de Havilland Mosquito B.IV released

[jankees]

with all this talk of racer Mossie, I thought I'd roll one out of the painting shed too..

VH-KLG was meant to participate in the 1953 London to Christchurch race, but disaster struck on the way to London, when the pilots, Aubrey "Titus" Oates DFC and Douglas Swain DFC, ran out of fuel over the Bay of Bengal, and were forced to ditch.

I still need to work a bit on the shine, and maybe make her a bit lighter red, what do you think?
and the Spartans were on my shopping list too, but first xmas with my parents, see you later!
As for #81, the dark one was blue, and the light one white with maroon engines I believe.

 

[Bomber_12th]

I've downloaded your repaint Paul and I'm really looking forward to seeing it in FSX!

Another point I thought I'd bring up about the Mosquito, in-case it isn't very well known, is that the pilot (nor any other occupant) cannot start the aircraft by himself from within the cockpit like most aircraft. Unlike most aircraft (including most warbirds), you'll notice that the Mosquito cockpit is void of any priming pumps for either engine. Instead, there is a primer located in each nacelle, just aft of the engines, requiring a person on the outside of the aircraft, helping to get each engine started. As Kermit Weeks stated recently, "After initially priming the engine, the unfortunate soul then has to continue to stand below the flaming exhaust stacks while squirting fuel into the engine until it will run on its own!"

In this first part of a two-part video on Youtube (of Kermit Weeks' Mosquito back in the 80's), you can see this taking place, with an individual on the outside of the aircraft braving the blast of the hot exhaust to prime the engines before and through starting.

Unlike the fighter variant that Jerry Yagen's FB.26 Mosquito KA114 is, the cockpit configuration (and windscreen) on Kermit Weeks' bomber variant B.35 Mosquito is closer to that of the cockpit/windscreen on the B.IV. These are some recent photos of the cockpit that were posted by Kermit Weeks back in November. With the exception of the easy to recognize 'modern' avionics, added on, the remainder of the cockpit remains stock.

 

[Bomber_12th]

Also, this was just posted to Youtube only yesterday - an absolutely brilliant film from an air-to-air photo shoot with Jerry Yagen's Mosquito KA114, done by the talented Scott Slocum.

 

[Daveroo]

Also, this was just posted to Youtube only yesterday - an absolutely brilliant film from an air-to-air photo shoot with Jerry Yagen's Mosquito KA114, done by the talented Scott Slocum.

John yer to much man :salute:...you come up with some of the best details....the stuff i like to know,and share with my airplane pals here at home.and thanks for posting the "kermie cam" videos here at SOH....my folks ( yes my mother likes aircraft as well) and i enjoy watching them on tv in the afternoon...i love directv for the fact you can watch any youtube video on your tv ...cool

 

[PRB]

Wow, awesome videos John. What a beautiful airplane that Mosquito is. I found it interesting that at times the pilot was using both hands on the stick, usually while in a turn. Was the Mosquito heavy on the controls at such times? Good stuff.

- Paul

 

[stovall]

Great video, I was browsing YouTube yesterday myself and ran across the, completely inside the cockpit, YouTube version of this wonderful restored Mosquito. The sounds are fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

 

[PRB]

This one?

 

[jetstreamsky]

......... I found it interesting that at times the pilot was using both hands on the stick, usually while in a turn. Was the Mosquito heavy on the controls at such times?

- Paul

I think he's ensuring no unintended inputs at that very low altitude, it's a relatively long wing moving fast a nasty bump might cause a turn in at a very inopportune moment. Higher up, he's using just one hand in a turn, although it was a gentle one.

 

[PRB]

I think he's ensuring no unintended inputs at that very low altitude, it's a relatively long wing moving fast a nasty bump might cause a turn in at a very inopportune moment. Higher up, he's using just one hand in a turn, although it was a gentle one.

Rgr, makes sense. After watching the "all in the cockpit" video, damn! We really need the next version of Accu-Feel to have prop synchronization sounds. "Whum-whum-whum-whuuuuum-whuuuuuuuum". Love that!

- Paul

 

[Bomber_12th]

Here are some more Mossie videos, if anyone is interested, though these have been up on Youtube for quite some time (a documentary that dates back to the early-mid 90's). Included is footage of the old BAE Mosquito, much of it from the cockpit, which was operated in England until its very sad demise in 1996, which also took the lives of its crew. Until Jerry Yagen's Mosquito took flight back in late September, it had been 16 years since a Mosquito had been flown.

The footage from the BAE Mosquito is seen in parts 1 and 4 of the documentary. There is more one-handed and two-handed flying illustrated. Pilots that fly Mustangs, Spitfires, Hurricanes, and other warbirds in single-routine displays mention (and have shown via cockpit footage) that they will at times use both hands on the stick for rolling maneuvers, especially if they want it to be very crisp (such as 4-point and 8-point rolls). When flying in formation, and especially in formation during a display, using both hands is not possible as one hand always needs to be on the throttle at all times. I also agree with what JetStreamSky states - I'd call it an added insurance that the aircraft won't 'slip' past the point the pilot wants the aircraft to reach.

Here are Parts 1 and 4 in-case you just would like to see the footage of the BAE Mosquito.
For Parts 2 and 3 you can find them here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQn2shAH4sE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXjnOCx_MYA

 

[Ian Warren]

Thanks for posting the links John , very interesting viewing the construction process and to see footage of Squadron Commander of 105 Sqn John Wooldridge and mention of the Amiens raid which the New Zealand 487 squadron was involved . <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><input jscode="leoInternalChangeDone()" onclick="if(typeof(jsCall)=='function'){jsCall();}else{setTimeout('jsCall()',500);}" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

[stovall]

This one?

That is the one Paul. Pretty cool stuff.

 

[AussieMan]

Here's what I have- I wish they were color:

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I still don't remember where I found these- perhaps I'll snoop around the air racing sites to see what I can find...

-Mike Z.

Mike in the book I have on the Mosquito this aircraft was painted in a royal/deep blue colour and the panel is eith silver or wite and the spinners appear to be white also. The other one you show appears to be white overall and the engines forward of the wing seem to be in the blue colour I have previously mentioned again with the silver/white panel and white spinners. Perhaps if time permits I might try to knock out these for you.

 

[Bomber_12th]

Here's a little photo set with Paul's superb repaint, flying up in the frigid north.

 

[mikezola]

Hello Again-

Jankees, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing VH-KLG once you've finished it...

AussieMan, it would be great to see those paint schemes, if you're inclined to do so and have the time...

-Mike Z.

 

[NSS]

Time to reinstall FSX and get me a Mosquito.

Kev

 

[shaggy]

Hey guys.

This is a little repaint im working on and i just wanted to check your interest in it. I really think the Rescue scheme suits the mossie. Imagine a search light, an IR sight and maybe a weather radar on this little racer. I have an intention to repaint the 500lb bomb so it would look like an rescue capsule casing an life raft. So you could drop it to the ones who are in need of beeing rescued.

I have no idea of what registration to put on there, so suggestions are welcomed.
Also as you can see I have left the wings dirty and the fuselage clean and personally I like it a bit dirty , but what do you guys think.. Clean or dirty textures for the mossie?

And some screens
have a nice day!

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[AussieMan]

Here's what I have- I wish they were color:

View attachment 77847View attachment 77848View attachment 77849View attachment 77850View attachment 77851View attachment 77852View attachment 77853

I still don't remember where I found these- perhaps I'll snoop around the air racing sites to see what I can find...

-Mike Z.

I am working on these at the moment and was wondering if anyone knew what was written on the nose of the blue and the white aircraft. Also what that little emblem is behind the #81 on the fuselage. All help appreciated.

 

[fleurdelys]

Hey guys.

This is a little repaint im working on and i just wanted to check your interest in it. I really think the Rescue scheme suits the mossie. Imagine a search light, an IR sight and maybe a weather radar on this little racer. I have an intention to repaint the 500lb bomb so it would look like an rescue capsule casing an life raft. So you could drop it to the ones who are in need of beeing rescued.

I have no idea of what registration to put on there, so suggestions are welcomed.
Also as you can see I have left the wings dirty and the fuselage clean and personally I like it a bit dirty , but what do you guys think.. Clean or dirty textures for the mossie?

And some screens
have a nice day!

View attachment 78050View attachment 78052View attachment 78054
View attachment 78051View attachment 78053View attachment 78055

Bonjour Shaggy,

I like your project !

Since you asked for suggestions, here goes :
- The matt texturing was good for war time planes but you should look into giving it some (lots of it) reflectity overall. This is done through the specular files on which you should apply a whitewash overall...

and don't forget the spinners which should be even more reflective...

- With added reflectivity, dust, dirt and grime would not have been able to stick so much to the fuselage and wings; you may keep the exhaust stain but go easy on the weathering as this was a plane which received good service from its crew and mechanics and would not have been left dirty such as in wartime where they didn't have the time to do some cleaning...

- what period did you have in mind ? From 1946 to 1965, it would seem that they had another roundel (see attachment) and probably also used the Red Enseign on the tail instead of the canadian flag such as seen nowadays...
Remember that the George cross on the Red enseign must always face forward... (see attachment).

- the yellow that you use appears to be on the light side; I seem to remember that canadian planes (in yellow and red) had a darker hue of yellow (see pic and find some more on the net to make up your mind...).

Hope that this will get you going. Looking forward to the finished product !

Fleurdelys

 

[Tako_Kichi]

- what period did you have in mind ? From 1946 to 1965, it would seem that they had another roundel (see attachment) and probably also used the Red Enseign on the tail instead of the canadian flag such as seen nowadays...

The 'Maple Leaf' Canadian flag was introduced in February 1965. Prior to that they used the Union Jack or the Red Ensign.