1/72 DH.98 Mosquito Matchbox PK-116
I finally found time to complete a build that's been hanging around a while. It seems that I'm busier being fully retired compared to when I was working. I built this as a birthday gift for my brother and it will be a display on his bookshelf since the Mosquito is one of his favourite aircraft.
What I thought would be a not too common B.IX completion (ML913 from No 105), I had to settle for a B.IX dressed as a B.IV (‘Grim Reaper' DK333 from No109). Too bad, as I did find some interesting data on ML913 GB-E. Info included the 23/11/1943 raid on the Goldenbergwerke power station at Knapsack and info on its last flight 06/07/1944 on a mission to Scholven-Buer in 1944. Although this is a basic Matchbox offering, I don't think there are many 1/72 B.IX samples out there with the proper nacelles and 6 pipe exhaust. I tried shaving off the top canopy bulge but it wasn't solid plastic and a hole would appear if a continued to shave it down, so that had to stay.
I was ready to use the Matchbox decals with other stencils from an extra Hasegawa Mosquito sheet. The Matchbox decals turned out to be pretty bad, I guess they were a lot older than I though. Time was running out as my brother birthday was fast approaching, the compromise would be to dress it using the B.IV decals from the extra Hasegawa sheet.
Although the Hasegawa decals felt as thick as cardboard, things look pretty good for the bookshelf. The base stand is just a mini wood plaque from Michaels painted black with some downloaded images printed on a sticky label and then sprayed with Future.
I won't tell my brother it's a B.IX, I'll just stick to “It's a Mosquito”.
A fantastic job, my friend George! Nothing better than building a Matchbox classic in such excellent manner!
Well done!
Thanks Spiros (@fiveten), I found a few more Matchbox kits on local ads and I just had to buy them, too good to turn down.
You are too lucky, my friend @georgeswork!
You performed an outstanding hij on this classic one, George @georgeswork
The base stand looks great as well.
Thanks John (@johnb). MS/Powerpoint is a great app to get the labels done.
Nicely done, George!
Thanks Robert (@roofrat), glad I got it done in time.
Nice work on this old Matchbox kit, George, I’m sure your brother is happy with his Mosquito.
Thanks George (@chinesegeorge).
Well done George, and yes it does look like a Mosquito. I'm sure your brother will like it.
Thanks Tom (@tom-bebout), planning to see him for coffee this weekend.
Great job, George @georgeswork), especially on a Matchbox kit. According to Scalemates this kit was first released in 1976. Your work certainly brought it up to current standards. I know it will be appreciated.
Thanks George (@gblair), very decent kit for '76.
Excellent work George.
I have been dabbling in 70 iies Matchbox kits. All in all they are very nice except the canopy’s . The decals , thick and usable at times ! I have an Airfix NF Mosquito I should start, seeing the great results you got.
Thanks Bernard (@bernardbedeur). I hear ya, thickest canopies around! It's always great to see another Mossie built and posted.
Nice job George, looks great ! Great looking scheme and looks super nice on the stand.
Thanks Bob (@v1pro), I plan to do a Tamiya B.IV Reaper for my own shelves.
I always enjoy seeing these old kits brought to life! Well done. Stand looks great as well.
Thanks Greg (@gkittinger), always fun putting a Matchbox kit together.
Next stand I'll try an acrylic rod and try to form it with a heat gun.