In Box Review of Monogram-Mattel 1/4th Scale
British DeHavilland "Mosquito"
Kit no. 6849
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1966
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1966
HISTORY:
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito is a British twin-engine shoulder-winged multi-role combat aircraft, introduced during the Second World War, unusual in that its frame is constructed mostly of wood.
It was nicknamed The Wooden Wonder, or "Mossie". Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of Aircraft Production, nicknamed it "Freeman's Folly", alluding to Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfred Freeman, who defended Geoffrey de Havilland and his design concept against orders to scrap the project.
In 1941 it was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world.
Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito's use evolved during the war into many roles, including low to medium-altitude daytime tactical bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike aircraft.
It was also used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a fast transport to carry small, high-value cargoes to and from neutral countries through enemy-controlled airspace.
The crew of two, pilot and navigator, sat side by side. A single passenger could ride in the aircraft's bomb bay when necessary.
The Mosquito FBVI was often flown in special raids, such as Operation Jericho – an attack on Amiens Prison in early 1944, and precision attacks against military intelligence, security and police facilities (such as Gestapo headquarters).
On the 10th anniversary of the Nazis' seizure of power in 1943, a morning Mosquito attack knocked out the main Berlin broadcasting station while Hermann Göring was speaking, putting his speech off the air.
The Mosquito flew with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and other air forces in the European, Mediterranean and Italian theaters.
The Mosquito was also operated by the RAF in the South East Asian theater and by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) based in the Halmaheras and Borneo during the Pacific War.
During the 1950's, the RAF replaced the Mosquito with the jet-powered English Electric Canberra.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 2: pilot, navigator/radar operator
Length: 41 ft 2 in (12.55 m)
Wingspan: 54 ft 2 in (16.52 m)
Height: 17 ft 5 in (5.3 m)
Wing area: 454 ft2 (42.18 m2)
Empty weight: 13,356 lb (6,058 kg)
Loaded weight: 17,700 lb (8,028 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 18,649 lb (8,549 kg)
Power plant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Merlin 21/21 or 23/23 (left/right) liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,480 hp (21 & 23) (1,103 kW) each
Maximum speed: 318 kn (366 mph (589 km/h)) at 21,400 ft (6,500 m)[202]
Range: 782 nmi (900 mi (1,400 km)) with 410 gal (1,864-liter) fuel load at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
Service ceiling: 29,000 ft (8,839 m)
Rate of climb: 1,740 ft/min (8.8 m/s)
Wing loading: 39.9 lb/ft2 (195 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.189 hp/lb (311 W/kg)
Armament: Guns: 4 × 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk II cannon (fuselage) and 4 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns (nose)
Avionics: AI Mk IV or Mk V radar (NF variants)
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito is a British twin-engine shoulder-winged multi-role combat aircraft, introduced during the Second World War, unusual in that its frame is constructed mostly of wood.
It was nicknamed The Wooden Wonder, or "Mossie". Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of Aircraft Production, nicknamed it "Freeman's Folly", alluding to Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfred Freeman, who defended Geoffrey de Havilland and his design concept against orders to scrap the project.
In 1941 it was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world.
Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito's use evolved during the war into many roles, including low to medium-altitude daytime tactical bomber, high-altitude night bomber, pathfinder, day or night fighter, fighter-bomber, intruder, maritime strike aircraft.
It was also used by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as a fast transport to carry small, high-value cargoes to and from neutral countries through enemy-controlled airspace.
The crew of two, pilot and navigator, sat side by side. A single passenger could ride in the aircraft's bomb bay when necessary.
The Mosquito FBVI was often flown in special raids, such as Operation Jericho – an attack on Amiens Prison in early 1944, and precision attacks against military intelligence, security and police facilities (such as Gestapo headquarters).
On the 10th anniversary of the Nazis' seizure of power in 1943, a morning Mosquito attack knocked out the main Berlin broadcasting station while Hermann Göring was speaking, putting his speech off the air.
The Mosquito flew with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and other air forces in the European, Mediterranean and Italian theaters.
The Mosquito was also operated by the RAF in the South East Asian theater and by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) based in the Halmaheras and Borneo during the Pacific War.
During the 1950's, the RAF replaced the Mosquito with the jet-powered English Electric Canberra.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: 2: pilot, navigator/radar operator
Length: 41 ft 2 in (12.55 m)
Wingspan: 54 ft 2 in (16.52 m)
Height: 17 ft 5 in (5.3 m)
Wing area: 454 ft2 (42.18 m2)
Empty weight: 13,356 lb (6,058 kg)
Loaded weight: 17,700 lb (8,028 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 18,649 lb (8,549 kg)
Power plant: 2 × Rolls-Royce Merlin 21/21 or 23/23 (left/right) liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,480 hp (21 & 23) (1,103 kW) each
Maximum speed: 318 kn (366 mph (589 km/h)) at 21,400 ft (6,500 m)[202]
Range: 782 nmi (900 mi (1,400 km)) with 410 gal (1,864-liter) fuel load at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
Service ceiling: 29,000 ft (8,839 m)
Rate of climb: 1,740 ft/min (8.8 m/s)
Wing loading: 39.9 lb/ft2 (195 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.189 hp/lb (311 W/kg)
Armament: Guns: 4 × 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk II cannon (fuselage) and 4 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns (nose)
Avionics: AI Mk IV or Mk V radar (NF variants)
THE KIT:
Monogram is an old prolific model company that in the 60's was based in Morton Grove, IL. At that time they were a subsidiary of the Mattel Toy Co.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows 2 Mosquitos bombing a factory.
Both are Mk. IV day-bomber variants. They both are in a wave-pattern of brown and dark-green over light-grey under-carriages.
The nearest Mosquito has a white fuselage code of K roundel GB and white spinners .
The 2nd Mosquito has white fuselage code of E roundel GB.
One corner of the box art says "Assemble in a choice of 4 different authentic versions, in flying or landing position".
Another corner has a white circle with "FITS FLIGHT-STICK" On it.
One side panel begins with a color head-on illustration of a Mosquito, followed by a one-paragraph history of the Mosquito, over the copyright date of 1966 for this kit and Monogram's address in Morton Grove, IL. Printing done in USA.
Monogram is an old prolific model company that in the 60's was based in Morton Grove, IL. At that time they were a subsidiary of the Mattel Toy Co.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows 2 Mosquitos bombing a factory.
Both are Mk. IV day-bomber variants. They both are in a wave-pattern of brown and dark-green over light-grey under-carriages.
The nearest Mosquito has a white fuselage code of K roundel GB and white spinners .
The 2nd Mosquito has white fuselage code of E roundel GB.
One corner of the box art says "Assemble in a choice of 4 different authentic versions, in flying or landing position".
Another corner has a white circle with "FITS FLIGHT-STICK" On it.
One side panel begins with a color head-on illustration of a Mosquito, followed by a one-paragraph history of the Mosquito, over the copyright date of 1966 for this kit and Monogram's address in Morton Grove, IL. Printing done in USA.
The other side panel says to assemble in your choice of 4 different authentic versions, followed by 4 color side-views of Mosquito's:
A NF. II version night-fighter that is overall jet black.
A F.B. VI fighter-bomber in a wave-pattern of dark-green and brown over a light-grey under-carriage, with red serial no. DD609.
A Mk. IV day-bomber in a wave-pattern of dark-green and brown over a light-grey under-carriage with white fuselage code K roundel GB (the box art scheme), followed by red serial no. DZ378
A Mosquito II night-fighter that is in a wave-pattern of dark-green and brown over a light-grey under-carriage, with white fuselage code T roundel EG and a black serial no. MM417.
Monogram, a subsidiary of Mattel address in Morton Grove, IL is again shown.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
A NF. II version night-fighter that is overall jet black.
A F.B. VI fighter-bomber in a wave-pattern of dark-green and brown over a light-grey under-carriage, with red serial no. DD609.
A Mk. IV day-bomber in a wave-pattern of dark-green and brown over a light-grey under-carriage with white fuselage code K roundel GB (the box art scheme), followed by red serial no. DZ378
A Mosquito II night-fighter that is in a wave-pattern of dark-green and brown over a light-grey under-carriage, with white fuselage code T roundel EG and a black serial no. MM417.
Monogram, a subsidiary of Mattel address in Morton Grove, IL is again shown.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do. however, have part number tabs next to the parts on them. Bad move Monogram!
There are 4 medium-grey trees and some medium-grey parts that have broken off the trees, 2 jet-black trees, a clear tree (that some parts have broken off of), the decal sheet and the instructions.
Everything is not cello bagged.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 8 1/4" x 10 1/2" page format.
Page 1 begins has black and white photos of the model made up in in the Mk.II night-intruder version, the Mk.IV bomber version, the Mk.II night-fighter version and the Mk.VI fighter-bomber version, with the history of the Mosquito over the copyright dates of 1965 & 66 and Monogram's address in Morton Grove, IL.
Page 2 begins with READ THIS BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions over the first 4 assembly steps.
Page 3 to the top of page 5 gives a grand total of 11 assembly steps. Not all are numbered.
The bottom of page 5 is painting and marking instructions.
Page 6 has a 3-view of the box art scheme (already described) and 3 side profiles of other schemes already described.
The first medium-grey tree holds: a upper wing half, one elevator's halves, landing-gear legs, air intakes, hinges, pilot figure's left arm etc. (22 parts)
There are 4 medium-grey trees and some medium-grey parts that have broken off the trees, 2 jet-black trees, a clear tree (that some parts have broken off of), the decal sheet and the instructions.
Everything is not cello bagged.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 8 1/4" x 10 1/2" page format.
Page 1 begins has black and white photos of the model made up in in the Mk.II night-intruder version, the Mk.IV bomber version, the Mk.II night-fighter version and the Mk.VI fighter-bomber version, with the history of the Mosquito over the copyright dates of 1965 & 66 and Monogram's address in Morton Grove, IL.
Page 2 begins with READ THIS BEFORE YOU BEGIN instructions over the first 4 assembly steps.
Page 3 to the top of page 5 gives a grand total of 11 assembly steps. Not all are numbered.
The bottom of page 5 is painting and marking instructions.
Page 6 has a 3-view of the box art scheme (already described) and 3 side profiles of other schemes already described.
The first medium-grey tree holds: a upper wing half, one elevator's halves, landing-gear legs, air intakes, hinges, pilot figure's left arm etc. (22 parts)
The second medium-grey tree holds: the other upper wing's half, another pilot figure, fuselage, gear doors and main wheel rear fenders (10 parts)
The third medium-grey tree holds: a lower wing half and slipper tanks (5 parts)
The fourth medium-grey tree holds: the other lower wing half, spinners (5 parts)
Medium-grey parts that have broken off the trees are: the fuselage nose, other elevator halves, gear compartment door, 3 clear cockpit canopy sections.
The clear tree holds the fuselage nose and light lenses (12 parts)
The first jet-black tree holds: the cockpit floor, main wheels, dashboard, consoles, bombs, joy stick, tail wheel, machine guns etc. (44 parts)
The second jet-black tree holds: rockets, seats, propellers etc. (20 parts)
A Science Program flyer is included in the box.
The Sky Stick Flight Simulator flyer is also in the kit.
The last item is the kit decals for the versions above.
The kit has minimal engraved detail. Flaps are all molded solid.
Recommended.