Catalogue No.: | CV022 - Mosquito Control Surfaces |
Scale: | 1/48 |
Media: | Resin |
Review Type: | In Package |
Rating: | Highly Recommended |
S u m m a r y |
Contents: | 10 parts cast in light grey resin |
Price: | £7.95 |
Advantages: | Flawless casting; desirable "difference" to the stock Tamiya kit; helpful instruction diagrams; separate trim tabs |
Disadvantages: | No ailerons |
Recommendation: | Recommended for anyone building a Tamiya Mosquito |
F i r s t L o o k |
Repositioning control surfaces may seems to be a relatively easy piece of "plastic surgery", but it does demand more than simply cutting a kit rudder off and gluing it back at a different angle. The flaps, rudder and ailerons on real aircraft have complex hinge joints to allow the required movement. Good references are required to determine the correct profile of these mating surfaces. Scrap styrene, putty and sandpaper are also an essential!
Or you could buy a set of after-market separate control surfaces.
Model Design Construction have expanded their line to include resin control surfaces for the Tamiya 1/48 scale Mosquito. This new set includes a rudder, elevators and four flaps. Trim tabs are supplied as separate pieces for the rudder and the elevators.
The moulded detail is at least as good as Tamiya's superb new kit. Casting is flawless, with skinny casting blocks thoughtfully positioned on hard-to-see inner face of each part. These will easily be removed using the "score and snap" method.
The instruction sheet illustrates the maximum deflection for all of the supplied parts - a helpful guide to avoid criticism by the rivet-counters at your next model club meeting!
The separate trim tabs are actually designed to be fixed at full deflection, so some trimming will be required if for any reason these parts are to be positioned at a different angle.
You will also have to thin the mating surfaces on the kit fin, horizontal stabs and wings after cutting off the kit's control surfaces. This will ensure a smooth fit for MDC's resin parts. MDC's instructions illustrate the correct profile of the hinge join. I usually use the back of a hobby knife for this job, finishing off with a fine-grade sanding stick.
The flaps dropped on either side of each engine nacelle will certainly add extra interest to the large wing surfaces, and the positionable trim tabs are a nice delicate detail touch.
This is a typically high quality offering from MDC that will help make your Tamiya Mosquito just that little bit different.
MDC products may be purchased direct through their ever-growing website at http://dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/place/gfb78/
Thanks to Model Design Construction for the review samples.
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