De Havilland Mosquito NF Mk II
Early NF II / external radar aerials
Colours used
in this example.
Build the main surfaces in light layers. Keep the quiet background softer than the aircraft.
Suggested pencil shades, not exact historical paint matches. Test colours on your paper before building richer layers.
Build dark layers lightly and retain pale grain
Keep the concentric edges neat
Use narrow tip accents
Light pressure with open highlights
Look a little closer.
Explore the details from different angles.
Comparison reference 1
Composite HJ711 reconstruction: port profile in VI-C markings. Composite Mosquito reconstruction representing NF II HJ711; assembled from several variant airframes and restored parts. Composite Mosquito reconstruction representing NF II HJ711; assembled from several variant airframes and restored parts. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK · Source · CC BY-SA 2.0Comparison reference 2
Composite HJ711 reconstruction: starboard rear quarter and camouflage boundary. Composite Mosquito reconstruction representing NF II HJ711; assembled from several variant airframes and restored parts. Composite Mosquito reconstruction representing NF II HJ711; assembled from several variant airframes and restored parts. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: Alan Wilson from Peterborough, Cambs, UK · Source · CC BY-SA 2.0Comparison reference 3
Composite HJ711 reconstruction: head-on nose gun and cannon openings. Composite Mosquito reconstruction representing NF II HJ711; assembled from several variant airframes and restored parts. Composite Mosquito reconstruction representing NF II HJ711; assembled from several variant airframes and restored parts. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom · Source · CC BY 2.0Comparison reference 4
Composite HJ711 reconstruction: nose and forward fuselage from below. Composite Mosquito reconstruction representing NF II HJ711; assembled from several variant airframes and restored parts. Composite Mosquito reconstruction representing NF II HJ711; assembled from several variant airframes and restored parts. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom · Source · CC BY 2.0Comparison reference 5
Composite HJ711 reconstruction: undercarriage and nacelle view. Composite Mosquito reconstruction representing NF II HJ711; assembled from several variant airframes and restored parts. Composite Mosquito reconstruction representing NF II HJ711; assembled from several variant airframes and restored parts. Display copy resized without cropping.
Photo: Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom · Source · CC BY 2.0Historical finishes and markings
The wartime DD609 reference documents the early NF II nose and external AI Mk IV aerials. HJ711 provides a modern green-and-grey colour reference but is a composite reconstruction. Its owner records the use of parts from several Mosquito variants and the adopted HJ711 identity.
Markings: HJ711 carries VI-C in its representative 169 Squadron scheme; Keep external early radar aerials distinct from the later nose-radome arrangement Green-and-grey upper camouflage and pale lower surfaces on reconstructed HJ711 Use monochrome wartime photographs for pattern and contrast; exact original paint shades are not established here
In the photographs
The wartime DD609 reference documents the early NF II nose and external AI Mk IV aerials. HJ711 provides a modern green-and-grey colour reference but is a composite reconstruction. Its owner records the use of parts from several Mosquito variants and the adopted HJ711 identity.
In the coloured example
This pencil interpretation uses airframe: Charcoal, Slate grey; roundels: Brick red, Navy, Cream; propellers and tips: Graphite, Muted yellow; glazing and sky: Pale blue, White. It is a creative colouring example based on the book drawing. It does not reproduce a verified individual aircraft or an exact paint standard.
Make the details count.
Use matching shading on the two nacelles.
Keep the nose aerials crisp against the camouflage with a very light surrounding tone.
Follow your curiosity.
Model history and further reading.