de Havilland Mosquito B.IV released

[fleurdelys]

Fleurdelys, I'm no expert, but the details of the stencils are period correct to the WWII-era (i.e. not modern), and are of the similar type to those seen on other RAF aircraft of the period. Note all of the W/T ("Wired Throughout") stencils which were very common to find on all RAF types, typically applied on fabric-covered surfaces (of which much of the Mosqiuto is). A little bit about that here (as well as a look at the similar stencils seen on Peter Teichman's authentically restored Hurricane): http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=339844

No matter the aircraft type, Mosquito included, you'll find these located usually one on the fuselage (always starboard side only), one on the vertical stabilizer and one on the rudder (always starboard side only), one on each elevator and one on each horizontal stabilizer (always on the bottom), and one on each aileron, one on each flap, and usually just one on each wing (all always on the bottom).

You might be able to find a guide online that shows the layout of these stencils, such as for plastic model builders. (One of the cool things I enjoy about having access to factory blue prints for a few different WWII U.S. types, is that there are drawings/blueprints which just show each stencil design and location on the airframe, all laid out.) Although I don't have the information to post here, without searching for it, all of those letters and numbers in the stencils do mean something. : )

Merci beaucoup, John

I will follow your lead and try to find more on the subject. Interesting info about the location of thoses stencils...


I was just about ready to place them everywhere...


Cheers,

Fleurdelys

[AussieMan]

Coffman starters are still used. Their main advantage is their weight. They are much lighter than an intertia starter or batteries for an electrical. The disadvantage is that you need a stock of cartridges and you need (at least) one for every start.
I can remember the Neptunes and Fouga Magisters which were started this way (my God I'm really getting old). I can recall a Magister which could not leave because it had only one cartridge left and the engine didn't start on that cartridge.....

But back to the topic; the aircraft is indeed full of lovely details and really a joy to fly.

Cheers,
Huub

And don't forget the Canberra bomber as well Huub. I have seen the one at the Temora Aviation Museum started several time and it is spectacular to say the least.

[AussieMan]

For all of the Mosquito fanatics like me, here are some rather thrilling photos, from a very rare vantage point, taken from within Mosquito KA114 (the only example currently airworthy): http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi...&page=1#175898

Note that this is a FB.26 fighter variant, with a different windscreen, fighter control stick, and gun sight (and a slab of armor plate sectioning off the cockpit from the nose (filled with guns and ammunition)). It seems like plans for how this aircraft will be transported to the U.S. aren't even yet settled, and the aircraft is already starting to be booked for air shows in North America this coming summer - such as the Hamilton 2013 Airshow, hosted by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (http://www.hamiltonairshow.com/). The aircraft will be joined in the air by the CWHM Lancaster and Vintage Wings of Canada's Spitfire and Hurricane.

Also, for anyone working on repaints for this wonderful model, here are some external detail shots:
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi...y&thread=17563

Glyn Powell's Mosquito, which remains being restored at his shop, is very well advanced, and will be the next Mosquito taking flight in New Zealand. Glyn was the one who was able to reproduce the molds for the Mosquito fuselage so that the rebuilding of these aircraft to airworthy could take place. It has been reported via Classic Wings magazine, that there are negotiations taking place between Glyn and an organization in the UK with big backing called the Flying Mosquito Trust, which if things go forward as they are being discussed to be, the FMT will fund the remainder of the restoration of Glyn's Mosquito (ensuring that the aircraft will be completed in a timely manner - next three years or so). The further results of this will be that following completion of the aircraft, it will remain in New Zealand for a year, flying at various events, before the aircraft will be brought to the UK where it will be based from then on.

Although it is 'top secret', work has likely begun at Avspecs on the restoration of Mosquito TV959 to airworthy, which is owned by the Flying Heritage Collection (Everett, Washington). Although the wings will have to be manufactured new, as the originals were sawed apart when the aircraft was in prior ownership, the fuselage appears to possibly be good enough to be kept and restored, rather than manufactured new (like what had to be done on KA114).

Sometime within the next few years, Kermit Weeks also wants to transport his Mosquito (which was airworthy/actively flown up until 1990) from the EAA Museum, where it has been on display, to Fantasy of Flight where the old cracked paint and fabric will be removed and the wood and glue joints inspected (which are believed to be just fine). If everything checks out with the condition of the airframe, it will be re-covered and any other work needed will be done to get the aircraft flying again. The only obstacle mentioned that is preventing this, is available space at FOF, with the need for another hangar, as otherwise there wouldn't be anywhere to put it right now. According to Weeks, after the aircraft's appearance at Oshkosh in the summer of 1990, he was planning on flying the aircraft to a few military shows before ending up back at his museum location in Florida. However, just as Oshkosh was wrapping up that year, the invasion of Kuwait happened, and the military shows got cancelled, so the aircraft remained put. Then with Hurricane Andrew in 1992, and the effects that had on the old Weeks museum and aircraft, the situation with the Mosquito lingered, while everything else was being dealt with.

Photo by Gavin Conroy (more can be seen in the first link in this post).

Also John Mosquito MK XVI A52-600 is rumoured to be well advanced in restoration to flying condition at Point Cook in Victoria. Once that happens I dare say that like the Sabre it will go on to a long term loan to the Temora Aviation Museum where they have a highly specialised Merlin crew. Most of their engineering staff have been to America to be trained on maintaining Merlin Engines.

P.S. John I am also a Mosquito fanatic. Or anything Merlin powered

[AussieMan]

At the moment I am trying to knock out an Aussie Mossie. The paint I am doing is not a MKIV but in reality a PR 16 of 87 flight based at Coomalie in the Northern Territory in 1944. They were painted in an overall azure blue colour scheme.

While not the real model it will suffice until more versions become available from Dave.

I am hoping to have this one ready to put up on the weekend.

[jeansy]

At the moment I am trying to knock out an Aussie Mossie. The paint I am doing is not a MKIV but in reality a PR 16 of 87 flight based at Coomalie in the Northern Territory in 1944. They were painted in an overall azure blue colour scheme.

While not the real model it will suffice until more versions become available from Dave.

I am hoping to have this one ready to put up on the weekend.

Have you got a pic of it Pat, just so I delete it from my batch that ive started

[AussieMan]

Matt, I am working from a colour scheme that is in the book Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian service. The scheme is on page 198 of the book and serial number is A52-610. When I have the paint to my liking I will take a screenshot and post it here.

[jeansy]

no problem, i have access to that book, i will skip that one

[jankees]

same aircraft as the one shown by Roger, but later paintscheme:

[huub vink]

Nice schemes!

Does anybody know the registration of the Moquito which was flown by Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema in 139 Pathfinder squadron?

Cheers,
Huub

[Roger]

Nothing I could find just Googling.

[jankees]

I thought he flew Q-Queenie, so that would make it XD-Q.
It was not DZ487 XD-Q, because that crashed on Texel in 1943, and I believe he only joined 139 in 1944.

[Warrant]

Excellent repaint Jankees!

[Portia911]

Thanks Jankees and Roger (for the HU re: Peter Wilkins' work) - very nice BOAC skins.
:salute:

[AussieMan]

no problem, i have access to that book, i will skip that one

Thanks Matt, can you please PM me with a list of other numbers you are planning on doing so I don't double up.

[jankees]

my next project:

[MM]

John posted a good deal of information on KA114. Here is a delightful "in the cockpit" film of a flight over Auckland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGfQQWOsoB8

[huub vink]

Nice Jan Kees! You were correct about the date (year) Erik Hazelhof Roelfzema joined 139 squadron. However in 1944 the squadron had already switched to Mk XVI and Mk XXV Mosquitos.

Thanks for the link MM. It really was a narrow cockpit!

Cheers,
Huub

[Roger]

Up in our library...

[ZsoltB]

The paintkit available?

[Dain Arns]

The paintkit available?

http://www.cbfsim.co.uk/cbfs_lib/thu...s.php?album=48

[jankees]

I uploaded the American PR version on OZx,


together with this one:







for the Mossie lovers: a B mk IV, converted for 'Highball' missions (bouncing bombs to be used against shipping), that went to Oz in late 44, and was finally sold for scrap in 1945. The good news is that parts of this machine are being used in a restoration project in New Zealand

[DaveWG]

Great paints Jan Kees. Nice to see the paintkit getting used.

FYI, there will be a Highball version in the next pack to be released. (no dates yet).

[jankees]

Great paints Jan Kees. Nice to see the paintkit getting used.

FYI, there will be a Highball version in the next pack to be released. (no dates yet).

Cool!, I'll adapt this paint then!
and a PR and fighter version too I hope.....?
Love the model btw, outstanding sounds too.
I was so frustrated with the JF version, thank you for this one!

[ftl818]

Cool!, I'll adapt this paint then!
and a PR and fighter version too I hope.....?
Love the model btw, outstanding sounds too.
I was so frustrated with the JF version, thank you for this one!

Hi,

Indeed the JF mosquito is a nightmare to repaint. Flat textures, terrible mapping with multiple objects mapped on the same location, errors everywhere and the final results saved under low resolution ending in blurry textures.

No wonder there are virtually no JF/Aeroplane Heaven repaints around! Definitely not the way to do it. But... inspired by the rebuilt New Zealand Mossie I started building my own layered paintkit. Unfortunately the model is not native FSX, so no bump and spec maps.

Fortunately the model itself can be tweaked to have some relections. The well known cloud/propellor issue is still there but with the right prop textures it is ok. Furthermore an xml error in the ADF gauge was corrected and the two needle indicator is now working, an error in the panel.cfg prevented the radio from working, and an adjustment in the aircraft.cgf file enables supercharging at high altitude.

In my humble opinion Dave's BIV outside model is much better then the older JF one. On the other hand the JF VC has more objects and detail.

I'm now working on a representation of the rebuilt NZ FB26 Mossie and an USAF XVI two stage supercharged PRU version, both similar but still not the same as the new BIV version. The latest details and stenciling will be included.

A screenshot will follow tonight.


Paul

[DaveWG]

Cool!, I'll adapt this paint then!
and a PR and fighter version too I hope.....?
Love the model btw, outstanding sounds too.
I was so frustrated with the JF version, thank you for this one!

Current plans are to do the early PRs, Highball & B.IV with the enlarged bomb-bay next, as they require the least work
After that probably the later bomber & PRs with the 2 stage Merlins.
Fighter marks may come after that, although that depends on what happens with Vertigo Studios FB.VI