De Havilland Mosquito B. XVI
Kit No: A04023 Scale: 1/72
Type: Injection Moulded Plastic
Manufacturer: Airfix www.airfix.com
This is a welcome release from Airfix as it seems to have been an inordinately long time since a brand new tooled, two-stage Merlin-engined Mosquito has been released, especially the final major bomber variant, the B. XVI.
Coming in at 161 parts this kit is nicely tooled with a well-appointed cockpit and detailed bomb bay and undercarriage bays. The nacelle chin intakes, along with the elongated oil cooler intakes that are the tell-tale signs, are all present, neatly moulded with easy assembly. Certain areas on this kit show some nice design ideas from Airfix , from the undercarriage legs that go together using the wings as an assembly jig, to the careful breakdown of the canopy incorporating the bulged side windows along with a clever wing spar system and excellently moulded wheels.
The panel lines and rivets, such as they are on an airframe predominantly made of wood, are exceptionally fine and sharp without appearing too deep. This is one criticism that is often levelled at new tooled Airfix kits which is not warranted here.
The beautifully printed decal sheet covers two machines:
1. No.571 Squadron, No.8 (Pathfinder) Group, Royal Air Force, Oakrington, Cambridgeshire, England, September 1944
2. No.109 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Wyton, Cambridgeshire, England 1944
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