Popular Post Navy Bird Posted January 6, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 6, 2015 Hi mates! For the past several months I’ve been working on a model of the DAP (Department of Aircraft Production) Beaufort Mk.VIII. This is the improved version built in Australia under license from Bristol during World War II. 700 new Beauforts were built by DAP, and were used extensively in multiple roles. “Bar the Gates with Beauforts!” My model represents “Snifter,” a Mk.VIII from 32 Squadron that was used for anti-submarine patrols out of Lowood, Q, from May 1944 until the end of the war. The model is rendered in glorious Braille Scale, as all true models should be. Special thanks to Ed Russell for his help during this build. No matter how silly my questions were, he always had the answer. Thanks also to Tony O'Toole, always a source of great information. You can find the WIP here, and as usual here is my Executive Summary: Project: DAP Beaufort Mk.VIII “Snifter” Kit: Special Hobby DAP Beaufort Mk.VIII Kit No. 72027 Scale: 1:72 (The One True Scale) Decals: Snifter markings and codes from Encore kit 1010, other decals from Special Hobby kit Resin: From the kit including top turret fairing, cockpit, seats, instrument panel, engines, tailwheel strut, exhausts, spinners, carburettor intakes, Browning machine guns, and bombs; High Planes Models 72023 including YAGI aerial supports Photoetch: From the kit including all antennae, and bomb rack details; Brengun photoetch set 72059 including main gear doors, machine gun sights and details, and main landing gear details; Marabu Designs photoetch 72002 British landing lights Canopy/turret Masks: Montex set 72123 Paint: Gunze H302 FS34092 (standing in for Foliage Green), H364 Interior Grey Green (my own custom counterfeit recipe), H47 Red Brown, H414 RLM 23 Red, H34 Cream Yellow, H90 Clear Red, H94 Clear Green, H38 Steel Red; Testors 1139 Semi-Gloss Black, 1795 Gunmetal, 50160 Acrylic Flat Clear, Floquil 110100 Old Silver, Lifecolor FS 24092 Foliage Green (thanks Procopius!); Tamiya XF-69 NATO Black, Alclad Klear Kote Flat Weathering: Pastel chalks Improvements/Corrections Removed Mk.I tail and rudder from fuselage, replaced with Mk.VIII tail and rudder Removed Mk.I turret fairing and replaced with resin Mk.VIII turret fairing Detailed cockpit and interior with plastic strips to represent structural members, added photoetch instruments and plotter Added campaign map of Australia and goose neck lamp to navigator’s desk Scratch-built navigator’s swivel seat Added strip of clear plastic behind portholes to prevent them from pushing through into the fuselage Scratch-built shelves for radio gear behind pilot, radio and electrical boxes made from spare photoetch parts Drilled holes in front greenhouse and top turret for gun barrels Twin Vickers guns from new Airfix Blenheim kit added to nose, detail with Brengun photoetch Replaced kit landing gear doors with Brengun photoetch Cut out areas of wings for navigation lights and landing lights Navigation lights made from pieces of clear plastic from plastic knife; cut, sanded, and polished to proper shape Navigation lamps made by drilling small hole into the clear plastic navigation light, and painting the inside of the hole with the proper colour (clear red for port, clear green for starboard) Built up inside of engine cowlings with plastic strip to reduce its diameter and better represent the actual cowling Landing lights added from Marabu Design photoetch; landing light lens from vacuform plastic Drilled out fuel dumps Scratch-built wing fuel vents Detailed main landing gear with Brengun photoetch Detailed bombs and bomb racks with photoetch Added rear fuselage ASV antennae from photoetch; each is attached via a 0.015” hole drilled into the fuselage side Added photoetch/hypo needle pitot tube and photoetch radar transmitters to forward fuselage Added photoetch attachment points to pylons Added photoetch drift sight bracket to starboard forward fuselage Drilled holes in leading edge of wings for guns, added hypo needle tubing to represent gun barrels Added resin supports and photoetch YAGI aerials under each wing Added photoetch ammo belts and gun sight to top turret guns Added main aerial from 0.005” Nitinol wire Deployed D/F antennae modified from kit-supplied photoetch Added upward firing gun window from clear plastic sheet with painted framework, gun barrel is resin Elapsed time: 5 months! Bloody hell! On with the pictures! I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I'm enjoying moving on to another challenge! Cheers, Bill 98 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabo31 Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Hello Bill! What can I write what I can't say with words. Absolute outstanding model, superb finish of a not often seen aircraft. My respect for your work. Udo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 I'm glad that you can still make out the map. Splendid work, Bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stesca Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Simply stunning, love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod bettencourt Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Really nice build, thanks for sharing. Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philp Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Was great watching your build Bill. Stunner. I have always wanted to do a Malta based Beaufort since I read the book Torpedo Bomber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 It looks great - I'm delighted to have been of a little help and I have lined up your next challenges............... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 B****y brilliant, Bill! We mere mortals can only look on with amazement. Regards, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Laidlaw Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Crikey. You've done it again... beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winenut Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Followed the WIP along the way. The end result here is an absolute work of art......particularly to those living in the Antipodes! Congratulations Bill. Looking forward to the next project Cheers Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangor Lad Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 A brilliant build! You've achieved a great finish. Monotone paint schemes are very difficult to get right but I think you've got this spot on. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HL-10 Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Its great to see this unsung hero represented and done so very well to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Brilliant, just brilliant Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme H Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Followed this all the way, and what a beauty it is, congratulations Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Another follower here Bill. Stunning work which I'll learn a huge amount from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Just flipping fabulous Bill, its been a joy to follow your WiP, your RFi is a tribute to your tenacity. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Fantastic build, Really nice and well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Another fine looking model you have produced Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 5 months well spent Bill, she's an absolute beaut...!! Thoroughly entertaining build thread too, one of the best I've read, really enjoyed following the adventure - looking forward to the next one! Take care, & all the best for a healthy 2015 Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Flawless craftsmanship and beautiful painting Bill. You've really brought that all over green scheme to life. I know it's terribly subjective (and an endless debate) but to my eyes the finish is just about the paradigm of shading/highlighting - it draws the eye and looks interesting, makes you gawp at the skill involved...but step short of feeling artificial. Wonderfully judged. Oh and as for the finesse with all that PE........... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tbolt Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Impressive stuff, like that a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 Breath taking quality Bill! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pivokrevnik Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 That is a maniacal build. I love it. Map of Australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanuszPL Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 A wonderful model. Amazing modeler work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 That's super cool looking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now