Tamiya's Masterpiece - Their 1/32 scale Mosquito

[BarryW]

What a result Barry. Which Mossie did you prefer building?

Oh definitely the Tamiya. The sheer quality of the engineering and fit is a wonder to behold. That is not to say that there is anything wrong with the HKM, it was a great build.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Barry
Firstly thanks for the detailed description of your weathering process. Thw Mosquito looks superb. The weathering is subtle and realistic. I have enjoyed following the build and look forward to the final photos.
Jim

 

[Mr Bowcat]

I really enjoyed this build Barry, and well done on an excellent end result.

 

[colin m]

All looks splendid Barry. I'm just wondering, why is the camouflage reversed between the Tamiya and HK ? Did one manufacturer get it wrong ? I ask as the HKM version might be my winter build.

 

[papa 695]

Very nice work Barry, like you say it’s what you would expect from Tamiya.

 

[BarryW]

All looks splendid Barry. I'm just wondering, why is the camouflage reversed between the Tamiya and HK ? Did one manufacturer get it wrong ? I ask as the HKM version might be my winter build.

I just followed the instructions and only realised they are reversed when I put them side by side.

 

[stillp]

Very nice Barry. What was kerosene used for on a Mosquito?

Pete

 

[BarryW]

The wash is called Kerosene leaks and spills. I use it for fuel as it is derived from petrol. It works.

 

[peterairfix]

Superb results makes me want to go and build one.

 

[Jakko]

I'm just wondering, why is the camouflage reversed between the Tamiya and HK ? Did one manufacturer get it wrong ?

It sounds like someone got it wrong. Until April 1941, the RAF used two camouflage patterns on single-engined fighters, one of which was a mirror image of the other, but AFAIK twin-engined planes never had that, and in any case Barry’s models have the colours switched around and not the pattern mirrored. As this colour photo shows:



… the Tamiya kit is correct, the HKM one has the colours the wrong way round.

 

[colin m]

the HKM one has the colours the wrong way round

Nice one Jakko. That HKM is not a cheap kit. You would think they would have made more of an effort on the research front.

 

[BarryW]

Nice one Jakko. That HKM is not a cheap kit. You would think they would have made more of an effort on the research front.

I dont think either of them got it wrong.

I have just been looking at pictures and while the Tamiya style is more common there are examples of the HKM pattern including a box top of the Revell 1/48 BIV Mossie.

 

[Jakko]

I’m having a hard time finding wartime colour photos of Mosquitos to see if the colours might have habitually been switched around.

This one seems to confirm it:



… but it’s a black and white photo that’s been coloured in, so that doesn’t prove anything. However, on this black and white picture:



it’s clear that the colours are reversed compared to the colour picture I posted above. The dark areas must be green, as the blue of the roundels is also dark.

So yes, I spoke too soon — my understanding was that there was only one pattern and colours were always applied in the same areas, not switched around as they do seem to have been.