**** DONE: GB-49 1/48 Mosquito B.XVI - Favourite A/C of WWII

[Wurger]

 

[MaxCamps]

Started work on the nose cone and canopy, but need to re-think things, as explained later.

The B.XVI nose glazing didn't have the frame at the top edge, so this needed to be removed and the area cleaned and polished. The canopy was also slightly different, in as much as there was less rear internal framework, so again, this had to be removed from the Tamiya canopy.
Although a fairly straightforward task, the kit frames were engraved, not raised, so care was need when scraping and sanding.
The nose glazing was not a problem, but things went slightly t*ts up when removing the canopy frames - a stress fracture caused a couple of cracks to appear in the canopy roof !!
This may have been due to pressure of my fingers, holding the canopy, or maybe due to the "T-Cut" used for polishing making the part brittle, or a combination of these . But whatever, I now have to decide whether to try to use the Airfix canopy, or use a spare Tamiya canopy from another B.IV kit ( a Rob Taurus vac-formed canopy will replace this when built ) and live with the frames in place.
I'll have a bit of a fiddle with the Airfix canopy before deciding, but at the moment, I'm leaning towards using the Tamiya part, and ignoring the slightly inaccurate framework - I don't want to risk damage to a second canopy, so the frames will remain !
The captions to the pics ell the story.

Pic 1. The frame to be removed from the nose glazing. There's also a small frame beneath the flat bomb aimer's panel, which will also be removed.
Pic 2. Scraping off, ready to be polished using "T-Cut" ( car body colour restorer ).
Pics 3 and 4. After polishing.
Pic 5. The canopy frames ( arrowed ) being removed.
Pic 6. Oops !
Pics 7 and 8. How the Airfix canopy looks. Some work would be needed to successfully blend this in to the fuselage, so I'll think carefully before deciding what route to take.
Pic 9. The redundant camera hatch has had the joints filled and sanded, and will be painted over with primer and the finish coats.

Once I've decided what to do with the canopy, I'll post another up-date. Meanwhile, thanks to all for the continued interest, and I'll be back soon (ish).


View attachment 617876View attachment 617877View attachment 617878View attachment 617879View attachment 617880View attachment 617881View attachment 617882View attachment 617883View attachment 617884

It really is taking shape Terry - fantastic detail - I am in awe!!

 

[Crimea_River]

Bad luck there Terry. I'd look at trying to straighten the line on the fuselage where the canopy meets it rather than fiddling with the brittle clear part.

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Max.

Andy, I've managed to trim the bottom of the Airfix windscreen to just about fit ( the plastic was surprisingly soft and fairly easy to carve ), and it could be trimmed further - any remaining gaps could be filled with stretched, clear sprue and blended-in with PVA.
I was very reluctant to trim the fuselage, just in case the Airfix part didn't work out, and I'm very glad I didn't do this !
Further test fitting of the trimmed Airfix canopy shows that it's too narrow at the rear, sitting almost inside the edges of the cockpit sill, and this would be extremely difficult to fill convincingly enough to look acceptable.
The pics below show this, and ignore the feint scratches on the windscreen - these would easily polish out.
Consequently, I've decided to use the Tamiya kit canopy, and adapt the Airfix "blown" side windows to fit as best as possible.

 

[Wurger]

Some work to fit the canopy , dear friend. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Crimea_River]

Wish I could help Terry but the only parts that I have are the Revell side panels mentioned earlier and a full Tamiya FB canopy with the flat windscreen. If you think any of this can be if use, just shout.

 

[Airframes]

Thanks, but the kit canopy with the Airfix side windows should work. Fortunately, I have another Tamiya B.IV kit, with a Rob Taurus vac-formed canopy, so the kit canopy is spare.
If it doesn't work, then the kit canopy can at least be used with the kit "blister" side windows - not exactly accurate for a B.XVI, but better than no canopy !
I'll soon find out, as I'm about to start fiddling with the bits and pieces ..........................

 

[Airframes]

Getting there with the canopy.
The Airfix side windows needed a little trimming around the edges in order to fit into the Tamiya canopy openings, but they've been attached, using Tamiya extra thin cement, very carefully applied, in stages, around the edges.
Once this has fully set, the joints will be filled with a bead of PVA.
Initial test fitting shows that the bottom edges of the side windows need to be trimmed very slightly, particularly at the front joint, to allow the canopy and windscreen to "bed down" properly. This will be done once fully set and the joints filled.
I'm assuming that the joints with the canopy and side windows will not be very strong, so fitting to the fuselage, and more importantly, masking, and removal of the masks, will need extra care. I'll probably mask and paint the canopy off the model, and then fit after painting and finishing the model, using the damaged canopy to mask the cockpit when spraying.
Pics below show how things are so far.

Pics 1 and 2. The Airfix "blown" side windows attached to the spare Tamiya kit canopy, with a Tamiya side "blister" window for comparison.
Pic 3. Initial test fitting, showing that the bottom edge of the side window needs to be filed and sanded to allow it to bed down ( white arrows ), and that the joint between side window and windscreen needs to be filled with PVA ( yellow arrow ).
Pic 4. Top view, showing the shape of the side windows.

That's all for now, but I hope to get this bit finished, and the nose glazing and windows masked and fitted some time tomorrow, and then move on to the final bits before preparing for painting the model.

 

[Wurger]

 

[fubar57]

Neato

 

[Crimea_River]

Square peg and round holish but doing great.

 

[Ralph Haus]

Thanks Wayne.

Ralph, not sure what CBD is, but I have severe, progressive Rheumatoid Arthritis, and have various pain-killers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and control drugs for the RA., non of which have done much to relive the pain from this recent "injury".
I can actually see the tendon sheath under the skin, swollen, hot and inflamed. I reckon I did this on Monday, when trying to get my front door open - it had swollen and jammed shut near the bottom. As there is only one handle, at the door mid-point, all effort was focused on my right hand, and I'm sure this is how the stress happened.
Fortunately, the inflammation is decreasing, and the pain and stiffness are subsiding, so I hope to get back to work on the Mossie soon.

Sorry for the late reply. I did not get pinged that this was responded to.

But CBD (Cannabidiol) is an extract of the Cannabis plant, aka. marijuana. Many US states prohibited its distribution for various reasons. Since CBD oils have become available that do not have the mind altering TCH as part of the mix it has been slowly accepted by many states. Texas being one of them, thankfully. I don't know about Canada, but it seems to be a mostly liberal society and I would expect that they would allow? Believe me., there have been many nights that the pains from the joints (mostly knee) have kept me awake. An application of a small amount if a CBD infused balm reduces the pains to almost zero in minutes. Look for a shop that has the maximum CBD% in the mix. This is non addictive, unless you get addicted to not having pains!

 

[Ralph Haus]

OK! I'm just wondering just how amazing this build 'could' have been if you were not crippled? Wow. Just Wow!

 

[Wayne Little]

Done real good there Terry.

 

[Airframes]

Thanks chaps, and thanks for the info Ralph. Cannabis-based meds are not yet legal in the UK, although I believe there is a move to make some so.
A few beers often helps, but then there's the risk that a Mosquito might become a Mistakeo !

Got the bottom of the canopy filed and sanded, and fit looks to be fairly good. A little more trimming and it should be fine.
The joints appear to be stronger than I anticipated, so I may be able to mask and fit before painting the model, which is my preferred method.
If all goes to plan, I may have some further up-date pics later tonight.

 

[T Bolt]

Doing a lot of work on these canopies Terry, but it looks like it is working out fine.

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Glenn.
I was hoping to have the canopy and nose glazing masked and fitted by now, but I'm a bit too stiff for such delicate work at the moment.
There's been a dramatic change in the weather - from 20C and sunny, to 8C, with the accompanying pressure change, and I can really feel the difference; it feels like my muscles are being squeezed by a powerful squeezing thing !!
I'll see how I feel later, otherwise, it'll be tomorrow before any more progress.

 

[Gnomey]

Lovely work so far Terry!

 

[Airframes]

Sorry for the lack of up-dates chaps - been struggling a bit these last few days, probably due to the change in the weather, with a temperature drop of around 17C average. It's currently 2C here, and set to drop to -2C overnight. Consequently, my hands are a bit too stiff and tender for delicate work at the moment.
However, I have managed to get the bottom edge of the canopy side screens filed and sanded, and it now fits OK. But I did dislodge the side screens, twice so far, and need to re-fit them and then mask the canopy, and hope that the whole lot doesn't come apart again when the masks are finally removed !
I should be back in a day o so, with , I hope, a lot more progress to show.

 

[fubar57]

Bummer Terry