Beaufighter Mark Differences

[224 Peter]

I'm trying to work out what were the visible external differences between a late mark 1F and an early Mark VIF. 

It seems that he Dihedral tail was introduced after the VIF, but many aircraft, including 1Fs in service, were retro fitted. So this is not a clear indicator. 

Again, from some photos in the Warpaint book it seems that some early VIFs may not have had the centimetric AI Mk VIII radar with the nose scanner. 

So, other than from the serial number, is there any certain way to know if the nightfighter is a Mk1F or a Mk VIIF? 

 

Any advice or suggestions most welcome! 

 

[KRK4m]

I'm not the Beau specialist, but if I remember well from my youth (~40 years ago) the Hercules III powering the Mk.I featured spinnered props while Mk.VI had spinnerless Herc VIs.

Cheers

Michael

[brewerjerry]

Hi

   there was a cockit canopy change, it might help with identfication 

  i.e. 

a lot of MK I had 

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Beaufighter#/media/File%3A252_Squadron_RAF_Beaufighter_cockpit_at_Chivenor_IWM_CH_17305.jpg

 

ViF 

https://intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.php?t=6378

 

  cheers

    jerry 

[224 Peter]

Thanks Michael, Jerry, 

 

The Revel kit has separate spinners and reasonably detailed hubs, so leaving the spinners off is easy. 

I was concerned that the bigger engines would have 4 bladed props, but it seems from the Tamiya kit they don't, which is good. 

The kit canopy is not well detailed, so sanding down the front and polishing, then masking as per the VII, is possible although not my favourite task.

 

If that is the extent of the changes then I can say the model represents a VIIF!! 

[Max Headroom]

There are also three types of tailplane shape in addition to the dihedral, although I haven’t nailed down when each type was factory fitted. This boils down to the percentage of stabiliser to tailplane. Thanks to help from @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies I was able to work out the configuration for my Tamiya Mk.I. If it helps here is a link to my build. 

 

 

My thread itself also has a link to an earlier thread with details of an article from Scale Models which may also be useful.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Trevor

 

[224 Peter]

Trevor, 

 

thanks: the Revell kit is clearly a Mk 1, as you made yours as it has the fully shrouded elevator hinge line inboard, only the outboard portion has an aerodynamic balance. 

Scaled up to full size at the widest point the tailplane is 39" and the elevator 30". 

David Howley's drawings in Warpaint No 1 show very clearly that on later aircraft the elevator is wider than the tailplane. 

 

This is a bit of an issue as the model has gone too far to change it. 

 

I'm building EI 154, this is the 9th Mk VI aircraft off the production line at Weston, Serial Numbers for Weston production ran from EI 145 through to EL 192. 

It certainly had non dihedral tailplanes and Mk IV radar, so was produced sometime in Q2/3, 1942. Mk VIII 10cm radar started to be fitted to new aircraft in December 1942. 

Does anyone know when production started at Weston?

 

The information I have about EI 154 is that it was with 307 Squadron based at Exeter Airport over the winter of 1942/43.

They had VIFs from May 1942 to February 1943, so I have to guess that EI 154 was delivered to them in May/June 1942. 

In the absence of definitive information I think the balance of probability is that EI 154 had narrow elevators.....

 

SO, to make mine EI 154, Mk VIF, I just have to delete the prop spinners and sand away some of the detail on the canopy and re-polish...

 

Anyone know more? Please shout out! 

 

[brewerjerry]

Hi

   Have you ssen this page ? 

    it has a photo of EL154 

 

http://www.polishsquadronsremembered.com/307/307_aircraft.html

 

and this one 

http://www.geocities.ws/Mohikanie/307/gallery/307_faces_1.html

 

      cheers

         jerry

Edited February 21, 2018 by brewerjerry

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

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