveling thinner will not damage clear plastic.
26 March, 23:24
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I think I've improved the framing a good deal already, both with paint and the thinner. Now just gotta glue on some nylon thread for the mast rigging, which I've never done before. So far I managed to attach it to the mast with some gel super glue.
27 March, 01:18
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You use super glue, it just stretches nicely without putting a lot of pressure (i.e. bending) on antenna masts. So you can anchor one point and then stretch it easily so there is no sag when you attach the other end.
27 March, 01:43
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Got it! I'll order some. I've already had trouble with the mast popping off once.
27 March, 01:48
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The antenna on my Buffalo build is EZ Line, it's also handy for those annoying multi-wire antennas.
27 March, 01:50
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Basically done! Aside from the rigging wire, which I will attach when it gets in. After that I'll upload the beauty shots. Now to clean up my very messy workbench and get the next project going!
28 March, 00:00
Album info
Building a Tamiya kit next as a change of pace. This Mosquito was a night intruder, a NF Mk. II with radar components removed, as aircraft with Mk. IV AI radar was forbidden to be used over Europe due to secrecy of the technology. It shot down 4 aircraft in one night in late 1943.