¹⁄32

Tamiya will soon be releasing a new 1/32 De Havilland Mosquito in July/August. They provided us with all the text details and some photos.

From the Press Release:

The "Wooden Wonder" makes an appearance in highly impressive 1/32 scale! That was the nickname given to the De Havilland Mosquito series of aircraft, an ingenious and beautiful design which saw the versatile airplane made almost entirely of wood. By the late 1930s, when design work on the Mosquito started, metal was the overwhelmingly favored medium. However, the Mosquito's designer foresaw that metal would become a precious resource in the probable war ahead; what was more, his highly lightweight wooden aircraft would be able to outrun heavier metal opponents. Constructed mainly from balsa wood sandwiched between sheets of birch, the Mosquito was originally designed as a weaponless bomber; once the armed forces and designers realized that the aircraft could withstand enemy fire even if it was caught, a number of variants were produced.

The FB Mk.VI debuted in the Spring of 1943: this fighter-bomber variant packed four 7.7mm machine guns in the nose, plus four powerful 20mm auto cannons and the ability to mount four 500lb bombs. Its outstanding speed and range ensured that the FB Mk.VI was used in a range of missions, including raids on important targets and infrastructure in the German homeland. It is often said that, until the advent of the Messerschmitt Me262, the German Luftwaffe did not have an adequate response to the "Mossie."

Key Details:

• Highly-detailed cockpit, plus depiction of four machine guns complete with ammo cases and belts.
  
• Paintable tires use assembly tread sections and capture compression caused by plane weight.
  
• Choose open or closed bomb bay. 20mm auto cannons and two 500lb bomb parts are found inside.
  
• Tail wheel mud guard and strut are depicted. Left and right sides of horizontal stabilizer are part of the same piece, as on the actual aircraft.
  
• The kit includes parts to recreate propellers with the early variant slim line blades, or wider paddle type blades.
  
• Detailed 4-piece engine cowling offers a selection of standard or longer intake-fitted tropical filter parts.
  
• The Merlin engines are breathtakingly recreated, including depictions of the supercharger. Just like on the real Mosquito, the engine mount and landing gear struts are integrated.
  
• The model can be assembled with exhausts uncovered or covered.
  

Specifications

• 1/32 scale plastic model assembly kit.
  
• 515mm wingspan.
  
• This newly-tooled model was researched using real Mosquitos.
  
• The cockpit interior is realistically depicted, right down to details such as the pilot's seat cushion.
  
• The modeler is presented with a number of options, such as open or closed bomb hatch, and up or down flaps and elevators.
  
• Parts are included to depict 2 different types of propeller.
  
• Left and right wing parts are connected via spars, just as on the real aircraft. This offers precise and secure attachment.
  
• Separate parts recreate bomb bay and wing underside 500lb bombs, plus 50-gallon drop tanks.
  
• 3 figures are included, recreating seated pilot and navigator, plus a crew member boarding via ladder.
  
• Kit includes 3 marking options, plus masking stickers for use when painting the canopy.
  
• Color painting guide included.
  
• Includes a 12-page B5 size commemorative booklet including color photographs and a detailed history of the Mosquito.
  

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