"The last flight.." Matchbox 1/72 Mosquito B.Mk.IX

[wappynutter]

Okay so this is my final reveal guys.... As always thanks for taking a look.
Those who have followed the build will know i put a lot of "Extra" effort into trying to keep up with all the "Newer" better quality larger Tamiya kits.
I hope the effort paid off, and the final images portray the build as more than just a 1976 Matchbox childs kit..

Now while building, like most, i took a lot of time to research and study my chosen subject. I did this with this kit and also the chosen registration i was going to portray too.....

I thought that as a kind of memorial, and out of respect i would share a little of the chosen Mosquito's valiant past, and subsequently its sad passing..
We learn an awful lot from the great sacrifices those brave souls gave for us to be here today..

A short passage from a biography of a Mosquito pilot...

On the 2nd (March 1944) ... saw a milestone in 105 Squadron operations =, with the first operation using the new B.XVI 'high-altitude' Mosquito ... For the operation, six Mosquito crews, four from 105 and two from 109 ... were led by W/C H.J. Butch Cundall and his navigator S/L I.F Tamango. They were to attempt to ground-mark an aircraft assembly plant of SNCA du Nord, at Meulan-Les Mureaux, about 15 miles north-west of Paris. The plant, which originally turned out Potez aircraft for the French, has since occupation produced 15 Messerschmitt Me108s each month, as well as components for Bf 109s and ... Do24s. The plan was that the Mosquitos would drop red and green long-burning TIs for a force of following Halifaxes... The leader had taken his new aircraft ... for a ... height test ... and a 40-minute navigation flight test ... during the day to ensure the Oboe set was operating in conjunction with the ground stations. The operation opene with their Oboe run at 03.05 hours but, much to their dismay, there was a complete failure to 'cope', which the crew put down to ground station 'fingers'. Consequently, five minutes later than expected, two 109 Squadron aircraft ... started the innings, each dropping four long-burning red TIs. Trouble dogged 105's S/L L.F Austin DFC with S/L C.F. Westerman DFC ... and F/L D.C. Dixon with F/L W.A. Christensen ... who failed to 'cope'. Consequently, neither dropped their four green long-burning TIs.
The 105 Squadron side was nevertheless kept up by the reserve aircraft ML913:E, when Wolstenholme and F/L V.E.R. Piper dropped four red long-burning TIs at 03.18 hours before returning to land at 04.33 hours. The raid was nevertheless successful... The temperamental nature of the Oboe equipment showed up further on the 5th when two of each of 105 and 109 squadrons were to mark Duisburg for three Mosquitos carrying 4,000lb 'blockbusters' ... The same target was attacked the next night. Three of 105's Mosquitos went out and ML913:E, flown by F/L Wolstenholme, sustained flak damage to the starboard undercarriage door and starboard flap. He returned safely nevertheless.

(Cited from: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/s ... clnk&gl=uk)

ML913's final mission was logged....

Mosquito IX (ML913 GB-E) on a mission to Scholven, Gelsenkirchen on 1944-07-06

On Wednesday, 05 July 1944, (a part of) the aircraft of the 105 squadron (RAF), took off for a mission to Scholven, Gelsenkirchen in Germany from a station (airfield) in or near Bourn.
One of the crew members was Flying Officer G K Whiffen. He departed for his mission at 23:39.
He flew with a Mosquito (type IX, with serial ML913 and code GB-E). His mission and of the other crew members was planned for Thursday, 06 July 1944.

..and the records list...

What happened to ML913.....

Date: 06-JUL-1944
Time:
Type: de Havilland Mosquito B.Mk.IX
Owner/operator: 105 Sqn RAF
Registration: ML913
C/n / msn:
Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: North Sea - * United Kingdom
Phase: En route
Nature: Military
Departure airport: RAF Bourn, Cambridgeshire
Destination airport:
Narrative:
His Mosquito IX ML913 GB-E had taken off 23.39 hrs (5 July) from Bourn for an operation against Scholven-Buer; Mosquito lost without a trace

Crew:
F/Lt (81668.) George Kenneth WHIFFEN (pilot) RAFVR - killed
F/O (155.999.) Douglas Knight WILLIAMS DFC (obs) RAFVR - killed

God bless these Airmen..

I'd like to think my build represents (Pilot) Whiffen and (Obs) Williams as they prepare to leave... never to return...

105 Sqn RAF Motto.... Fortis in proeliis ('Valiant in battles').
Thanks for taking the time to read...

#Lots of pictures to follow... Sorry Guys..#





















































































I obviously have many, many more pictures but i think the chosen batch about portray the look i was after.
Thanks Nige for letting me in with such a cheap, old piece of Matchbox tat. Hopefully i managed to do both the SiG and the Mosquito proud... Also not forgetting all those valiant and heroic Pilots and crew who took to the skies 70+ years ago in Britain's Wooden wonder.
Thanks Guys for your continued support throughout this project.
As always, take care, stay safe and well.... Looking forward to seeing some of you guys at Telford in a week or so..
Happy Modelling...

[Kingdan]

Awesome chubs like it a lot

[Nige201980]

Bloody brilliant Andy you have really done a cracking job on the old girl mate really enjoyed the build and the the end prouduct.

Thanks for taking part Andy.

[kruno59]

fantastic mate

[Paul]

Great work Andy, well done for finishing

[Skullfish]

very nice, i would be proud to have that in my display. Gratz on a fantastic finish.
Jase

[AtomicAndy]

Beautiful build.

[wappynutter]

Awesome chubs like it a lot

Glad you liking it Dude.....
Not bad for these chunky paws eh?
Thanks Bro,

Bloody brilliant Andy you have really done a cracking job on the old girl mate really enjoyed the build and the the end prouduct.

Thanks for taking part Andy.

Thanks Nige, greatly appreciated mate..
Good of you to honour the "Wooden Wonder" with a SiG, and for the guys to let you host here on ISM..
All the best mate..

fantastic mate

Thanks Kruno, much appreciated mate.
She turned out real well for an old girl..
All the best..

Great work Andy, well done for finishing

Thanks Paul, really appreciate you taking a look mate, means a lot.
Will drop by and say "Hi" with the Bro Dan at Telford next week... Good luck.
See you then mate..

very nice, i would be proud to have that in my display. Gratz on a fantastic finish.
Jase

Thanks Jase, appreciate the kind comments bud..
I am real proud of what i achieved with this small, poor kit. For a near 40 year old kit she still made a fitting display piece.
Also this is only my 3rd Aero-thingy since returning to the hobby so it makes it even more special to me..
Thanks again mate...
All the best..

Beautiful build.

Thanks Andy, greatly appreciate you taking a look and leaving such kind comments..
All the best...


Thanks again Guys, keep having fun.... Model Happy..

[rodrant]

Cracking job buddy ! Real nice build , and love the base and all the small details , really great , be proud of your Mossie !!! :-D

[shasmalcaor]

For starting with such an old model it looks brilliant.
Lots of extra details make it really shine and I love the base as well.

[felisbarcinonensis]

Great dio!!! So cool!!

[Willem]

Great history and build. Well done mate.

[wappynutter]

Cracking job buddy ! Real nice build , and love the base and all the small details , really great , be proud of your Mossie !!! :-D

Hahaha... Thanks António,Glad you like my finished Mossie.... and Yes Sir, very proud of how the old girl turned out if i'm honest..
This has been a very cool SiG to have been involved in, glad to have been given the chance to participate.
Thanks again bud, greatly appreciated..
All the best..

For starting with such an old model it looks brilliant.
Lots of extra details make it really shine and I love the base as well.

Thanks Andrew, much appreciated mate. I was a little worried at first when all the guys started building their Bigger, more detailed Tamiya and Revell kits but i think i managed to hold my own.. lol..
Thanks again bud..
All the best..

Great dio!!! So cool!!

Hey Felis, thanks buddy, greatly appreciated.
Hahaha..... my patch of grass is nothing next to your "Destroyed Bank" for your Kelly's Heroes GB... lol... Now that was Great!.. lol..
Thanks again Sir for the positive ego boosting comments, glad you enjoyed the build.
Stay safe and keep well...

Great history and build. Well done mate.

Hey Will, thanks dude, much appreciated...
.... and i spotted you in my Youtube video comments of the same build..
I'll go see about thanking the viewers over there now i have some free time..
As always, take care and Model Happy...