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1/72nd Airfix Beaufighter built as a USAAF NF.VIf


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Hiya Folks,

                 Another Med based subject which I`ve fancied doing a model of for some time is one of the USAAF Beaufighter night fighter`s flown by the 414th, 415th, 416th & 417th Night Fighter Squadrons over Italy and Southern France and as I had some decals from a Hasegawa kit that had been finished in RAF markings some time ago, decided to use these on an Airfix kit along with some spares from the Hasegawa kit. The book `Beaufighters in the Night' should provide some reference and motivation along the way;

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Here is the Airfix kit, taken yesterday;

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And here is the progress this morning, with the interior painted and being fitted into place;

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With the wings assembled and engines in place;

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Here is where we are up to this evening, with the model set aside for the glue to dry. This was done in front of the telly while watching Sharpe!;

DSCF9303_zpsmxieykur.jpg

 

Cheers

           Tony

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Cheers Rob,.......just remembered that I have this sheet too, so might go for this one with names on the engines and name `Fluff' on the nose;

VA7264.jpg

 

Tony

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I don't know how you do it Tony, I've been putting off doing a little bit of masking all day and you've almost completed construction of two twin-engined aircraft and watched several episodes of Sharpe in the same time... it's just a bit embarrassing :blush:

 

On the other hand, it will be nice to see an American Beau B)

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

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Wow, sparkling progress. And I never even knew the that the Yanks used Beaufighters

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Haha,..... in reality lads I`m confined to the settee bored out of my skull at the moment so a bit of painting and whittling is keeping my mind off yet another slipped disc with some quite vile sciatica down both legs and also into more intimate areas,.....and you cannot beat a bit of Sharpe!! 

Here is the Beau that I`m hoping to replicate;

Image result for beaufighter usaaf fluff

Beaufighter Mk.VIF, KV912, "FLUFF", engines named 'Amby' Starboard 'Patsy' Port, of the 416th Night Fighter Squadron 

 

Looks like Hasegawa missed the names from their rendition of KV912 on their decals and the one with the black panther,  MM934 could have been one of those fitted with centimetric radar inside a radome on the nose!

 

Cheers,

            Tony

Edited by tonyot
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A quick update,.....having realised that the subject Beau (seen above) has different style exhausts than those in the Airfix kit I`ve sourced some from the leftovers from a Hasegawa kit and transplanted them onto the Airfix kit by cutting them from the exhaust ring and removing this area from the Airfix kit;

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I`ve also sanded the airframe today so that it will be ready to start painting tonight and I`ve sanded the nose and added a hole for the Hasegawa AI antenna;

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So hopefully the next pic should feature an overall Medium Sea Grey Beau!

 

Cheers

             Tony

Edited by tonyot
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Cheers Craig,...... yeah I hope it starts feeling a bit better too! Here is another quick update,......Humbrol Medium Sea Grey applied overall and almost ready for the Dark Green disruptive scheme;

DSCF9326_zps3nbp7nj6.jpg

 

Cheers

           Tony

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Very nice Tony and I hope the back pain doesn't slow you down too much - miserable I know... My old quack in the 80s suggested alcohol as a good muscle relaxant and pain killer - drink responsibly! :) 

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Cheers fellas,.......unfortunately the back is no better,.......the nerve to my legs is still snagged too,.......but I`ve hit the Apfel Korn! Having not had a drink for over 8 years,...I`ve hit the old Apple Schnapps (a favourite tipple from serving in Germany),.....and at least it is helping me to sleep! Seen the quack lat week,....just  shoved me onto a waiting list to see the specialist in Manchester who I saw last year who said that he couldn`t do anything as the damage to my back was too bad and old,......talk about being on a treadmill and going through the motions eh! Old school doctors used to crack my back and sort it out there and then.....instant pain relief,......but not anymore. 

 

Hopefully I`ll get some green camo onto the Beau today!

 

Cheers

            Tony

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Hope you fell better soon, Tony.  Apfelkorn.. mmm, must get some for Christmas.

 

I notice you've painted the top of the main spars inside the fuselage matt black, possibly scuffed.  Is this to replicate rubber padding (shin protectors) or something?

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1 hour ago, Seahawk said:

Hope you fell better soon, Tony.  Apfelkorn.. mmm, must get some for Christmas.

 

I notice you've painted the top of the main spars inside the fuselage matt black, possibly scuffed.  Is this to replicate rubber padding (shin protectors) or something?

Cheers mate,........yes I painted them black for anti slip mats,...... but you cannot see them anyway after the fuselage is closed!

This is Apfelkorn,.....yummy;

Image result

Cheers

           Tony

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Ah, ApfelKorn..... That brings back some memories^_^ Hope your back and legs get sorted out soon.

 

Nice build by the way!

 

Christian, exiled further South

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Thanks fellas,......I appreciate your kind words! This afternoon I managed to apply the first couple of coats of Dark Green,.....but ran out of natural daylight towards the end so here is a flash piccy;

DSCF9376_zps6x7to1bx.jpg

Cheers

           Tony

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I'm sure Tony  has this, but readers here  may find this  worth a browse

British%20aircraft%20USAAF%20service%202

http://www.boxartden.com/gallery/index.php/Profiles/Camoflage-Markings/21-British-Aircraft-in-USAAF

 

I had memories of colour pic  with USAAF  Beaufighters in the background, didn't find it but found this

media-14429.jpeg?itok=Eu7VhhKa

 


 USAAF Beaufighter Mk VIF 

Beaufighter Mk VI KV923 Failed To Return 27th Dec 43 lost over Sardinia, Pilot 1st Lt Robert C Swift POW, Obs Fl/Off Howard A Kohrman KIA. MACR 1956

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/19225

 

which was new too me.

 

in a  rush

 

lovely work Tony, sorry about your back

T

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Cheers lads,.....yes I`ve got that book Troy and the colour pic is part of my reference package too! 

Well the third coat of Dark Green is on and I`ve added some painted out British markings,......so a coat of varnish next, then the decals;

DSCF9392_NEW_zpsp4fuujk7.jpg

 

Cheers

          Tony

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Cheers fellas,.....well I`ve added the decals now and drilled out the wing machine gun ports,......unfortunately I lost the Hasegawa Beau decals (the house goblin strikes again!) and the Ventura stars were awful,.....while the serial and names silvered like mad! The starts were cobbled together from the spares box;

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Cheers

           Tony

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