Turning Twin - RAF Mustang VI, Operation Firedog, Malaya

[CammNut]

When heat and humidity caused dangerous delamination of the bonded wooden airframes of its de Havilland Mosquitos during Operation Firedog in post-war Malaya, the RAF urgently needed a ground-attack aircraft able to withstand the steamy climate. The result was the acquisition of two squadrons of Rolls-Royce Merlin-powered North American F-82 Twin Mustangs, known as Mustang VIs in RAF service.

Mustang VI-0 by TheWoracle

This is the Monogram 1/72 F-82 kit with 5mm plugs forward of the cockpits to stretch the noses and resin Merlin power eggs. I turned the blades on one prop to make it rotate, correctly, in the direction opposite to the other one. (I did it twice in fact, as the first time I stuck the blades back on the same way I took them off - duh!).

Mustang VI-6 by TheWoracle

The four-pack rocket rails are modelled on those included in Airfix's new 1/72 Beaufighter TF.10 Operation Firedog kit - I say modelled because I didn't want to steal the ones from the kit as I plan to build that one some day soon...ish.

Mustang VI-3 by TheWoracle

The grey-over-black colour scheme is that carried by RAF Bristol Beaufighters and Brigands in Operation Firedog. The markings come from Freightdog's Brits Abroad Pt2 decal sheet and were very good to work with.

Mustang VI-4 by TheWoracle

Mustang VI-5 by TheWoracle

The Monogram kit is prehistoric, with raised panel lines and sliding canopies, but it goes together okay and I was able to remove the seams without losing too much of the surface detail. And I do think it looks rather smart in that scheme!

Mustang VI-7 by TheWoracle

[PR19_Kit]

Yeaaaaahhhhh! Superb job, I love it! 

[andrewj]

Nice , very nice and in my favourite post war colour scheme , whats not to like ?

Andrew

[comrade harps]

Nice build and love the backstory 

[The Wooksta!]

I'm going to have to steal that, although possibly in DSG/DG/PRU Blue.

[zenrat]

Nice.

Could you have fitted another 4 rockets on the centreline?

[kitnut617]

Got to agree with everyone else, just a gorgeous model. I've got similar plans with a bunch of F-82's I've got, Merlin and Griffon powered. Only it's replacing the Hornet, not the Mosquito. Got a couple started and working on doing some decent propellers for them. The Merlins I'm saying that was used were what was on the Hornet, I might even use the Hornet props, but the Griffon version will have contra-props.

[rickshaw]

Indeed.  A very nice model, very nicely done.   

[Old Wombat]

 

[DogfighterZen]

Looks good.

[sandiego89]

Great work!

[CammNut]

Thanks folks.

Ah, the rockets, Zenrat. My choice would have been a third set on the centerline. The rails are made from simple I-section plastic rod, but I didn't have any more fat-headed rockets to hand. These rockets came from a Valor Brigand kit, which provided rockets and rails, but no moulded-in locating points - so they were never going to get used!

If I come upon more of the right kind of rockets in my endeavors (the ones on the Airfix Beaufighter TF.10 being off-limits to whiffery), I may yet replace the solitary-looking bomb (which came with the F-82 kit).

[TomZ]

This looks wonderful is this scheme. Stunning!

TomZ

[Dizzyfugu]

Now that's a pretty one! 

Whiffies nomination well deserved!

[NARSES2]

That does look so right