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Model Forum / General / Models / April 2004[AIR] Mosquitos in USAAF service
US Mossies confuse me thoroughly. I've got both the Tamiya 1/72 FB Mk.IV and B Mk.VI kits. Are either or both of these suitable for conversion to USAAF a/c? Am I correct in thinking that these are basically paint/marking conversions? If so what US versions can I make from which? Do I need to get parts from any other Mosquito kits?  SignatureAl Superczynski, MFE, IPMS/USA #3795, continuous since 1968 My "From" address is munged - click "Reply To" to respond via email. Check out my want lists and eBay listings at "Al's Place": http://www.network54.com/realm/modeleral/ "Build what YOU like, the way YOU want to, and the critics will flame you every time." >US Mossies confuse me thoroughly. I've got both the Tamiya 1/72 >FB Mk.IV and B Mk.VI kits. Are either or both of these suitable for >conversion to USAAF a/c? I believe the US only operated PR XVI Mossies. These had two-stage Merlin engines; the Mk. IV and Mk. VI had single-stage Merlins. The engine cowlings look quite different between the two, and there may be other subtle differences. I don't know whether there is a conversion kit available for the 1/72 Tamiya kits, or whether there is a suitable alternative in that scale. I do know that Airfix just released a PR XVI kit in 1/48th. HTH Jim > >US Mossies confuse me thoroughly. I've got both the Tamiya 1/72 > >FB Mk.IV and B Mk.VI kits. Are either or both of these suitable for [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Jim The P.R.XIV was the only version used operationally by the USAAF. They also received a number of Canadian-built F-8s,which were P.R. versions of the B.VII, the Canadian version of the B.IV. These were used for operational training, but were too slow to be used operationally in Europe by then. The USAAF also had some T.III trainers. Mark Schynert >The P.R.XIV was the only version used operationally by the USAAF. They >also received a number of Canadian-built F-8s,which were P.R. versions >of the B.VII, the Canadian version of the B.IV. So does that mean I can make an F-8 from the 1/72 scale Tamiya B Mk.IV? SignatureAl Superczynski, MFE, IPMS/USA #3795, continuous since 1968 My "From" address is munged - click "Reply To" to respond via email. Check out my want lists and eBay listings at "Al's Place": http://www.network54.com/realm/modeleral/ "Build what YOU like, the way YOU want to, and the critics will flame you every time." > >The P.R.XIV was the only version used operationally by the USAAF. They > >also received a number of Canadian-built F-8s,which were P.R. versions > >of the B.VII, the Canadian version of the B.IV. > > So does that mean I can make an F-8 from the 1/72 scale Tamiya B > Mk.IV? That should work so long as the kit isn't of the original short-nacelle B.IV series I. The question is how to modify it. I don't know if the F-8 was externally identical to the P.R.IV, the British PR version of the B.IV series II. Mark Schynert >I don't know if the F-8 >was externally identical to the P.R.IV, the British PR version of the >B.IV series II. Thanks for all your help but I'm still confused. Can anybody tell me if the F-8 was externally identical to either the FB Mk. VI or B Mk. IV as depicted by the 1/72 scale Tamiya kits? SignatureAl Superczynski, MFE, IPMS/USA #3795, continuous since 1968 My "From" address is munged - click "Reply To" to respond via email. Check out my want lists and eBay listings at "Al's Place": http://www.network54.com/realm/modeleral/ "Build what YOU like, the way YOU want to, and the critics will flame you every time." > >I don't know if the F-8 > >was externally identical to the P.R.IV, the British PR version of the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > tell me if the F-8 was externally identical to either the FB Mk. VI or > B Mk. IV as depicted by the 1/72 scale Tamiya kits? Okay, to clarify: The F-8 ought to be almost identical externally to a Tamiya B.IV, since Tamiya didn't do a B.IV series I (there were only ten built). What I can't say, never having seen a picture of an F-8, is whether it had camera ports and where they were. It's pretty easy to convert a B.IV to a P.R.IV (Squadron "In Action" #127 has a drawing that shows camera positions for P.R. I and IV). If the F-8 follows the same pattern,there you are. Absent evidence to the contrary, that's how I'd do it. Mark Schynert >It's pretty easy to >convert a B.IV to a P.R.IV (Squadron "In Action" #127 has a drawing that >shows camera positions for P.R. I and IV). If the F-8 follows the same >pattern,there you are. Absent evidence to the contrary, that's how I'd >do it. Thanks, Mark! SignatureAl Superczynski, MFE, IPMS/USA #3795, continuous since 1968 My "From" address is munged - click "Reply To" to respond via email. Check out my want lists and eBay listings at "Al's Place": http://www.network54.com/realm/modeleral/ "Build what YOU like, the way YOU want to, and the critics will flame you every time." >>I don't know if the F-8 >>was externally identical to the P.R.IV, the British PR version of the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > tell me if the F-8 was externally identical to either the FB Mk. VI or > B Mk. IV as depicted by the 1/72 scale Tamiya kits? Apart from the PRII's, the Mosquito PR variants were related to the Bomber marks, complete with glazed nose. The PR IV's were all converted B IV's, for instance. According to Martin Bowman's "Mosquito Photo-Reconnaisance Units of World War 2" (Osprey Combat Aircraft 13) and Richard A. Franks' "The SAM Modellers Datafile 1 : The De Havilland Mosquito", the USAAF operated both PR XVI and F-8 marks. The F-8's were converted from Canadian -produced bombers, B VII's and B XX's. Both of these had single-stage Merlins, and would conform to the B IV outline. The Osprey book has one colour plate of an F-8, and shows it in the Day Fighter scheme, nominally Dark Green and Ocean Grey with Medium Sea Gray undersides. However, as a Canadian production machine, it is possible that the colours are Olive Drab, Sea Gray and Light Gray! There is one difficulty: Franks says that the F-8's had their cameras installed in the nose, but doesn't give a drawing to show where the camera ports were. None of my other references throw any light on this, and all report that the F-8 was unpopular with the USAAF and was quickly replaced by PR XVI's - which have two-stage Merlins. To sum up, the F-8 would be like a B IV in outline. The location of the camera ports in the nose is the only unknown. >...the F-8 was unpopular with the USAAF and was quickly >replaced by PR XVI's - which have two-stage Merlins. > >To sum up, the F-8 would be like a B IV in outline. The location of the >camera ports in the nose is the only unknown. Thanks, Alan! This was very helpful in clearing up my confusion. SignatureAl Superczynski, MFE, IPMS/USA #3795, continuous since 1968 My "From" address is munged - click "Reply To" to respond via email. Check out my want lists and eBay listings at "Al's Place": http://www.network54.com/realm/modeleral/ "Build what YOU like, the way YOU want to, and the critics will flame you every time." > Thanks, Alan! This was very helpful in clearing up my confusion. Glad I could be useful. I am a big fan of the Mosquito, and have the 1/48 Tamiya kits in the stash, to be joined by the new Airfix Mk XVI very soon (along with mumble mumble other 1/48 and 1/72 examples). The B IV is being built as a PR IV in PRU blue, to better show off the beautiful shape of the airframe. Ah! De Havilland! The Osprey book has a whole chapter on Mosquitos in USAAF service, and gets on to the PR XVI on page one out of ten. All of the illustrations of PR XVI's with stars-and-bars show them in PRU blue, sometimes with invasion stripes, red tails, or even red-and-white striped fins (to distinguish them from Me 410's apparantly). It would be a good book to get your local library to find for you. ISBN 1-85532-891-7 on my copy. And what about the NF;30 of the 12th AAF in 1945??? Michel Philippe > > >US Mossies confuse me thoroughly. I've got both the Tamiya 1/72 > > >FB Mk.IV and B Mk.VI kits. Are either or both of these suitable for [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Mark Schynert > And what about the NF;30 of the 12th AAF in 1945??? For that I think you need the old Matchbox kit! That had the parts to make either the NF.30 or the Mk.16. If you want info on the various models of the Mosquito and how to model them I would recommend getting a copy of "The deHavilland Mosquito", a Modeller's data file by Richard A. Franks, published by SAM Publications. ISBN 0-9533465-0-1 160 pages, softcover, there are some errors in R.A. Carauna's 3 view drawings in the back but the wealth of info in the modeller's guide section and the detail photos and drawings from old tech manual's make it very worthwhile to acquire. Bill Shuey > > And what about the NF;30 of the 12th AAF in 1945??? > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Bill Shuey Lately they've been almost paranoid about internet theft of their drawings so I wouldn't be surprised if the errors were intentional. I understand the need to protect copyrights but it's wandering into a situation where no one can trust their drawings' accuracy. Bill Banaszak, MFE |
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