Wolf Buddee

It looks like the (unofficial) Tamiya Mossie group build has started to die on the vine so I thought I would step up and post some progress. I've been working on the machine guns and cannon assemblies lately and I am more and more impressed with this kit. The level of detail is astounding so the little bits extra I've been adding has been a really simple job. I am, however, still waiting for the BarracudaCast ammo chutes to be release as they'll have the ammunition rounds visible as opposed the kit's empty chutes.
 
I've deviated somewhat from Tamiya's painting instructions based on the photos I have and to make it visually a little more interesting. For instance the gun heating tubes for the cannons had the flexible sections painted with Model Master Metallizer Burnt Metal and the ends that attach to the duct and cannons were painted with Tamiya's Titanium Silver rather than Tamiya's color call out of plain ol' flat aluminum. As usual my washes were added using The Detailer liquids mixed 50/50 black and brown, a dollop of dishwashing liquid to break the surface tension and ease clean up, and thinned with distilled water.
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

 

 

 

 

 

It looks like the (unofficial) Tamiya Mossie group build has started to die on the vine so I thought I would step up and post some progress. I've been working on the machine guns and cannon assemblies lately and I am more and more impressed with this kit. The level of detail is astounding so the little bits extra I've been adding has been a really simple job. I am, however, still waiting for the BarracudaCast ammo chutes to be release as they'll have the ammunition rounds visible as opposed the kit's empty chutes.
 
I've deviated somewhat from Tamiya's painting instructions based on the photos I have and to make it visually a little more interesting. For instance the gun heating tubes for the cannons had the flexible sections painted with Model Master Metallizer Burnt Metal and the ends that attach to the duct and cannons were painted with Tamiya's Titanium Silver rather than Tamiya's color call out of plain ol' flat aluminum. As usual my washes were added using The Detailer liquids mixed 50/50 black and brown, a dollop of dishwashing liquid to break the surface tension and ease clean up, and thinned with distilled water.
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for all the kind comments folks.
 
I had some time this week to get back to the bench and I thought I would do something quick and simple. At least that was the plan. I decided I would tackle the nose cone for the Mossie, only 4 pieces to put together, three plastic bits and a photo-etch piece.
 
After looking at my reference photos I wound up adding some additional detail to the gun camera in the way of some thin styrene strips and a few of Archer's raised rivet decals. I also added the reinforcing strips to the inside of the nose cone and then more Archer rivet decals to represent the fasteners. With the gun camera mount glued in to place there were open slots that the mount fit in to that had to be filled so more bits of styrene had to be added and sanded to shape. I removed the moulded on nose position light and drilled a hole that will accept a new clear lens. Finally I added two small apertures to the outer MG tubes. I'm not sure what they're for but possibly they were in all my reference photos. I'm sure Anthony will know what they are.
 
Anyways on to the photos.........
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

 

 

 

It looks like the (unofficial) Tamiya Mossie group build has started to die on the vine so I thought I would step up and post some progress. I've been working on the machine guns and cannon assemblies lately and I am more and more impressed with this kit. The level of detail is astounding so the little bits extra I've been adding has been a really simple job. I am, however, still waiting for the BarracudaCast ammo chutes to be release as they'll have the ammunition rounds visible as opposed the kit's empty chutes.
 
I've deviated somewhat from Tamiya's painting instructions based on the photos I have and to make it visually a little more interesting. For instance the gun heating tubes for the cannons had the flexible sections painted with Model Master Metallizer Burnt Metal and the ends that attach to the duct and cannons were painted with Tamiya's Titanium Silver rather than Tamiya's color call out of plain ol' flat aluminum. As usual my washes were added using The Detailer liquids mixed 50/50 black and brown, a dollop of dishwashing liquid to break the surface tension and ease clean up, and thinned with distilled water.
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

 

 

 

 

 

It looks like the (unofficial) Tamiya Mossie group build has started to die on the vine so I thought I would step up and post some progress. I've been working on the machine guns and cannon assemblies lately and I am more and more impressed with this kit. The level of detail is astounding so the little bits extra I've been adding has been a really simple job. I am, however, still waiting for the BarracudaCast ammo chutes to be release as they'll have the ammunition rounds visible as opposed the kit's empty chutes.
 
I've deviated somewhat from Tamiya's painting instructions based on the photos I have and to make it visually a little more interesting. For instance the gun heating tubes for the cannons had the flexible sections painted with Model Master Metallizer Burnt Metal and the ends that attach to the duct and cannons were painted with Tamiya's Titanium Silver rather than Tamiya's color call out of plain ol' flat aluminum. As usual my washes were added using The Detailer liquids mixed 50/50 black and brown, a dollop of dishwashing liquid to break the surface tension and ease clean up, and thinned with distilled water.
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

 

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous Brian. I don't think Kitty Hawk could have gotten a better build. Absolutely love it!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Hi, my name is Wolf and I'm an assembler! And yes I'm at the right meeting...........
 
Just freakin' WOW!
 
I didn't have the heart to say the height of the windows looked off to me as read your thread earlier. Primarily as you'd put so much work in already. Kudos to those that did say something though and even more praise to you for pushing on to get it right. Way to go Craig!
 
Cheers,
Wolf ( who's looking on in deep admiration)

That's lookin' awesome Jay! A very unusual scheme for Tante Ju to say the least. Fantastic weathering on the interior.
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Thanks for all the kind comments folks, they're much appreciated!
 
The control column for the Mossie got a little bit of extra attention. The accompanying pics and text show the details I've added. I used .0075 wire from Detail Master (model car stuff) for the brake and the electrical cables. A piece of fine wire was squished flat and shaped to create the cannon firing lever and a minuscule piece of card stock was used to make the machine gun firing button. Bits of 1/48th scale photo-etch turnbuckle was used to form the pivot and retaining stay for the brake cable. Considering that the control column out of the box was only 3 pieces including the photo-etch brake lever, I've added quite a few extra bits and most of 'em very tiny.......... Lots o' fun though if not a little hard on the eyes but the end result, I think, looks much better. 
 
What do y'all think?
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

 

 

 

 

I've been slowly but surely working my way through the cockpit assembly on the Mossie, the operative word being "slowly". I was hoping to have the seat harnesses installed but I wasn't happy with the Eduard fabric items so I've ordered the RB Production ones from UltraCast. Most of the pieces are box stock but some have been tweaked to make them look a little better. As is my usual modus operandi data stencils were added by using either bits of Airscale data placards or bits and pieces of 1/48th scale F-4 Phantom white data stencils. I used lead wire for the piping at the base of the gun compartment and the wiring still needs to be added to the electrical boxes on the gun bay's rear wall. There's lots to do still in the cockpit, especially once I start running all the cables and wiring for the cockpit sidewalls.
 
This is truly a remarkable kit!
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

My first scratch to relieve the itch to get started on this incredible kit.
 
My favourite part of any aircraft build is the cockpit so I decided to start with the Instrument panel. The first thing I did was to add Archer Fine Transfer rivet decals to represent the fasteners that secured the instruments to the various panels. Amazingly enough they show nicely through the thin coat of paint, They add a nice extra touch of detail to the relatively featureless PE instrument panels.
 
The next modification was to sand off all the raised instrument lens details on the kit clear parts. I wanted to replace the instrument glass with clear acetate that's supplied with Airscale's instrument decals. I still felt there was too much of a "coke bottle" effect when built OOB. Using the thin acetate really makes the instrument decals far more visible. Tamiya's instrument decals are very detailed but some have odd colour combinations so I replaced certain ones with Airscale instruments. The combination looks much better to me when compared with my reference material. The webbing between the bomb release, landing gear release and flap control levers was cleaned out with a razor saw and the levers themselves were thinned down substantially to give them a more scale appearance.
 
Most of the data stencils came from Airscale's placard decals but most were cut in to tiny pieces and cobbled together to get the look I wanted. Other pieces came from bits of 1/48 scale F-4 Phantom data stencil decals from Superscale. I've been using these for years until dedicated placard decals have come out.
 
Hopefully the accompanying photos and text tell "The rest of the story". Sorry Paul Harvey..............
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

 

 

This is the Sutton QK harness assembly that I used for my Mossie. I had to modify the harness for the navigators seat though as it doesn't have the extra strap assembly that runs behind the seat like the pilot does. I also used the kit harness anchors as they're different than what's supplied in the RB Production sets.
 
Hope that helps Al. I hope Radu won't mind me using the image below from his website. It's only to clearly show the harness assembly I used.
 
Cheers,
Wolf
 

Hi Kevin, thanks for the head's up! I misspelled your account info so I've resent it and increased the amount to cover my stupidity!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Thanks, Wolf - much appreciated! I'm just glad you didn't lose any money.
 
Kev

Hi Kevin, thanks for the head's up! I misspelled your account info so I've resent it and increased the amount to cover my stupidity!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Sent a Canuck buck contribution Kev. Glad to help!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Sent a Canuck buck contribution Kev. Glad to help!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Hi Kevin, thanks for the head's up! I misspelled your account info so I've resent it and increased the amount to cover my stupidity!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Hi Kevin, thanks for the head's up! I misspelled your account info so I've resent it and increased the amount to cover my stupidity!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Sent a Canuck buck contribution Kev. Glad to help!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Sent a Canuck buck contribution Kev. Glad to help!
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Glad to complete another one without it migrating to the "shelf of doom"! Pretty easy build aside from that pesky wing seam. I used the last of my gunze aqueous RLM 70/71 for the top colors with assorted Tamiya for the rest and used the terrific HGW seat belts. I painted the wing crosses, but used the kit decals for everything else. Not my best work overall, but I hope you like!
 
Thanks,
Leo
 

 

 

I stopped doing commission builds for all the reasons you mentioned including customers wanting to negotiate payment after the build was finished!
 
Nonetheless your build looks beautiful. Occasionally it's nice to stretch outside the comfort zone and build something we normally wouldn't.
 
Cheers,
Wolf

Nice Justin!   Love it, and know all to well that some commission jobs I just dont take for all the reasons you have listed. The current commission job Im on is way easier, as Im not only promoting my hobby and scale, but a great kit of a subject I really love.
 
This is hard to do, as most times commission jobs are NOT something we are passionate about.    I have resigned myself to ONLY taking commission jobs of subjects and scales I like. 
 
Great work on this one regardless of the tedium and lack of subject interest! 

Wow, that's just beautiful Nicolas! Very well done indeed.
 
Cheers,
Wolf