De Havilland Mosquito NF XIII (thimble nose) HK425 KP-R ‘Lonesome Polecat’, 409 Sqn RCAF.
Hi all
So, a
lot later than planned, time for the full post-build waffle on this thread but first a big thank you to everyone that supported me on this build, having you all along was a real encouragement!!!
You can find the build thread here
https://www.scale-models.co.uk/threads/andrews-1-72-tamiya-mosquito-mk-xiii.40006/.
And so, onto the
thoroughly informative information waffle……………………
ACW as usual.
Andrew
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The kit, aftermarket parts, paints and finish:
- Tamiya 1/72 Mosquito FB VI/NF II 60747.
- AML Mosquito NF XII/XIII with AI.Mk. VIII radar nose conversion set AMLA 72 093. Note: This was still the wrong shape and so was scraped/sanded to correct.
- Print Scale Mosquito Decals no. 72-159 – on the whole very good, except that the Skunk decal is VERY wrong.
- Paints: Exterior - Vallejo Model Air. Interior – Mostly Vallejo Model Air/Colour.
- Weathering: Flory Wash Dark Dirt
All in all, a really nice kit and any problems were of my own making! I’m looking forward to building the other three I have in the stash!!
The Squadron: 409 Sqn RCAF aka 'The Nighthawks'
The plane itself flew with two squadrons; first with 96 Squadron RAF and then 409 Squadron RCAF. This model depicts the plane as it appears during it's time with 409 Sqn.
The squadron was formed at Digby, England on 17/06/1941. For the first three years it was based at several different UK airfields (sources differ in a few very minor specifics), with most of the time spent in a defensive night fighter role, protecting the UK.
However, in the Spring of 1944 the squadron was transferred to the 2nd Tactical Air Force, where it was apparently engaged in both offensive and defensive duties.
It initially moved to France (Capriquet), sometime after D-Day. Between its arrival in France and its final move to Twente, Netherlands (four weeks after Germany's surrender), where it was disbanded on 01/07/1945, it had been based at seven different airfields during it's time in Europe, in France, Belgium and Germany.
During it's time the squadron flew Boulton Paul Defiants and two types of Beaufighter before transferring to Mosquitos in March 1944. One source I have found suggests HK425 was still on charge with 96 Squadron at the very end of March 1944. If correct, I think it is likely to have been transferred shortly afterwards, when the squadron converted to Mossies.
Although not directly linked to this build, another 409 Mosquito – apparently ‘A-Able’ – was responsible for the below photo, taken for the Stars and Stripes magazine on 14/09/1944.
Also below are few other extracts from the what might be termed the 'semi-official' WW2 history of the 409 Sqn RCAF aka 'The Nighthawks'. I found this on the Aircrew Remembered website (link
HERE).
They have scanned in every one of the 79 pages and not only that, they have transcribed the words alongside to make it searchable. In some cases, they have even added commentary resulting from their own research. Here is a very small selection:
Sources for the above:
https://www.rcafassociation.ca/heritage/history/rcaf-and-the-crucible-of-war/409-squadron/
https://aircrewremembered.com/Nighthawks/nighthawks50.html
http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RCAF/409_wwII.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/409_Tactical_Fighter_Squadron#cite_note-RCAF-4
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/archive/index.php?t-27053.html
Mosquito NF XIII (thimble nose) HK425 KP-R ‘Lonesome Polecat’
As already noted, this model depicts the plane as it appeared during it's time with 409 Sqn RCAF and more specifically nominally post February 1945. It served with this Canadian unit until the end of the war, apparently being struck off charge on 21/11/1945.
I have found the following information about the plane on the
mossie.org website, which suggests that the plane was only with 96 Squadron for a few months:
- Build Type: NF.XIII, Merlin 23 engines
- Build Location: Leavesden
- Contract Number: 1576/SAS/C.23(a)
- Delivery Period: Between 15-9-1943 and 2-2-1944
https://www.mossie.org/production/results.php?series=HK&returnsperpage=All&mode=1
During my research for this project, I came across someone who turned an old
Airfix FB VI into Lonesome Polecat (LP). He noted a number of things about the plane/build, most of which I was able to verify from my research, thus saving me a lot of work!!:
- early style "thimble nose" radar nose – very obvious!
- regular prop blades (not paddle blades).
- wing tip aerials.
- solid type main wheels (not spokes).
- shrouded exhausts.
- 50 gal. wing tanks. Whilst he fitted them, none of the LP pictures I have show them. I therefore omitted them.
- LP’s port tailplane stabiliser was damaged at some point (see below). According to the build thread, “While flown by F/L Hermanson and F/O Hamm in February 1945, HK425 was badly damaged by enemy fire and required major repairs.”.
- The same thread also notes that upon returning to action “…this aircraft was generally flown by FL Ross Finlayson and P/O Al Webster [see below picture]. After the repairs, this aircraft was found to swerve to the right on take-off - normally a Mosquito swerves to the left on take-off. A few different 409 Sqn. crews attempted take-offs in HK 425 only to shut the engines down halfway along the runway and abort the flight. Finlayson was the only pilot able to get comfortable with this strange "snag" and this Mosquito became his personal aircraft.”
- July of 1945 saw Lonesome Polecat flown to Lansham, Kent in England, where it was scrapped.
And as for the name 'Lonesome Polecat', this was not added until it reached 409 Sqn:
"The nose art was inspired by a drunken Indian character from a very popular comic strip of the day, Finlayson having added the name to the aircraft and then asked his parents to send him a copy of the comic form Canada for copying. However, before the publication arrived, one of his groundcrew painted the skunk on the nose ahead of the titling, and is was considered to be so well done that Finlayson left it on." (Ross Finlayson)
“Mosquito Menacing the Reich” by Martin Bowman
Build reference thread:
https://www.hyperscale.com/features/2000/mosquitogm_1.htm
The best shot of the plane I have found; Twente, Holland. Taken by a regular pilot Ross Finlayson
Mosquito Fighter/Fighter-Bomber Units of World War Two” by Martin Bowman
“Mosquito Menacing the Reich” by Martin Bowman
The name in close up, with two crew who flew it regularly; Flying Officers Al Webster and Ross Finlayson (location and date unknown).
Source: “Mosquito Fighter/Fighter-Bomber Units of World War Two” by Martin Bowman
The damage to the port stabiliser.
On the kit I have sprayed a slightly thicker coat of paint, with less mottling to reflect the fact that the stabiliser would have been resprayed.
The completed kit
As noted in the in the build thread the AM decal company
very unfortunately did not recreate the nose skunk accurately and took a cartoon representation (possibly from Bambi). Whilst it has taken the shine off the build slightly, I am still very happy with it!
I need to sort out a proper lighting set up but the colours are nonetheless
much better than the completed Mossie GB pics.
The underside really shows off how good Flory wash is…my first ever time using it:
And the standard calibration shot…………
