Tanker12B Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Hi Guys, This is my first post on the forum, so hope you enjoy. Bought the Airfix 1/24 Mossie a while ago so decided to make a start. It was meant to be an out of the box build as it is an impressive model anyway. So having started I came across the Mk XVIII and that really intrigued me. Cosford is only 4 miles from me and low and behold they have a complete Molins gun and autoloader on display. I was hooked and as the build hadn’t progressed too far by that stage I took the plunge to replicate it in all its glory complete with Molins gun in glorious 1/24 scale. Whilst I hadn’t expected anything in terms of aftermarket items, I could only find a resin muzzle/additional armour in this scale. This didn’t really do what I wanted as I wanted a full gun actually fitted into the Mossie complete with Autoloader. This was the start point for trying to find out some information on the installation. The gun was simple enough, even the Autoloader is pretty straight forward, but trying to find installation details/photos etc has proved to be difficult. Cosford very kindly allowed me to have access to their example of the Molins installation to take measurements and photos which has proved to be invaluable. The only evidence of the actual in situ mounting I have found to date is the excellent book “Shipbuster” which has an isometric sketch of the gun mounted in the plane and so in the absence of anything else I am using that as the basis for mounting my example in the model. I have a couple of screenshots of the design and photos of a prototype build but until I find out how to attach an image via URL that will have to wait. The whole is a combination of 3d printed parts/turned brass/scratchbuiding etc so is a real mish -mash of techniques. All designed on a 3d designing app which is excellent. So having wetted your appetite for this under modelled version of the superlative Mossie it would interesting to see what you think. Any info would be greatly appreciated and also whether any of you guys out there have attempted this in the past. Feel free to comment! Kind Regards Tanker12B MikeMaben, Anthony in NZ, Trak-Tor and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Have you seen this book? And LSP_K2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony in NZ Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Welcome to the forum! I cant help a lot with the Molins stuff, but when you get ito the build I would be more than happy to help. I have a detailed build of the Airfix kit on this forum that might be of some use to correct a few kit issues. Cheers Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 2 hours ago, Kagemusha said: Have you seen this book? Same book I was going to recommend, as it's entirely devoted to the type. Good call, Andy. Anthony in NZ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trak-Tor Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 He mentions the book in his post, by the way. Juraj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanker12B Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 Thanks Guys, Yes I have this book. Excellent read, this is where the details of the gun mounting in the Mossie was found. Anthony thanks for the offer, I will look up your detailed build on the forum. Regards Tanker12B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 1 hour ago, Trak-Tor said: He mentions the book in his post, by the way. Juraj Oops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 45 minutes ago, LSP_K2 said: Oops! X2!! LSP_K2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 The Alleycat conversion may be of help. Whilst I understand you have looked at am, there's a lot of parts in the conversion and whilst you will have to scratch the actual gun, the conversion may well give you an additional "leg up". I used their TR33 conversion on mine and it certainly helped. https://www.alleycatmodels.co.uk/mosquito-fb-mk-xviii-tse-tse-mosquito-conversion-set-decals-5491-p.asp The Tse Tse was a pretty awesome beast and I recall a story in one of my references when they were U-Boat hunting in the Bay of Biscay. They used a flight of 4 FBVI's to take on the protecting JU88's whilst the Tse Tse went for the submarines. Apparently on one occasion the Tse Tse actually used the gun on an '88 "to great effect". I can imagine ! Trak-Tor and Anthony in NZ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Hi T, Sounds like a challenging project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanker12B Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 Thanks for the feedback guys. I will relook at the alley cat conversion PhilB just a bit bit on the pricey side this side of Christmas! You are right about the 88 going down courtesy of the Molins Gun. The plane I want to replicate was lost on an anti submarine attack in the Bay of Biscay. Unfortunately both crew were killed, the plane was serialled NNT225 code was O from 248 squadron, I think it nice to attach a little personal history to remember these brave men. The plane was based at Portreath in Cornwall. There is a photo showing a Tse-Tse on the ground with a Molins gun mounted on its gun carriage behind a tractor parked under the wing, I was just conscious that the gun mounted in the plane, very little of it would be seen with the aircraft sitting on the ground and so I will make 2 guns, one mounted in the plane and the second on its carriage so that the detail of both can be seen as in the photo. Does look great. Just hope I can do it justice as there are some very talented modellers out there. does anyone know of any RAF ground crew in 1/24 scale? It was good to hear from both yourself PhilB and MikeMaben. As soon as I work out how to post pictures here from my iPad I will send them in! Regards Tanker 12B Anthony in NZ and MikeMaben 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony in NZ Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Nice choice of airframe! I think Barracuda do some 24th figures for the Mossie?? Manhandling a rocket from memory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ray Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Yes, Barracuda has a pair of crew assembling and mounting rockets. I think a pilot too, though could be mistaken on that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 12 hours ago, LSP_Ray said: Yes, Barracuda has a pair of crew assembling and mounting rockets. I think a pilot too, though could be mistaken on that one. Intended, as is the Pilot figure, for the Typhoon, but will work fine for others as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanker12B Posted April 6, 2022 Author Share Posted April 6, 2022 Hi guys, Been some time. Could someone advise how I insert a photo from my iPad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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