Tamiya 1/32nd Mosquito FBIV - build!
Discussion
Small update. I'm this close to closing up the fuselage and losing all that lovely detail -have sent my light box back to the UK, so still figuring out best way to get some good pics before I commit...
Here are some detail pics - anything PE in these shots is the PE set from Eduard. As I am using their kits for the guns and engines, I have the Tamiya kit ones as 'extras' so I am building those anyway - either to display or compare. So the front gun ammo boxes below are the Tamiya kit versions, with extra Eduard PE added (the bronze colour bits) if that makes sense.
Right now the decision to be made is when to paint the camo green onto the model - I'd like to paint the wings now, before they have engines fitted and before they are joined to the fuselage - and also paint the fuselage before everything is joined together, but wondering if it is best to assemble everything first...
Paint has gone on well so far - I think this is the primer - Tamiya Fine Surface Primer from a can. I am also using Tamiya enamel sprays for the top coats, as recommended in the kit.
Tidying didn't happen...
I want to paint this as is, rather than assembled onto the fuselage....
Tamiya kit gun ammo boxes - with Eduard PE parts added - note the straight chains...
Same chains bent into loops...
Nice mudguard PE gives a more realistic scale thickness than the plastic version in the kit - but once again, the kit one is still pretty damn good.
Front hatch with PE added (I had sprayed 'anything green' when I first started, so some will require spraying again as I add parts - as I said, first time!!)
Not fixed yet...
Oil paint finish...
Some more detail shots of little bits - tail wheel, radios etc...
Pre-muck. Love the shape of that casting...
Seriously considering lighting the interior!!
Here are some detail pics - anything PE in these shots is the PE set from Eduard. As I am using their kits for the guns and engines, I have the Tamiya kit ones as 'extras' so I am building those anyway - either to display or compare. So the front gun ammo boxes below are the Tamiya kit versions, with extra Eduard PE added (the bronze colour bits) if that makes sense.
Right now the decision to be made is when to paint the camo green onto the model - I'd like to paint the wings now, before they have engines fitted and before they are joined to the fuselage - and also paint the fuselage before everything is joined together, but wondering if it is best to assemble everything first...
Paint has gone on well so far - I think this is the primer - Tamiya Fine Surface Primer from a can. I am also using Tamiya enamel sprays for the top coats, as recommended in the kit.
Tidying didn't happen...
I want to paint this as is, rather than assembled onto the fuselage....
Tamiya kit gun ammo boxes - with Eduard PE parts added - note the straight chains...
Same chains bent into loops...
Nice mudguard PE gives a more realistic scale thickness than the plastic version in the kit - but once again, the kit one is still pretty damn good.
Front hatch with PE added (I had sprayed 'anything green' when I first started, so some will require spraying again as I add parts - as I said, first time!!)
Not fixed yet...
Oil paint finish...
Some more detail shots of little bits - tail wheel, radios etc...
Pre-muck. Love the shape of that casting...
Seriously considering lighting the interior!!
Time to get some colour going...
Thought I'd try this on the smaller part - the tail plane!
Trying the 'rolled up blu-tac' method of getting a soft line. I thought about freehand airbrush, but maybe next time...
I really should try these things out on scraps etc - but I seem to be impatient!
Well that was easy! Dark Green Tamiya from a can. Seems very 'rich'...
Quite happy with the result - a little bit fuzzy near the edges, but I think that is ok. A bit 'dotty'..
So these are the 'wet' decals I am trying. No carrier film left behind, so look better apparently. Learning from error on the tanks under the fuselage where I added the decal after I had used some oil paint, which was affected by the process.
Using Mr Mark Setter as recommended by the manufacturer (HGW) - You apply as normal, but leave to set and dry for a good few hours - over night is best, then you peel off the top film.
You can see the top film as it all dries - this will be peeled off....
Like so....
Left with film, right without...
It works well - there was still a little residue around where the film had been, and marks caused by the Mr Mark setter - I cleaned this off with warm water and cotton bud, but it has not entirely gone. Luckily, when I then applied some tamiya clear the marks seemed to go...
So now to the wings - I was showing these with the flaps in the down position (Tamiya gives you the option, and different parts are used for up/down) but I don't like that big slot (however accurate) and prefer the purity of line with them up - so last minute change led me to gluing the flaps up/level.
I have also sprayed the panels and cowlings that join onto the top surface of the wing structure, so I can add the green camo in the same way as above...
The fuselage also needs priming and painting - so have attached a few of the parts. I am gluing the nose cone on, but the hatch over the gun is removable, the cockpit hatch removable as well - but I placed these in position to spray to ensure an even finish (and even camo pattern)
I am pretty impressed with how well all these panels as the front come together with minimal gaps, I have to say.
And then the most annoying thing - primed the fuselage, and then painted the top coat - can ran out - just at the start of a holiday period. Won't get another until about Wednesday! I wanted to paint and finish the fuselage this weekend, but not now...oh well, plenty of other bits to build. Like the starboard engine!
Thought I'd try this on the smaller part - the tail plane!
Trying the 'rolled up blu-tac' method of getting a soft line. I thought about freehand airbrush, but maybe next time...
I really should try these things out on scraps etc - but I seem to be impatient!
Well that was easy! Dark Green Tamiya from a can. Seems very 'rich'...
Quite happy with the result - a little bit fuzzy near the edges, but I think that is ok. A bit 'dotty'..
So these are the 'wet' decals I am trying. No carrier film left behind, so look better apparently. Learning from error on the tanks under the fuselage where I added the decal after I had used some oil paint, which was affected by the process.
Using Mr Mark Setter as recommended by the manufacturer (HGW) - You apply as normal, but leave to set and dry for a good few hours - over night is best, then you peel off the top film.
You can see the top film as it all dries - this will be peeled off....
Like so....
Left with film, right without...
It works well - there was still a little residue around where the film had been, and marks caused by the Mr Mark setter - I cleaned this off with warm water and cotton bud, but it has not entirely gone. Luckily, when I then applied some tamiya clear the marks seemed to go...
So now to the wings - I was showing these with the flaps in the down position (Tamiya gives you the option, and different parts are used for up/down) but I don't like that big slot (however accurate) and prefer the purity of line with them up - so last minute change led me to gluing the flaps up/level.
I have also sprayed the panels and cowlings that join onto the top surface of the wing structure, so I can add the green camo in the same way as above...
The fuselage also needs priming and painting - so have attached a few of the parts. I am gluing the nose cone on, but the hatch over the gun is removable, the cockpit hatch removable as well - but I placed these in position to spray to ensure an even finish (and even camo pattern)
I am pretty impressed with how well all these panels as the front come together with minimal gaps, I have to say.
And then the most annoying thing - primed the fuselage, and then painted the top coat - can ran out - just at the start of a holiday period. Won't get another until about Wednesday! I wanted to paint and finish the fuselage this weekend, but not now...oh well, plenty of other bits to build. Like the starboard engine!
So while waiting for the spray can to arrive, I started work on the wing. The 'blu tac' thing worked, but I rolled slightly thinner pieces to get a slightly finer shade-line at the edges.
I taped the separate engine cover panel and rear section in to place, where they also had the camo touching them, so everything lined up.
Success!
These panels are just in place for spraying the green...
Now it was time to put the decals on the wing. I used the HGW wet decals again...
The blue sheet are the wet decals - the white sheet is the Tamiya one. At least it meant I had spares!
Had issues here with the normal tamiya decals, which I needed to use for the roundels. I was getting spots on the decal - seems I just needed to not let drops settle, as it was marking the decal. Someone said that I was using the wrong decal solution for Tamiya decals, someone else said use My Mark setter, which I did....luckily later application of clear seemed to disguise the marks....these were NOT air bubbles (as everyone on the forum insisted!)
Annoyingly, this was the one wet decal from HGW that I did not use - the one with the largest area of clear carrier on the normal decals. The HGW one was misaligned on the sheet, with the white under the red showing slightly - and worse, it was slightly wide and smudged, so it hung over the edge. So in this picture you see the kit-supplied tamiya decal. This set with no problems - phew, again!
So some of you may have noticed that I did not do any pre-shading on these surfaces. Two reasons - I didn't want to use the airbrush to do this , but rather wanted to use the oil paint method on top of the paint instead. It gave me more chances (you can wipe off and start again) and freedom. Secondly, with a mainly wooden construction there are few areas with visible ribs underneath the skin.
I figured I'd try the smallest part first - the tail plane. Deep breath, and cover the whole lot with very thinned black oil paint - ooh, after first spraying some clear - I used tamiya from a can.
....and then simply wipe off. I made sure to wipe in the direction of the airflow, so any marks would be 'streaks'...
Now this is all very subjective, and over the next few hours I changed methods, learnt and developed - so the order of events got a bit mixed up. I used panel gap black to highlight areas, but i was then wiping this back out again as I worked the oil, so I need to tweak my methods going forward - but using the always-wet oil gave me the ability to 'play' and learn.
NOTE: my Mosquito is grubby and oily, so the back worked well - but any excess is easily removed with (odor-less) thinners.
Oiled on the left...
Pretty chuffed with first attempt! You need to be REALLY careful about finger prints, as the oil paint is never 'dry' so marks - but you can brush them out with a soft dry brush, re-apply oil etc etc
Then it was the top surface - same process...
To 'fix' the finish I used 'flat' tamiya clear from the can. I tried something else first, but was not happy with how it went on - it was 'rough' and will be a bugger to get off and try again - I used the fin for that (later)
Was VERY pleased with how this looked once dry...
On the pic above you can see my oil ribbing shading - more detail on that in the wing pictures...but basically I did this...
...and wiped off, dry brushed, experimented etc - and removed some oil paint 'between' the rivet lines to lighten the shade....I lucked out for the first attempt
Very similar method on the fin - I even tried lightening the grey between the ribs with white oil, and it does work...
I cocked this part up with a different flat varnish - hopefully I can remove without damaging the decals. (not shown here)
So - I had my method - now it was the wings...much bigger! I did each side, top and bottom surface, separately...so I had somewhere to hold!
Scary moment...
And wiped....
I highlighted rivets and brushed gently - always thinking of airflow...
...and again highlighted any ribs or rivets on the metal control surfaces.
Very slight mottling caused by flat clear application - but in reality this is a close zoom - don't see it really.
Example of thinking about airflow - this streak around the curved top surface was blended in to give a hint of exhaust and rubbish coming back from the prop...
Ribs below the rivet lines...
Finished on the right...
...now left!
Daylight!
Just got to make the other side look the same now!
I taped the separate engine cover panel and rear section in to place, where they also had the camo touching them, so everything lined up.
Success!
These panels are just in place for spraying the green...
Now it was time to put the decals on the wing. I used the HGW wet decals again...
The blue sheet are the wet decals - the white sheet is the Tamiya one. At least it meant I had spares!
Had issues here with the normal tamiya decals, which I needed to use for the roundels. I was getting spots on the decal - seems I just needed to not let drops settle, as it was marking the decal. Someone said that I was using the wrong decal solution for Tamiya decals, someone else said use My Mark setter, which I did....luckily later application of clear seemed to disguise the marks....these were NOT air bubbles (as everyone on the forum insisted!)
Annoyingly, this was the one wet decal from HGW that I did not use - the one with the largest area of clear carrier on the normal decals. The HGW one was misaligned on the sheet, with the white under the red showing slightly - and worse, it was slightly wide and smudged, so it hung over the edge. So in this picture you see the kit-supplied tamiya decal. This set with no problems - phew, again!
So some of you may have noticed that I did not do any pre-shading on these surfaces. Two reasons - I didn't want to use the airbrush to do this , but rather wanted to use the oil paint method on top of the paint instead. It gave me more chances (you can wipe off and start again) and freedom. Secondly, with a mainly wooden construction there are few areas with visible ribs underneath the skin.
I figured I'd try the smallest part first - the tail plane. Deep breath, and cover the whole lot with very thinned black oil paint - ooh, after first spraying some clear - I used tamiya from a can.
....and then simply wipe off. I made sure to wipe in the direction of the airflow, so any marks would be 'streaks'...
Now this is all very subjective, and over the next few hours I changed methods, learnt and developed - so the order of events got a bit mixed up. I used panel gap black to highlight areas, but i was then wiping this back out again as I worked the oil, so I need to tweak my methods going forward - but using the always-wet oil gave me the ability to 'play' and learn.
NOTE: my Mosquito is grubby and oily, so the back worked well - but any excess is easily removed with (odor-less) thinners.
Oiled on the left...
Pretty chuffed with first attempt! You need to be REALLY careful about finger prints, as the oil paint is never 'dry' so marks - but you can brush them out with a soft dry brush, re-apply oil etc etc
Then it was the top surface - same process...
To 'fix' the finish I used 'flat' tamiya clear from the can. I tried something else first, but was not happy with how it went on - it was 'rough' and will be a bugger to get off and try again - I used the fin for that (later)
Was VERY pleased with how this looked once dry...
On the pic above you can see my oil ribbing shading - more detail on that in the wing pictures...but basically I did this...
...and wiped off, dry brushed, experimented etc - and removed some oil paint 'between' the rivet lines to lighten the shade....I lucked out for the first attempt
Very similar method on the fin - I even tried lightening the grey between the ribs with white oil, and it does work...
I cocked this part up with a different flat varnish - hopefully I can remove without damaging the decals. (not shown here)
So - I had my method - now it was the wings...much bigger! I did each side, top and bottom surface, separately...so I had somewhere to hold!
Scary moment...
And wiped....
I highlighted rivets and brushed gently - always thinking of airflow...
...and again highlighted any ribs or rivets on the metal control surfaces.
Very slight mottling caused by flat clear application - but in reality this is a close zoom - don't see it really.
Example of thinking about airflow - this streak around the curved top surface was blended in to give a hint of exhaust and rubbish coming back from the prop...
Ribs below the rivet lines...
Finished on the right...
...now left!
Daylight!
Just got to make the other side look the same now!
Spray can arrived, so it was on with getting the camo sorted on the fuselage - that was holding me up!
I popped the half-weathered wings in place so I could line up the camo, and proceeded with the blue-tac method again....
I admit I rushed this a bit so I could let everything set over night, so a tiny bit of over-spray - but that will 't-cut out'
I like the finish that the tamiya flat clear has given the model...you can see the difference in the green particularly...
Couldn't resist adding various bits....
Hoping to get quite a bit done this weekend....got to apply all the decals to the fuselage, weather the left port wing and fuselage and assemble the bits.
Small matter of building another Merlin engine as well....
Getting excited for how this is turning out....
I popped the half-weathered wings in place so I could line up the camo, and proceeded with the blue-tac method again....
I admit I rushed this a bit so I could let everything set over night, so a tiny bit of over-spray - but that will 't-cut out'
I like the finish that the tamiya flat clear has given the model...you can see the difference in the green particularly...
Couldn't resist adding various bits....
Hoping to get quite a bit done this weekend....got to apply all the decals to the fuselage, weather the left port wing and fuselage and assemble the bits.
Small matter of building another Merlin engine as well....
Getting excited for how this is turning out....
Fuselage...applied all the smaller wet decals, now it was the 'normal' the big decals from the kit...
Once the decals were on and sealed, it was time to weather - I used the same method I had used with the wings etc - flood with diluted oils and wipe off - was a bit nervous about that bit, as the streaks would all have to be 'in line' with the airflow - the wings were easy as it was simply 'front to back', but the fuselage is a bit more 3D...once I had figured out how to hold it without touching anywhere, it went surprisingly easily. I am aware this only works for a grubby plane! Sealed with matt clear and I'm pleased. I will now do a bit more work locally' once more is assembled (nothing is fixed in these pictures)
Once the decals were on and sealed, it was time to weather - I used the same method I had used with the wings etc - flood with diluted oils and wipe off - was a bit nervous about that bit, as the streaks would all have to be 'in line' with the airflow - the wings were easy as it was simply 'front to back', but the fuselage is a bit more 3D...once I had figured out how to hold it without touching anywhere, it went surprisingly easily. I am aware this only works for a grubby plane! Sealed with matt clear and I'm pleased. I will now do a bit more work locally' once more is assembled (nothing is fixed in these pictures)
Thanks guys - I'm enjoying it.
Starting to assemble the various parts now...
It could be that I could have pushed my collars on further before gluing?
Bomb rack fitted...
This little panel covers the radiators.
They are held on by the magnets you can see in the shot below - very neat (you glue two small PE flats into the panel underside)
Now fitting the fuselage sides that are under the wing structure, and line the bomb/gun bay sides...
Also fitting the hydraulic struts that open/close the doors...
Starting to assemble the various parts now...
- *TIP IF YOU ARE BUILDING THIS KIT***
It could be that I could have pushed my collars on further before gluing?
Bomb rack fitted...
This little panel covers the radiators.
They are held on by the magnets you can see in the shot below - very neat (you glue two small PE flats into the panel underside)
Now fitting the fuselage sides that are under the wing structure, and line the bomb/gun bay sides...
Also fitting the hydraulic struts that open/close the doors...
More pics - sorry, I'm using this as a ref. for myself as well....
I'm learning about the aircraft here as well - wondered what the silver blocks were in the bomb bay doors - now I have fitted them I see that when closed they fit directly over the guns and allow spent shells to eject out of the aircraft...
Lights below are Molotow marker with clear tamiya color dropped in...
Silver panels around the exhausts on the side panels...
All this detail on the front of the Merlin is about to disappear...
Method for grubbiness...
Cover in diluted oil paint...
Wipe off! (in direction of airflow (or gravity)
I like the way the oil gets left behind around features - just like in 'real' life...
Undercarriage assembly...
Note the piece at the top of the struts that Tamiya supply in order to keep everything lined up during assembly...
Cockpit hatch (gloss before weathering)
Can't resist test assembling - but it is always night time when I get to this stage!
Saying goodbye to this view as I attach undercarriage doors...
Can't put it off anymore - I have to build the other engine so I can fit the other side together!
I'm learning about the aircraft here as well - wondered what the silver blocks were in the bomb bay doors - now I have fitted them I see that when closed they fit directly over the guns and allow spent shells to eject out of the aircraft...
Lights below are Molotow marker with clear tamiya color dropped in...
Silver panels around the exhausts on the side panels...
All this detail on the front of the Merlin is about to disappear...
Method for grubbiness...
Cover in diluted oil paint...
Wipe off! (in direction of airflow (or gravity)
I like the way the oil gets left behind around features - just like in 'real' life...
Undercarriage assembly...
Note the piece at the top of the struts that Tamiya supply in order to keep everything lined up during assembly...
Cockpit hatch (gloss before weathering)
Can't resist test assembling - but it is always night time when I get to this stage!
Saying goodbye to this view as I attach undercarriage doors...
Can't put it off anymore - I have to build the other engine so I can fit the other side together!
Been following this fantastically detailed build. Very well done !
For anyone who may be interested in seeing more details of the real Mosquito, I came across this video, one of three, where the owner of a plane in the US takes a detailed video tour around and inside his plane -:
https://youtu.be/yd2M21nlw0w
Hope this will be of interest to someone and sorry for hijacking this wonderful thread.
For anyone who may be interested in seeing more details of the real Mosquito, I came across this video, one of three, where the owner of a plane in the US takes a detailed video tour around and inside his plane -:
https://youtu.be/yd2M21nlw0w
Hope this will be of interest to someone and sorry for hijacking this wonderful thread.
I am really enjoying watching the build of this Mosquito - thanks for taking all the pictures, they are a good reference guide for someone else who wants to make one.
(I don't have the skills, dextrous fingers or patience to attempt anything as detailed!)
The model is looking really good now it is getting towards the finish line.
(I don't have the skills, dextrous fingers or patience to attempt anything as detailed!)
The model is looking really good now it is getting towards the finish line.
Right - built the 'kit' engine now - as supplied in the Tamiya box - this one will be hidden by the panels, so don't need the full detail, but I thought it would be good to compare the Tamiya Merlin and the Eduard one, which will be on show. The tamiya one is still superb...\
Tamiya tell you to leave that bit of sprue (bottom frame) on while you are building - I forgot on the top one!
You won't see any of this, but I'll still make it look nice
Joined with the previously prepared parts - all fits perfectly...
So now she can finally sit on here 3 wheels!!
Still gotta do exhausts...but panels will fit nicely...
Lots of stuff to work on obviously, but last big job is the canopy - a part that received universal praise in the reviews when the kit first came out....
Tamiya tell you to leave that bit of sprue (bottom frame) on while you are building - I forgot on the top one!
You won't see any of this, but I'll still make it look nice
Joined with the previously prepared parts - all fits perfectly...
So now she can finally sit on here 3 wheels!!
Still gotta do exhausts...but panels will fit nicely...
Lots of stuff to work on obviously, but last big job is the canopy - a part that received universal praise in the reviews when the kit first came out....
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