1:72 Mosquito PR Mk.XVI (For Special Hobby Kits)

Mosquito PR Mk.XVI in 1:72 scale, photo-etched parts

A set of photo-etched metal parts for a model of the de Havilland Mosquito in the PR Mk.XVI version in 1:72 scale. It is meant for the Special Hobby kit.

The real subject

The Mosquito was a British twin-engine aircraft with a largely wooden airframe, which gave it a lightness and a speed nobody could match for a long time. The PR version served for photographic reconnaissance: instead of armament it carried cameras and flew high and fast, because height and speed were its defense. The Mk.XVI also had a pressurized cabin, thanks to which the crew could stay at altitudes most fighters could not reach. Power comes from two V12 Merlin engines.

What etched parts can do on a model

In 1:72 scale every plastic part is at the limit of what a mold allows. Etched metal moves that limit: the instrument panel, the belts, consoles, radiator grilles and small covers get a thickness that matches reality, and the edges stay sharp even after painting.

Building tips

• Cut the parts off the fret with a sharp blade on a hard surface; do not snap them off.
• Make the bends in a bending tool or between two blades, holding small parts with tweezers.
• Degrease the metal before gluing, or neither paint nor glue will hold.
• Glue with super glue or two-part epoxy; cement for plastic will not join metal.
• Cut the original plastic detail away first and sand the area, so that the etched part beds without a gap.

Who it is for

For builders who want to see something other than smooth plastic in the cockpit even in a small scale. The scope of the package and the number of parts are stated by the manufacturer in the instructions.

The aircraft kit, paints and glue are not included in the set, unless stated otherwise.