SPA Modeler

Gary, I’m gonna have to give your IP painting method a shot one of these days. It sounds a bit more time consuming than dry brushing, but it offers more precise results.
I stumbled across 633 Squadron on streaming last night and watched it again for the first time in decades. A bit hokey and typical late 60’s war movie, but beautiful aerial cinematography. I think that it, and certainly along with The Dambusters, perhaps had a little inspiration influence on the original Star Wars and Top Gun Maverick.

Yeah, give it a try sometime. I found the technique described long ago on some modeling site, copied the instructions and printed them out. They're now pinned to the wall behind my worktable. Used carefully, it does give great results.

I remember watching 633 Squadron at our local movie house, back in the day. Me and my buddies were mighty impressed! You're most likely right about the flying sequences influencing subsequent films.

This looks great Gary. IP technique is something I'll have to try

Thanks, TJ! I appreciate that. Give it a try, and I bet you'll like your results.

I had a painting session yesterday and got the props done, all but the weathering and worked on the figures and main wheel fenders. I have to finish that aircrew now so I can start the assembly of this bird.

Oh, and here's the Wikipedia entry for 633 Squadron, pretty interesting info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/633_Squadron

I do have some progress to report. The aircrew and cockpit, what there is of it, are installed and the fuselage glued together.



I haven't started addressing the seams yet, but since it's a Monogram kit of 1965 vintage, the less said about them the better. Suffice to say, Bondo will be required.

Bottom, worse than the top fortunately:



Some shots of the dudes flying this rig:









I believe the props are finished too. They may need some touching up after more handling, though.









The main gear and main wheels/tires are finished. I'm still undecided about how to mount them. The instructions call for installing them from the top, before the wing halves are assembled. That would be easier, but then they are in the way for the rest of the build. There are two lugs that fit into sockets in the nacelle and that's it. No other mounting point except where the main gear supports butt against the the inside wall of the nacelle's gear bay.





Test fitted into nacelles:





One can see the mounting issue in the above pic. I may make some sort of reinforcement just above those main gear support arms.

The pilot's saying, "Hey, my nose fell off!"



And finally, Mayday! Mayday! .



Hey.thanks for stopping by, my modeling friends! I appreciate your interest!

Gary, your paint work looks great! Particularly on the pilots! Since the Mosquito was mostly made of plywood, seam filling and clean up is less of a bother. No fuselage panel lines to worry about aside from hatches and the bomb bay.

Great progress Gary - I too like the pilots. The gear looks great as well. Are you still looking to do an Israeli Mossie?

Stikpusher wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 7:53 pm Gary, your paint work looks great! Particularly on the pilots! Since the Mosquito was mostly made of plywood, seam filling and clean up is less of a bother. No fuselage panel lines to worry about aside from hatches and the bomb bay.

Thanks, Carlos! It was fun painting those guys and maybe I should've been a lil' neater with them but really, they won't be that easily seen through the canopy. The top seam on the fuselage isn't too bad, but the bottom needs a lot of attention. And hey, there are panel lines on the fuselage and believe it or not, they are all recessed lines. Now, why did Monogram do that in '65, but then turn out so many other kits without the recessed lines?

And I assume (with all the associated risks ) that all Mosquitos had the bomb bay, with its doors, even the FB versions?

keavdog wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 7:55 pm Great progress Gary - I too like the pilots. The gear looks great as well. Are you still looking to do an Israeli Mossie?

Thanks, John! I really appreciate that! Yes, I'm still leaning that way and it won't be long before a paint decision will have to be made. I sent another email to Isradecals, asking about the decal set I need but still haven't received any response. Probably won't either, so I may not be able to reproduce everything I need to do that scheme justice. But, still I say, "Onward through the fog!"

Looks great! I like the weathering on the props and landing gear. I always prefer to add the landing gear legs last and I hate when manufacturers design a kit for the legs to be installed early.

jkim wrote: ↑Thu Aug 31, 2023 2:03 pm Looks great! I like the weathering on the props and landing gear. I always prefer to add the landing gear legs last and I hate when manufacturers design a kit for the legs to be installed early.

Thanks, John!

I've just now been working on the landing gear; I did place a "stop" above the support arms of the main gear so they will have something to which to glue them. But, even still, it would be so much easier to attach the main gear legs from above; though like you, I do hate having to work around them afterwards. I might be able to craft a shield of cardstock or heavy paper that would protect them during painting. I did something like that on the Tigercat and it worked well.