HT's Malta Beaufort

[Hardtarget]

I shall be building the home islands & malta boxing of the special hobby kit.

She comes with PE and resin so will be a multi material build.

Edited April 3, 2012 by Hardtarget

[Test Graham]

I find the engine cowlings oversized, certainly the P&W ones on the Mk.II. Red Roo used to sell replacement cowlings from Ron's Resins, but I think they are sold out now. The P&W engines also need the pushrods - a very annoying habit of MPM on all their engines. Fortunately, the Taurus don't.

[maltadefender]

Splendid stuff Hardtarget, much too fiddly for me I shall watch with envy!

[Hardtarget]

Made a start on the beau.

Tackling the cockpit area requires the use of the PUR and IM parts. The PUR parts are very brittle and dont want to come off their mouldings very easily. After some prising with the scalpel and saw they were free and glued into place with some zap.

This is the base of the turret which comprised of 3 PUR parts, the base, seat and seat bracket. Bit fidilly especially when superglue is involved.

Next up the cementing of the bomb bay into place. This needs to be done before the front seat as if done the otherway aruond you may not get the bay into its proper place. Note there is no locating slots. Cementing of the blanking plate and the PUR front seat followed.

Next the airbrush was loaded with some hu78 interior green and duly applied to the cockpit, fuselage halves and the window areas.

Next up will be the detailing of the cockpit area.

[maltadefender]

Those resin parts look like a minefield HT. Congratulations on getting through unscathed!

[Peter Lloyd]

Good on you. I gave up on mine in the home stretch, so I'm enjoying your build.

[philp]

Very cool, loved the bits in Torpedo Bomber and have wanted to do one of these for a while.

[Hardtarget]

Some progress on thie interior.

And on the resin engines.

Edited April 29, 2012 by Hardtarget

[maltadefender]

All looking great so far HT

[Hardtarget]

Some small progress on this aircraft as my time has been taken up with the making of the F-16's. I was on a roll but there was a small pause in waiting for them to dry so moved onto the beaufort.

I managed to sort out the engines and cementing them in place to the cowlings. Tight fit this.

Affixed the gun turret together with the windo cut out (what a pain in the bottom this is).

And finally cemented the wings and tail seaction together. Fuselage at this stage is not cemented as i have to construct the turret first as she wopnt fix later on. I might even pain the fuselage halves at this stage, not sure yet.

[Peter Lloyd]

Good progress mate, keep it up. I'm eyeing mine off (I left the turret off and assembled, I also left out one of the 'porthole' windows) for a possible unofficial contribution to the GB, but the smart money says I'll leave it on the shelf where it's sat happily for years. But I do get the vicarious enjoyment of seeing yours go together.

[maltadefender]

In for the long game, HT. I think it's going to be worth the persistence - and the F16s!

[Hardtarget]

Hopefully. Got a few builds on at the mo so its busy time. Dont worry she will get some modelling time as im hoping to follow this up with the SH Baltimore aswell.

[CliffB]

Looking good - particularly the cockpit .

Cliff

[Hardtarget]

Midweek update.

After playing about with the turret and housing, i managed to make it fit in its little pit and also got the fuselague halves to cement together. With a little persuasion with the clips the fuselage was set.

Next I masked the turret and also added the glass front end ready for painting later by hand as I didnt fancy masking all those windows. Also at this stage i added the radiators and exhausts.

Engines were plugged with sponge and also masking of the glass section prior to spraying a mix of hu102 and some gloy dark slate grey (one was too green one was too grey).

And ive just literally applied the EDSG hu123.

She will dry now ready for tomorrow spraying of azure to add a bit of colour.

[maltadefender]

Lovely stuff - and Azure Blue too! My favourite!

[Hardtarget]

As promised, i sprayed the azure blue on yesterday and today as i got in went straight onto the framing. I think she is now ready for her legs.

[maltadefender]

Gorgeous stuff HT

[Killingholme]

Hello, this is beginning to look rather nice indeed.

Is your framing painted decal?

Will

[Hardtarget]

Hi Will, no hand painted on using a 4/0 brush.

[Hardtarget]

Final stretches now.

Undercarrige fitted

Then I realised that i needed to fix the front guns before the canopy so cut around the canopy and duly drilled two small hole into it so the guns can fit snugly.

Canopy recemented, tires sprayed, props sprayed & aerials also added at this point ready for a good old coat of klear.

She is now ready for decals and the fiddily antennae.

[Hardtarget]

Getting closer to the finish with the assembly of the torpedo. The PE is a bit fidely but I prevailed and it doesnt look too bad.

[dogsbody]

Before you put the props on, the engines gear casings should be painted black. Either a flat or a semi-gloss will do.

Chris

[maltadefender]

Really nice and rugged HT - like this one a lot.

[Hardtarget]

Took a bit of time to complete her, with getting the decals on, adding aerial wire and weathering/exhaust stains but im declaring her finished.

Kit: Special Hobby 72083

Scale: 1/72

Scheme: Beaufort Mk.Ia DD959 (Q) 217Sqd, RAF Luka, Malta 1942, She was shot down by a Ju88 on the 20th June 1942.

Edited June 24, 2012 by Hardtarget