HK Models 1/32 scale D. H. Mosquito

[BarryW]

Here is latest progress. Both undercarriages components in subassemblies and ready for paint.  


Started on wing as well, beautifully engineered.   Sone pics. 














The instructions would have you measuring on the wing to drill holes to take the underwing fuel tanks.  Blow that. I have sanded off the location pins and will cement them in place using mk1 eyeball. 





It would have been better to have small raised impressions on the wing for where to drill.  Easier to lightly sand over these if you are not installing the tanks than try measuring so precisely onto the plastic 

[BarryW]

Continued to put together various sub-assemblies and have been enjoying the excellent engineering and fit.


I have the seams to clean up on the cookie bomb and a couple more pieces and then I will start painting.





The engines are built up.  As I will be having a closed up build I will not be painting these.  They are very nice represations of the Merlin, perhaops not quite as good as the Tamiya ones but nevertheless very good.  I will, of course, paint the exhausts before fitting.











I have glued the external fuel tanks to the wings.  As mentioned before I decided that it would be easier to position them by eye than to try drilling those holes with such precise measurements.   I am glad I did as the fuel tanks were no problem as all.  Here is the first of them held in place with the cement drying.





I will star spraying primer this week once all parts are cleaned up with ipa.  I will be usuing the Stynylrez Black primer.

[Ian M]

Coming together nicely now. Pity to hide those Merlins, but its your build. 


I can see one of these ending up in my stash before long.

[BarryW]

I did a test fit of the wings to the fuselage and, quite frankly, you cannot get better than this.








I have some painting to do before I actually fit them as you can see but its nice to see that the fitting willm not be an issue.


Most of last night was spent cleaning up the work area, wiping down and getting rid of mostly plastic dust from sanding.  I also sorted components into those that need painting now and those that can wait until the construction is done.  Tonight I will be fixing parts to sticks etc and cleaning them with ipa ready for airbrushing.

[BarryW]

I managed to get on with some painting last night but my phone battery died on me after taking one photo!


I have primed in Stynylrez Black primer, except for the prop tips where I used the yellow Stynylrex as it covers well and offers a great base for the yellow paint itself.  I was tempted to leave the primer as the yellow tips but concluded htey look a bit too pale.   The props and spinner are done now and I will post a pic tomorrow, I am leaving the black primer as the colour.  They will need weathering in due course.


Most of the paintwork, over the primer, was with metallisers mostly on the undercarriage.  My metalliser of choice is the AKI Extreme Metals that spray superby at a low air pressure of about 10psi with a 0.4 needle. They do smell a bit though not as badly as Alclads and, by reputation, they are easier to use than Alclads.


I am using these shades:





I decided to use the four different shades on the same principal by which we spray different panels different shades when we do a natural metal finish on a model.  I am careful to make sure that I used the same shade for the same components, for instance dark aluminium for the wheel hubs, matte aluminium for the main u/c struts, white alum for the small struts and so on.


I am not sure how well these subtle differences will show on the completed model once washes have been applied but its worth a try.


Well, that was the only photo I managed but I will post more tomorrow...

[BarryW]

By the way.  I obtained some black A3 artists foam board that I have laid down in the spray booth as a surface on which to spray and take any overspray.  Around it I lay some paper to protect the table.  I may get some bigger boards next time and, I have to say, it does the job well.  A wipe with i.p.a. after a session gets rid of a lot of the mess ready for another session.

[Vaughan]

Looking forward to the photos Barry.

[BarryW]

A few more pics...


First three pieces from the u/c each done in a different shade of aluminium.  I dont think the subtle differences show up well in the photo and may not do so under a wash but it worth a try.





Here are all the alum parts for an u/c leg





As you can see the Extreme Metal has laid down a superb metal finish and it is very resiliant.





Here is the 'cookie' painted with the late  war olive drab shade, Vallejo MA 71.016 which they now call USA Olive Drab in their new paint charts.


Here are the props, all painted up and looking shiny new.  I will correct that with some weathering in due course.


One question..  Does anyone know if these were wooden or metal props?  The kit, incidentally, come with two types of prop, the others have a broader paddle end.

[Vaughan]

Looking good Barry. Subtle but I can see the difference beautiful smooth finish. 

[dave]

To my knowledge these were De Havilland 3-blade constant-speed full feathering propellers from the American Hamilton Standard hydromatic propeller and were of metal construction.


Not sure on the difference between the two sets in the kit, as far as I am aware though all feathering propellers were of metal construction.

[BarryW]

Thanks Dave, metal scratches and chips then, not wood, to do...


Thanks Vaughan. I do love the finish they give but its worth noting that different shades lay down slightly differently and its very important to have a low air pressure or you can easily flood the area.

[Ian M]

Found this hidden in by bookmarks. Thought you might find it helpful. http://www.mossie.org/Mosquito.html


Nice paint work. 

[BarryW]

Found this hidden in by bookmarks. Thought you might find it helpful. http://www.mossie.org/Mosquito.html


Nice paint work. 

Brilliant, thanks Ian.  I will take a proper look as soon as I get a chance.

[stona]

Not sure on the difference between the two sets in the kit, as far as I am aware though all feathering propellers were of metal construction.

The paddle blades were initially fitted to aircraft with two stage Merlins in mid 1944, as they increased high altitude performance. They later found their way onto other variants, including single stage engined night fighters.


Cheers


Steve

[BarryW]

I spent most of last evening masking up parts ready to paint details.  The masking is not for overspray as I am using a hairy stick it's just to minimise the touch up work from my inability to paint a straight line. 





Above my weapons of choice.  In the end I only really used the yellow Tammy tape of various widths. 





the paints.  I prefer the wax metallics for the hairy brush.  


Some masked up parts 














lifes a lot a lot easier when the width of the tape is the same as what you are masking off as non the case of the straps over the fuel cells.  


Tonight I should get some of the painting done.