1:48 de Havilland Mosquito National Markings - Typical from 1942 to early January 1945)

de Havilland Mosquito - national insignia 1942 to early January 1945, 1:48 - Aviaeology

This is a sheet of national insignia, that is, of roundels and the fin flash. They are not airframe stencil markings, tail codes or serial numbers, and the sheet does not belong to one particular machine. The manufacturer defines it as the common markings from 1942 to early January 1945. Two sibling sheets cover the later periods: ADD48C105-2 for the common markings from early 1945 to early 1947, and ADD48C105-3 for the variation of the RAF Second Tactical Air Force and the British Air Forces of Occupation in Germany from the same years. The sizes and the color layout of British roundels and fin flashes changed several times during the war, so check the period against the machine you are building.

The real subject

The de Havilland Mosquito was a British twin-engine aircraft with a load-bearing structure of bonded wood, powered by Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. It was the wood that gave it low weight and high speed, so the early versions managed without defensive armament. The Mosquito served as a fast bomber, a night fighter, a reconnaissance aircraft and a fighter-bomber for attacks on ground targets.

Application tips

Spray a gloss clear coat under the decals so that no matte edges form beneath the carrier film. Cut the motif out, soak it briefly and slide it into place with a brush. Over rivets and engraved lines a decal fixer helps, followed by a decal softener, which draws the film down into the detail. Apply the softener only once the decal sits exactly where it should, because after that it will not move. Finally seal the whole surface with varnish.

Who the sheet is for

• builds of Mosquitos from 1942 to 1944
• modelers whose markings from the box belong to another time
• builds where the roundel from the box has its printing out of register
• collectors of period British markings in 1:48 scale

This is an accessory for a model, not a kit. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.