De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk44

[zenrat]

De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk44

De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk44 2 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The first of the jet Mosquitos, the Mk44 entered service as the war entered its eighth year.  The RAAFs FB Mk44s, alongside their jet Beaufighters, played a vital role in the spring offensive of 1946 which finally drove Japanese occupation forces out of Far North Queensland.

De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk44 11 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk44 7 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The aircraft pictured is an FB Mk44 of RAAF No.1 Squadron based on the Cape York Peninsula in October 1946.  Armament consists of four 0.5' machine guns and a 37mm cannon mounted in the nose along with eight underwing 60lb rockets.

De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk44 9 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Model
Airfix 1/72 Mosquito Mk II/VI/XVIII with Revell box scale (1/80?) Martin B57 wings.
37mm gun barrel from Ari Mitsubishi Ki-46iii.

De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk44 12 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[rickshaw]

Interesting.  Looks the part.   

[PR19_Kit]

....... with Revell box scale (1/80?) Martin B57 wings.

AhAH! THAT'S why they look so right. 

I was thinking 'They're Canberra wings and engines, but surely they'd be far too big for a Mossie, so where's he cut and shut them?'

Of course you didn't, which is why they look so right, super job there.

[DogfighterZen]

I like it a lot, looks great!

[Paper Kosmonaut]

Great idea! I already was tinkering with ideas to do the same in paper with a Mossie. I just couldn't get the wings right. The Meteor was obviously too small and the wingspan on a Mossie looked ridiculous. When I placed the Meteor wings - enlarged - further back, the whole Mosquito shape was gone. Scale-o-rama stuff has been coming into mind but. I. never. thought. of. the. Canberra. I was too focused on contemporaries of the Mosquito and the Meteor. Silly. Those B-57 wings give the Mosquito the right weight and appearance. Wonderful idea and nicely done! It all looks very natural.

[NARSES2]

....... with Revell box scale (1/80?) Martin B57 wings.

AhAH! THAT'S why they look so right. 

I was thinking 'They're Canberra wings and engines, but surely they'd be far too big for a Mossie, so where's he cut and shut them?'

Of course you didn't, which is why they look so right, super job there.

Absolutely. Fantastic thinking outside of the box, or in this case, in the box scale  .

Well done mate 

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.

I have in my stash a pair of Il 28 Nacelles which could possibly be used for something like this.  IIRC the engines were Nene(?) copies anyway plus they contain undercarriage bays.  They are earmarked for a Rotodyne* but maybe would be better on a jet Beaufighter?

*because they are not noisy enough already.

[Old Wombat]

 

[Paper Kosmonaut]

They are earmarked for a Rotodyne*

I see what you did there (-;


I think those nacelles might do fine. And since the Beau flew up to 1960, I think it's worth a try.

[zenrat]

Problem with a jet Beau would be getting the main undercarriage far enough back in the wing to allow a tricycle undercarriage to work.  It was hard enough on a Mosquito (nose and the fronts of the nacelles are full of lead) let alone on the more snub nosed Bristol.

[darthspud2]

very nice build and a great idea well executed.

[PR19_Kit]

Problem with a jet Beau would be getting the main undercarriage far enough back in the wing to allow a tricycle undercarriage to work.  It was hard enough on a Mosquito (nose and the fronts of the nacelles are full of lead) let alone on the more snub nosed Bristol.

Any aircraft can be improved by fitting a longer nose................ 

[Dizzyfugu]

Interesting combo, but works well. I esp. like the short Canberra-esque stance of the new tricycle landing gear.

[Leading Observer]

Nice work 

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.