This kit started out
as the 1:48 Monogram kit built as an FBVI. I had never been happy with the
look of the finished kit as it was one of my earlier efforts and I had always
intended to improve it. Paragon Designs spurred my enthusiasm with its Sea
Mosquito TR33 conversion set and so the die was cast. Out came the razor
saw and off came the wings. I also cut off the flaps, rudder and
elevators, removed the undercarriage and doors and the cockpit canopy. I
stripped the RAF FBIV decals and lightly sanded the fuselage, masked the cockpit
and wheel wells then primed the model with grey acrylic auto primer. This
reacted in places with the previous enamel paint coating but further sanding and
patch priming dealt with that. The underside of the fuselage and wings
were sprayed with Halfords "Lada White", which approximates to a Sky
colour. The top surfaces were brush painted with Humbrol EDSG enamel
paint.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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The now cut away kit flaps were
re-worked so that they could be re-attached in the dropped position as were the
elevators. I also added details to the kit undercarriage using metal wire
and thin plastic rod. My attempt at "flattening" the
wheels by pushing them into a hotplate was too successful and they were pretty
well deflated. I had to build them up again with plastic card!
The separated wings were
re-attached using the Paragon etched brass wingfold parts. Paragon also
supply a nicely detailed resin torpedo with etched brass details for
mounting under the fuselage. I added further details from the spares box
to enhance the torpedo mountings. The Monogram cockpit canopy was replaced
with a Falcon vac-formed example and Aeromaster decals were employed to model a
TR33 of 790 Squadron FAA stationed at RNAS Culdrose in 1948.
Paragon Designs have "suspended" production but Verlinden have
produced a 1:48 Sea Mosquito conversion for the Tamiya kits.
Darius Aibara
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