1/48 Tamiya Mosquito Mk. VI FB (FINISHED)

Thanks guys.  Hopper, the finished model is on page 4, and welcome back to the hobby.  

Joe

Hey Joe, sorry I missed the big finale.   It's a real beautiful "wooden wonder".

Hi Joe,  that is looking really nice.  The cockpit area looks like it will be very nicely done.  I'm looking forward to seeing your entire build.  I'm just getting back into building kits again after a very long vacation from them and I'm looking forward to reading and picking up on everyone's work.  Having not built any airplane kits for over 30 years, so far I've seen I have a lot to learn.  Thanks for sharing your work with us.

J. Cloud Hopper Motts

Thanks guys.  You are far too kind.  

Max, Your very kind...thanks.  Don't get me started on that rigged-a@@ model show.  Sore loser?  Absolutely....   Kidding aside, I think its funny how all the club members run off with all of the awards.   For example, the guy who won first place in the out of the box catergory last year forgot his assembly instructions.  He should have been disqualified.  Heres a thought, don't make rules if you don't intend to go by them.  If it walks like a duck.....

That said, I'm considering my P-47M and Corsair diorama this year.  My P-38 might get some love too.   

Joe

Joe,

Wow, why am I always surprised at seeing your fantastic builds? You've slapped together 6 or 7 since I started (!!!) my "return to the hobby" kit. Your build quality is amazing, and I appreciate that you don't sweat the small stuff and do what's right to your eye. You're definitely up there on my "must-see modeler" list.

Can you please bring all of these kits to the show this November? I want to see them all in person!

Another beautiful build, you can really turn them out.  The base and the figures are just enough to really present the model well.

Mike

Joe, what can I say that hasn't been said before?  This is another great looking build.  =]  You just keep pumping them out.  Each one I see makes me want to add one more to my build list.

I just got back from my honeymoon so now the wedding rush of planning and whatnot can rest.  

Groot,  Try using some super glue on the threads to lock them together.  Might keep you running for a while until you can get that tanked compressor, which is wonderful to work with.  Good luck

Awesome job.  I'm working on one, though it has pilots, sitting in the cockpit.

Very well done.

Chanter

Joe,

another great job..she's a beauty eh? You may think that figures are not your forte, but they are exceptional as well!

Allen

They most certainly are not!.......lol......but thanks. 

Thank you to all for the kind words.  Up next is  Pearl Harbor P-40, one that got airborne and scored some kills.   .

Joe

Hi, Joe -

I have always viewed the Mossie as one of those few airplanes that "just looked right," not just a kick _ss war bird, but elegant as well. You made another fine job of it, a great Sunday morning look with a good cup of coffee. Super finish and detailing. Thanks for the post.

Patrick

Another stunning build. Great job again. I have that on my list, just not in my stash. Perhaps it's time to add that one as well. Thanks for the great build and all the tips you include with it.

Beautuful Joe!!!!! Congats!

Pablo

Joe,

another great job..she's a beauty eh? You may think that figures are not your forte, but they are exceptional as well!

Allen

She's a beaut Joe, as usual!  You sir, are an artist with plastic and paint...

Gary

Thanks guys.  I appreciate all of the kind words.  

Joe

Dang! That is one good looking Mozzy you made ther, all thumbs way up!

I think the figures really bring it to life, well done

Theuns

Outstanding, Joe.

You know I'm a fan of your work. There is something about this one that really lights my fire.

Now that is one sweet looking Mossie, awesome. And a great base as well.

Wow Joe that came out awesome! Thats got to be one of the nicest Mossies I've seen. You really did a spot on job with the painting,the details and panel lines really pop. Very nicely done Sir!

Hey Joe, another beauty!!  Fabulous paint and weathering as usual.

Steve

Thanks guys.  I appreciate all of the kind words. 

I'm calling her done.  To recap, its in the markings of "Hairless Joe", operated by Russ Bannock and Robert Bruce of the 418 RCAF Squadron.  These two destroyed 9 in the air, another 4 damaged, and then another 19 V-1 rockets.  This was also my first Canadian subject....Eh?

The kit was typical Tamiya in fit,  I didn't care for the black plastic on this version, which was sort of grainy and soft with a tendency to tear.  Most hiccups were my own doing.  This kit was haunted by ghost seams for some reason, so I had to keep going back to "exorcise" them with addtional sanding.  I'm guessing it was due to the aforementioned plastic issues.  I also had trouble getting the greenhouse canopy to fit right.  I think I glued the fuselage halves were microscopically staggered which affected the "sit" of the canopy.  I pressed it into place and Tenaxed it.  I had a small gap on the starboard side which I filled with white glue.  I hate attaching canopies....truly I do.  Aftermarket goodies were Ultracast wheels and seats.  I decided to drill out the kit 303's and 20 mm cannons.  I did have Quickboost 303s on hand but I just didn't like them.  They looked like little black needles sticking out of the nose. These went into my Tamiya Lancaster box for later. 

This kit came with an officer, standing pilots and an RAF airfield vehicle (one of the reasons I bought it).  I decided to use the two pilots to make it look as though Bannock and Bruce were getting ready to board and take on the Luftwaffe once again on a Fall evening in 1944.  Nice additions but the detail on the torsos were weak, nowhere near as nice as their Navy Pilot examples.  I made due and painted them per the instructions.  Nothing fancy as figures are not my forte.  Bannock's figure received masking tape strips as chute straps because, as said before,  these were hard to pick out with a brush due to the soft detail.  These a secured with CA and I tend to use this trick often.  The "intelligence sheet" Bannock is reading was fashioned out of a square of masking tape then wrinkled a bit.           

Thanks for following the thread and comments are welcomed,,,

Joe

That looks fantastic!

Mike

I am really liking what I see here.

Your exterior is really coming together, Joe. Looking great.

Looking stunning there Joe.

Looks great! I'm thinking of starting a mosquito in the near future.

Thanks Rad.  Thats why I work at lower pressures.  The paint goes where you want it. 

In for a quick update.  Over the last few days I got it Alclad Gloss coated and decaled.  I was disappointed with the Owl decals.  They were very delicate and if they touched your finger, they crinkled up and were completely useless.  I'm fortunate the sheet came with two Hairless Joe murals or I would hae been up a creek.  They reminded me of my first (and last) experience with Techmod.  If you've ever used Techmod, you know exactly what I'm talking about.....they are useless.  That said, I prevailed by using a water-soaked Q-tip to get them in place (tweezers would rip them).  I used an Eagle Strike sheet for the roundels (I was not going to push my luck).   Once in place, they settled nicely under Micro Sol. 

I hope to get started on gear legs and other such stuff soon.

Joe