Verlinden 1/48 Sea Mosquito TR.33 Conversion By Michael Benolkin

Background

During the latter part of the Second World War, the de Havilland Mosquito would become one of several RAF aircraft adapted for carrier duties. This particular adaptation required the installation of an improved propeller, radar, folding wings, enlarged elevators, beefed-up landing gear, and (of course) a tail hook. In order to get this beast off the deck of the Royal Navy's carriers, especially with a torpedo or other heavy weapons, the aircraft was also fitted with mounts for Rocket-Assisted Take-Off (RATO) bottles. Hmm, that's just what I want attached to my plywood aircraft, rocket motors...

The Detail Set

The Verlinden set is designed for the Tamiya 1/48 Mosquito and is molded in their usual light tan resin and stunning photo-etched parts. As described above, the set provides new spinners with wide-chord, four-bladed propellers, new landing gear struts and wheels, new elevators, your choice of two radomes for the nose, the RATO bottles and mounts, the wingfold mechanism, tailhook, and even a torpedo. I really do like the multi-dimensional photo-etched parts that are produced by this manufacturer.

Conclusions

If you're experienced in working with photo-etch and resin detail parts, this conversion should be no problem for you at all. The process appears to be very straightforward and should be free of surprises.

If you have a spare Mosquito kit sitting in your closet, or your local hobby establishment has one on sale, grab this set and go for it!