1:48 Mosquito double stage Merlin - conver.set for TAM

The real subject

The Mosquito was a British twin-engine aircraft whose structure rested largely on wood. It was powered by liquid-cooled Merlin V12 engines. Later versions received the Merlin with two-stage supercharging, which gave the machine its performance back at high altitude. The change did not stay inside the nacelles: the shape of the cowlings, the layout of the radiators and the exhausts all differ, so a model with two-stage engines looks different from the earlier form.

What the set is for

It makes it possible to convert the model to the version with two-stage Merlin engines. It is intended for the Tamiya kit in 1:48 scale. What exactly the package holds and which kit parts are replaced is given in the instructions from the maker of the set. Reckon with the conversion being more than an exchange of parts: some of the kit plastic is cut away and the new parts are glued into the space that appears.

How to work with it

• the parts are not polystyrene and cement for plastic models has no effect on them, so use cyanoacrylate glue
• cut the surplus material off with a sharp blade a little way from the part and sand the remains down
• a conversion means cutting into the kit parts; take material off gradually and keep trying the fit
• wash and degrease before painting
• seat the nacelles so that both meet the wing at the same angle, otherwise the finished model will look lopsided

Who it is for

The set belongs in the hands of a builder who has done a conversion before and is not afraid of cutting into parts. The aircraft model, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.