Mosquito FB Mk.VI Engines
for Tamiya kit

1/32 scale
Eduard BRASSIN BIG SIN

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

Eduard's 1/48 BRASSIN Spitfire Vb Gun Bays are available online from Squadron.com

This Brassin double engine set for Tamiya’s 1/32 Mosquito FB Mk VI is one of the most comprehensive aftermarket kits I have seen.  I use the word ‘kit’ deliberately, because with nearly 180 resin and photo etched parts replicating two of the single-stage Merlin 22/23/25 engines fitted to FB Mk VIs, the set represents a significant project in its own right.

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Eduard’s resin castings are high quality, and I could find no imperfections in any of the parts.  They are engineered for easy cleanup and assembly, with mostly only thin strips of waste resin between the parts and their casting blocks.  For example, I was able to remove a cylinder bank from its block with a few careful swipes of my razor saw – a far cry from the (literal) blood, sweat and tears I have shed separating old school resin engines from their enormous casting blocks.

More than with most resin detailing sets, success with these engines will depend on how closely you follow the instructions.  At first glance these are daunting:  20 loose double-sided pages with a tendency to quickly get mixed up.  I found that stapling one corner of the pages together turned them into a tidy booklet that I could flick through without getting myself confused.

The instructions are laid out in Eduard’s usual manner, with clear instructions for which parts need to be assembled when.  Make sure you allow plenty of time to study the construction sequence, because the pages are busy with parts and arrows.  Some of the parts – such as the (very welcome) separate spark plugs – are small and will require careful handling.  You’ll need a supply of several thicknesses of wire for adding further detail; the instructions show where this needs to go.

Construction is modular, with sub-assemblies completed and then join together to build up layers of detail.  I will probably deviate from Eduard’s recommended order in a few cases, but only after I’m reasonably confident doing so won’t lead to problems later.

Keeping track of what parts are for which engine will be important.  Most of the parts aren’t handed, but some are.  I’d recommend separating the components of each engine into different containers at the beginning of the build.

I’ve only test fitted a few of the larger parts, but these go together positively and bode well for the overall build experience.  I will test this claim in coming weeks as I build up one of the engines, and will let you know how I go.

I can’t wait to use this set on my Tamiya Mosquito.  I don’t know yet if I will use both or just one of the engines, but either way the finished result will add further to an already gorgeous kit.  The number and complexity of the parts make this a set for modellers who are confident working with resin.  At the same time, Eduard’s excellent casting and engineering make these Merlins an ideal challenge for anyone wanting to expand their skills in this area.  And if you don’t want to tackle two engines, Eduard has released separate left and right engine sets that are otherwise identical to this set. 

References

Dave Brown, Mosquito FB.VI:  Airframe, systems and RAF wartime usage (SAM Publications, 2007).

Richard A. Franks, The de Havilland Mosquito:  A Comprehensive Guide for the Modeller (SAM Publications, 1998).

Richard A. Franks, The de Havilland Mosquito Part 2:  Fighter, Fighter-Bomber and Night-Fighter (Valiant Wings, 2017).

Thanks to Eduard for the samples and images.

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2018 by Brad Fallen
Except Blue Background CAD Images by Eduard
Page Created 12 February, 2018
Last updated 12 February, 2018

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