1/72 DH Mosquite FB Mk VI

 Hasegawa and Tamiya  

by Eric Bade

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The Mosquito is one of the most famous aircraft in aviation history and I like its classic lines. It is well documented so I won't comment on its history

Models

Both models come with state of the art engineering as one would expect from both companies. Neat smooth plastic and engraved panels lines. There are some similarities in conception of the models but in the end, the Tamiya model is far more detailed than the Hasegawa kit. The Tamiya kit can be built from the box, the Hasegawa kit needs some detailing and the use of aftermarket details.

I have heard some bad comments about the Hasegawa shapes,  but either because I am not a Mosquito specialist or because I am looking for general appearance more than for total accuracy, I was not shocked with major inaccuracies. Once built, it looks like a Mosquito to me. My criticism is more based around the lack of details, especially the typically undetailed cockpit. What I really found unnerving was the lack of options and in the end I had to steal some parts from my Tamiya kit to be able to build the version I wanted : I found it was mean on the part of Hasegawa that exhaust stacks or fuel tanks were not provided.

Although I liked the Hasegawa model, Tamiya is in another league : it is well detailed and full of options.

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Building 

Building starts with the cockpit. I used kit parts for the Tamiya model with the addition of a few bits of an Eduard set (seat belts and throttles) and this was more because I had them at hand than because it was necessary.

The Hasegawa kit needs to be detailed there and I added some resin.  A saw was used to good effect to squeeze the cockpit between the fuselages halves and out of the way of the plastic wing spars. The rest was a paint job using mostly British interior green and black + white, red or yellow details.

The fuselage halves were then glued together before I turned my attention to the wings.

The wings went well, once again an advantage of the Tamiya offering at the engine necelles level.  The main wings were glued together then the engine nacelles were built up. You just have to use kit parts again on the Tamiya thing while some additionnal work was done in the wheel wells of the Hasegawa model.

On the other hand, the part I did not quite like with the Tamiya kit is about mating wing/engine nacelles at the upper rear of the adjustment : there is kind of a triangular joint there and it is a pain. I preferred the way parts mate here on the Hasegawa model

Landing gears then : again quite complete on the Tamiya model : you just have to add brake lines. The Hasegawa kit needs the brake lines, but you also have to add some braces, struts and the typical Mosquito guard frame at the front of the legs. Both kits provide the prominent Mosquito mud guards but they were replaced with etched parts.

The rest builds up quite easlily and the wing/fuselage attachment is made clean and strong on both models by the means of  wing spars.

 

Painting and decalling 

Hasegawa

My first will was to build a No . 143 Squadron, Banff Mosquito with the EDSG/Sky scheme : NoED was my aircraft of choice. I had some photos of that very aircraft and the camouflage clearly was stained with darker spots. My photographs also showed unfaired exhaust stacks and underwing pylons : I had to steal them from the Tamiya kit as Hasegawa does not provide these options in the boxing I had.

My first thought, based on some drawings and decal sheet instruction was that the dark spots on the photos actually was gark green from the original camouflage showing through.  I was very happy to read Kirre Ingebrethen report on ARC (link below) and I then stuck to his well defined and documented explainations (thanks to him) 

http://www.arcair.com/Fea1/101-200/Fea188_Mosquito_Ingebrethsen/Fea188.htm 

I therefore changed my interpretation, darker areas on the picture must be fresh EDSG paints. After the kit was complete I found at that side panels on engine nacelles must  have been left bare metal or painted light grey (photo show lighter engine nacelles but I failed to notice that detail I read more about the aircraft)

I found it was a pain to paint the spinner stripes and I am not completely satisfied with them although some masking was used there. Decals are from a Superscale sheet.

Weathering was exercised with light airbrushing, washes of thinned paint and inks and then completed with powder. Gunze paints mostly.  

Tamiya

I originally thought I’d build the Tamiya Mosquito as a RAF Day fighter with the more common green/grey camouflage. That is when I found an Eagle Strike decal sheet in my pile and I just decided I should finish my new Mosquito as this smart silver aircraft with dark blue/light blues cockades and codes and dark blue stripes. Overall silver is from Xtracolor and I found it very easy to airspray. This paint dries with a smooth finish and is very strong. The reverse side is that now being use toacrylics, I found it took some time to cure and it smells!! 

I used decal softeners on all decals, but I did not find it necessary to use any gloss varnish on NoED. 

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Weathering 

Dark black or sepia oil paint thinned with White Spirit to mark all panel lines. Inks and powder. I also sprayed thinned dark paint for all gun smoke or exhaust stains. I also added last details and airbrushed a thin layer of matt varninsh to seal my weathering and blend decals in the aircraft overall coulours.  

In the end I am quite satisfied with both my Mosquitoes. Their different liveries make them very different.  

I found both models are very good and thay are the kind of plastic models I like to work with. That said and although an attractive Mosquito can be built from the Hasegawa kit, I had far more pleasure building the Tamiya model that really can be build with no aftermarket accessories, thus saving both time and money.

Eric

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Photos and text © by Eric Bade