Revell De Havilland Mosquito B Mk.IV

Robert W Martel
Well, I bought this kit because several of the online reviews led me to believe it is that much better than the older Tamiya kit (which I already have). That's Highly debatable !! This kit has great detail, but I think the Tamiya detail is just a bit crisper,,, not by much,,, just a bit. The Tamiya glass is definitely crisper!!
What this kit has that the Tamiya doesn't have is full moveable control surfaces, a much nicer decal sheet, and of course a higher parts count! It also has (2) engines that can be displayed if so desired, although they are pretty basic.
The reviews told of 3 major discrepancies.
1) the landing gear,,,, one review said they were too short, another said they were too long! Compared to the Tamiya they are SHORTER,,, AND the angle of the supports is totally different. I have no idea which is CORRECT.
2) the tires,,,, again larger of smaller,,,, they look nearly the same to me. I didn't unbag them and stand them side by side, but comparing them in the bags they look pretty much the same, not a noticeable difference.
3) the spinner,,,, they are a bit "bulbous",,,, more rounded than the Tamiya. although in most pictures I see they aren't very "Pointy" either.
What I like better in this kit is the control surfaces, the decals, and the engines (Tamiya has NONE).
I think it will build into a fine Mosquito, Bulbous spinners and all! So I guess I'll be selling the Tamiya kit !!

Es-haq Khosravi
Thank you for the short and useful review!

Robert W Martel
Essi,
You're welcome mate! Glad someone gets some useful info from it. I do like the kit, and the price is relatively reasonable. It should build pretty nice!

Dave Flitton
With the higher parts count, do you think the build will be harder or easier?

Robert W Martel
Hi Dave,
The Revell kit will definitely take more time. There's just more to deal with. All the control surfaces, including flaps, ailerons, stabilizers & rudder, engines if you choose to install them.
Shouldn't really be "harder", the Tamiya kit would be quicker. The reviews are good, so I don't see any major issues with it, but I guess the proof will be in the building !! I won't get to it for some time yet I'm sure! I'm just thinking I'll like the poseable control surfaces, and the displayable engines, it should look a bit nicer ???, but I haven't done one like that yet.
If you don't care about molded on control surfaces & no engines, the Tamiya kit is still a very nice kit, very nice details. Also the Tamiya kit has crew figures, the Revell doesn't. Cheers!

Kerry COX
Robert, from the images you have posted, I am not seeing any 'flash', or am I wrong. ? Also, have you had a chance to see how the plastic it is made from responds to being 'worked'. ? As I have always had their plastics want to splinter and shatter. 🙁
The future posts of your build will be eagerly awaited mate.
Also, was the kit produced in the USA or Europe,? as I have found that the Euro kits are the ones that have a different plastic, harder and brittle. 🙂

Robert W Martel
You're right Kerry, I didn't see any flash either. The detail is very nice. I didn't really check out the plastic much, it is an RoG kit, made in Poland. The parts were in 2 bags, one smaller one w/sprues inside another w/sprues. All the parts were on the trees, nothing had come loose or broken. Not a lot of extra room in the box for things to slam around. A good thing.
It actually looks pretty nice to me. I liked the extra control surfaces & optional engines.
Hopefully soon I'll be confident enough to start building the nicer kits. The weather has warmed up & I'm just getting back in the groove, so to speak!

Kerry COX
Groovy baby. !!! 🙂
All up, it looks, from your posted images, something I could easily set on my bench and while away a bit of time with. 👍
Will you be tackling things like brake lines and hydraulic lines. ?
The engine access sounds really special too. 👍
I will be watching with keen interest Rob. 🙂
Have fun. 👍

Robert W Martel
Well,,,,,,,,, You know Kerry, I really would like to be able to do all that super detailing stuff, and it is a nice kit and would be worthy of the extra effort, but when it comes down to it and it's hanging from my ceiling, you wont really see it anyway! And all the "extras" weathering, washes etc., take so much more time, never mind adding "super detail". I'm just slow I guess.
I'm looking at the AC-130 I'm doing now, it's really not the greatest of kits. I'm detailing the cockpit, inside the cargo bay, just a bit of wash & dry brushing, and it all seems just a waste of time, it wont be seen! I could build them so much faster if I didn't bother with all that. As a matter of fact I've thought about not even painting them! lol Well......that wouldn't be any good,,,,, just give them a good paint job and let that be that! ,,,,,, there's just so many I want to build, at the speed I'm going I won't get to half of them! I'm thinking I should concentrate more on the Outside that's seen, and not bother with the Inside stuff that wont be noticed! As long as it looks good from 3 or 4 feet away I should be happy with it! Close up micro detail,,, well,,,
So as far as adding brake hoses and all that,,,,, well we'll just have to see when I graduate myself to the better kits. I'm just going to try to stick to basic "detailing" washes, dry brush etc, for now. I'm having hard enough time with all that, so far it just hasn't turned out quite like I want it to, although I gotta say I have improved somewhat. Just gotta keep plugging away at it!
I do have one kit, the 1/32 Trumpy F-8F Bearcat that I bought all the Eduard goodies for. We'll see, maybe when I start doing the nicer kits I'll change my mind (I do that a lot). But the ones I've been doing so far just don't seem worth the extra effort.
I've just started again painting as the weather is warming up. I have 3 kits prepped, ready to paint. I'm kinda hoping I'm gonna hit that sweet spot pretty soon!! lol
Maybe (well,,, probably) I just haven't figured out the best way to go about things yet. What to do first,,, and how to be better organized as to the processes to make the best use of my time.
But I better hurry the F up !! huh. lol
Cheers Kerry!

Kerry COX
All that said Robert, I am in complete agreement when it comes to getting a quick but worthwhile job done. 👍 🙂
I always wondered why I did the extra bits I did, knowing that it would never see the light of day, but, I still get a kick out of telling folks 'just what's in there' LOL.
But you must admit that it iS a lot of fun. 🙂
64 photo albums by your hands don't lie. 🙂 🙂 🙂
I like your work mate. 👍

Robert W Martel
LOL Thanks Kerry, I do admit it is fun even if no one sees it, and it's just practice for better builds to come,,,,, Hopefully !!

Eugen P.
I built it. It has some goofs, but in the summary it is okay for the price. But the spinner are absolutley out of the form. They must get a processing with Sandpaper.

Clifford Keesler
I have heard it is not a bad kit. Where did you get it from Robert? If you don't mind me asking.

Robert W Martel
Clifford, I got it on ebay from a guy in Canada (warmodel). He had the cheapest price including shipping, and a "Make Offer" option. I've bought a few kits from him. He packages them well in a good stiff box, so far they've arrived undamaged!
Thanks Eugen, maybe I'll keep the Tamy kit and use those spinners !!

Kerry COX
Improvise and adapt. I love it. 🙂 👍

Robert W Martel
Kerry,
RIGHT!! We'll make it fit! Get a bigger hammer! lol Maybe I can "work" them into a more pointy shape, depends on how thick the plastic is, eh?

Kerry COX
Your going to have fun, of that there is NO doubt. LOL 🙂