Mark1 Models Bristol Beaufighter Mk.1F - Mark1 Models (14434, 14435 & 14436) 1:144 scale

[bootneck]

Bristol Beaufighter Mk.1F

 

Mark^I. Models 1:144

 

 

 

 

 

The Bristol Beaufighter owes much of the design to its predecessor, the Bristol Beaufort with enhancements for fixed cannon arrangements. This upgraded designed, originating in 1939, was initially referred to as the "Beaufort-Fighter". An unusual concept of the design was in the installation of wing-mounted machine-guns, in that the allocation was four guns were fitted in the starboard wing but only two in the port wing. This offset was due mainly to the impedence of the landing light position in the port wing.

The first operational aircraft were not deployed until mid-1940 and were allocated to No.25 Squadron based at Martlesham. The Beaufighter could undertake many roles, with the fighter-role being primary; however, this heavy armed, twin-engined fighter would make a good night fighter as it had room for a radar fit and additional radar operator additional to the existing crew. The night-fighter version was to prove its worth in November 1940 when a Beaufighter of No.219 Squadron used a radar intercept to shoot down a Junkers Ju.88 during a night sortie.

The Kit

Mark1 Models has actually produced three Beaufighter kits: The Mk.1F which can be completed as the nightfighter, as in the image above; plus a Mk.1C and a Mk.VI as in the images below.

The kit comes in a small card box, with end opening flaps, and has a colour painted image of a Beaufighter Night Fighter as the box-art. On the rear of the box are four side profiles of different Beaufighter Mk.1F aircraft, any one of which can be built and finished using the enclosed decal sheet. Although the title of this kit implies a night fighter variant, any of the Mk.1F's can be built and the colours and markings showing types from No.68 Sqn (detached to RAF Valley, Anglesey); No.60 Sqn, RAF Middle Wallop; No.89 Sqn, RAF Abu Sueir airfield, Egypt; or No.252 Sqn, RAF El Magrun airfield, Libya.

There are, currently, three separate Beaufighter kits issued by Mark^I. models; MKM14434 (this kit) which is a Mk.1F; MKM14435 represents a Mk.1C; and MKM14436 is the Mk.VI variant. The sprues that come with this kit are common across all three kits; some parts being used on one version but not another etc. and in conjuction with the associated decals within each kit box.

There are two main sprues with this kit, each sprue being of rigid, but not brittle, grey plastic. The first sprue holds the two fuselage halves and the first thing to note is that there are no locating pins or holes in these part, although this should not be a major issue on such a small item. Panel lines on the fuselage are very finely recessed. Internal detail consists of a long floor piece, instrument panel, control stick and two seats - one for the pilot and one for the rear gunner/observer.

 

 

 

Other parts on this sprue are the propellers and the undercarriage, of which the wheel flaps are nicely detailed.

The second sprue has the pieces to make the main wings, engine cylinders and cowlings. Here, again, there are no locating pins on the wing units but the lower wing section has an overlap which, when the two wing halves are assembled, allow for a good register when fitting to the fuselage.

This reverse view shows the lack of locating pins and holes to line up the relevant parts. Care will need to be taken during assembly just to ensure that the pieces do not slip out of position whilst the glue is drying.

 

 

The detailing of the clear parts is crisp and contains the pilot's canopy, observer/gunner canopy and wing-lights etc.

 

INSTRUCTIONS AND COLOUR DETAILS

An eight page A5 sized paper booklet is supplied and this contains a single page of parts breakdown, followed by three pages of assembly diagrams. The remaining four pages shows colour details of the four aircraft camouflage patterns that can be used for this kit.

 

 

 

The back of the kit box also has colour details of the various aircraft and help to identify decal placements.

The same type of colour details are also present on the Mk.1C and Mk.VI kits which means that three kits could give you twelve variants/theatres of operations from the sets of decals.

DECALS

The decal sheet is nicely produced by Mark1 Models and the detail is clear and the registration looks good.

 

CONCLUSION

 

 

There may not be many parts for this kit but, at 1:144 scale, the parts are nice and well detailed and should allow for a good build of this popular type of WW2 heavy fighter. As mentioned previously, care should be taken whilst glueing the various components as there are no locating pins on the parts; however, having done a dry-fit test, I found that the way the parts are moulded help to hold the components in place quite easily. I'm looking forward to getting more of these little gems.

Recommended.

 

Review sample courtesy of

[Julien]

Having seen these at Telford they are really good kits.

[Viking]

Nice review Mike, I like the look of these as they seem very finely done. No doubt I need to get some now to go with my ever expanding set of 1:144 military kits. The only trouble is that I am a bit random and buy any old kits that I like, so how do Mig 21's , CH-53 Helicopter, Wessex Helicopter, and Spitfires go together? Never mind, I'm probably going to add one of these to the mix now!

[charlie_c67]

Easy Viking, Say it's an aviation museum

Has anyone built one of these yet? I had seen some on offer at Abingdon and kind of wish I'd picked them up...

[Radleigh]

A guy from my club brought one down last week, very nice kit and a nice size in 1/144th.

[Ed Russell]

Has anyone built one of these yet?

You need go no further than Britmodeller

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234991055-mkm-beaufighter-honey-i-shrank-the-beaufighter/

x

[charlie_c67]

Cheers Ed, Looks a very nice build for one so small. Good for the ol' space saving though. Now, where did I put that spare money again....?