Tamiya 1/48 De Havilland Mosquito

TAMIYA 1:48 De HAVILLAND MOSQUITO FB MK.6/NF.MK2
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Dave Williams (taken from rec.models.scale) - further addendum underneath (another viewpoint if you like)
- A Built up review of this kit exists on this site - see links at bottom of page

Versions: Can be made as a FB VI or a NF II. Markings for FB VI 487 Sqdn. MM417/T-EG, FB VI 143 Sqdn. RS625/NE-D, and NF II 157 Sqdn. W4087/RS-B. The right side of the instrument panel is a separate part for the two versions (radar screen or bomb controls). The nose arrowhead and wingtip dipoles are included for the NF, but the swept back dipoles about midway along the starboard wing are missing.

Armament options: Choice of 500lb bomb or 4 25lb AP rockets w/ individual rails under each wing. Slipper tanks are included (!!) although they are listed as not for use (parts D1,2,9,10). 2 500lb bombs in rear bay. Bomb bay doors are molded in one piece and designed to be cut open for the FBs. Only the rear doors are designed to be open. There is no cannon bay detail other than the breech end, which is there only to prevent you looking forward thru the open rear bay doors. Interior details for the nose guns included. The upper nose piece is separate to allow viewing this area.

Other options: Spoked or non-spoked wheels. Shrouded or non-shrouded (5-stack) exhausts. Open or closed crew entry door (ladder included). Two prop types (narrow and broad blades). Two wingtip styles: w/ front light only or w/ both front and rear lights. The lenses are clear parts.

Not an option: No dropped flaps. Flaps are molded with wing halves.

Questionable things: There is a square clear window on the underside of the fuselage aft of the bomb bay, presumably for a camera. I'm not sure this was on FBs and even less sure it was on NFs. Maybe someone else has more info, but they don't show on the version drawings in the new SAM book, except for the B Mk IV. The window isn't shown on the painting drawings, so maybe Tamiya wants you to paint over it for this kit.

Final thoughts: This looks like another great kit from Tamiya. Cockpit detail is pretty good for OOTB. Since the roof of the bomb bay is detailed full length and the nose halves are separate, it is obvious that the kit will eventually be released as a bomber. Can't wait.

(Addendum - second viewpoint - "Modelhawk" as taken also from rec.models.scale newsgroup) I just opened a box from HLJ (Hobbylink Japan) and am looking at mine now. It's quite wonderful! While I haven't touched glue to plastic yet, looks like the fit will be typical Tamiya - great! Has decals for an all black NF MkII from No. 157 Sq and two gray/green fighter-bombers, one each from No 143 and 487 Sq. I was very impressed with it upon opening the box. It has a lot of detail both inside and out. Fuselage is molded left/right with separate halves for the nose. The crew entry door is molded separate and a ladder is included. Each engine has exhaust stacks and the exhaust shroud so you can build it either way.

Cockpit is another winner out of the box. Includes both pilot and Nav seats, instrument panel with separate pieces for the FB and NF-specific version, rudder pedals, radios, etc. If you have the KMC set for the Airfix kit already, it would probably fix though about all I'll probably use is the seat.

Wheel wells are nicely done with internal ribbing molded on. The landing gear are seven-part affairs (not counting the wheel - not weighted) Wheel centers for both early and late wheels are included. It comes with eight external rockets (nicely done) and external bomb racks and bombs. The bombs themselves are quite nice with some of the thinnest fins I've seen in injection- molded plastic. There's a complete bomb bay in there that shows the bottoms of the fuel tanks (I think that's what they are) door actuating mechanisms, bomb racks, and two more bombs. The kit has a separate set of doors and front coaming (muzzle panel) for the 20mm cannons but, unfortunately, they aren't included. You do get a piece to put at the front of the bomb bay that looks like the rear of the cannons, though. While the cannons would have been a nice addition, I think the Paragon resin cannons will fit in there nicely.

Additionally, there are separate wingtips for the F/B (one set of nav lights) and the NF (two sets of nav lights per tip). Finally, it has both broad and pointed prop blades. Typical Tamiya decals. Slightly on the thick side but I think they're usable. After-marked decal guys will probably have a field day with this one. This is gonna' be one of those "must have" kits, for sure!

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