Beaufort/Beaufighter

[Greg Law]

If I find the time I will try and do my Beaufort original frog kit and use the engines from a Russian Frog Beaufighter kit. 

It will be a basic build so don't expect much. I learnt my lesson doing the Frog Blenheim where I over stretched my skill level. 

I'm very committed to the Specialist GB at the moment, so I will see how I get on. 

This isn't an image of my kit, but it is the same box. 

 

 

 

[Rabbit Leader]

That’s the spirit Greg, I knew I could convince you to join us! This will be another Frog classic kit build. Let’s all pray that one of the mainstream kit manufacturers takes notice and graces us with a new state of the art Beaufort. We’ve only been waiting since 1963 for one!! 

 

Cheers and beats of luck.. Dave 

[AdrianMF]

Nice to see a Beaufort in the GB. The kit has a few issues but the Frog Beaufighter engines will make a big difference.

 

Regards,

Adrian

[vppelt68]

I'm ashamed to admit... I had that kit in both the original and the Encore version. Both had their "transparencies" so shot up I ended up... No, I can't even write it! Good luck with your build, we really need that new Airfix Beaufort kit that's surely on its way, isn't it . V-P

[JOCKNEY]

Hi Greg

 

Delighted to see a true Frog classic in the form of the Beaufort, this will make a great addition, good luck with the build.

 

cheers Pat

[Greg Law]

I will dig it out today and check the Beaufighter parts to make it isn't an Airfix kit or a Mosquito. Been a while since I saw it. If it is I will get a new one from eBay. 

There is one good thing about this. It will look good along side my Frog Blenheim.

I'm with you about wondering why Airfix hasn't made an Beaufort. It is a bit like the 1/48 Tiger moth. Seem to take a while for them to realize what they have missed.  I wish Special Hobby would take up the slack.

Their new kits are a lot better these days.

[PeterB]

Hi Greg,

 

Like you I decided the strangely tapered Taurus cowlings in the kit were wrong, and so used Beaufighter cowlings but mine were Airfix left over from converting one of my ancient Lancasters to something vaguely resembling a Manchester, and using the spare outboard Merlins to make a Beaufighter II as in an old Airfix Magazine article. From what Pat has said in recent posts, you might get away with Airfix cowlings anyway - ask him. Good luck with the build.

 

Dave, probably wrong but could swear I saw a Beaufort kit on Hannants website a few years back, possibly Aussie MkII with P&W engines - can't remember who by. About the same time the Hampdens appeared too.

 

Later, just checked and it would have been Special Hobby but not currently available I think.

 

Pete

Edited May 26, 2019 by PeterB

[Greg Law]

That was interesting. I checked out the Special Hobby one. You are right it did exist. I checked eBay and there are none anywhere. Tim Special Hobby re-released it. Pity it isn't 1/48. It has a really good cockpit and would have been nice 

to build. I tend to normally build 1/48 because of age issues like you. 

[Greg Law]

Ok, I have had a look at the Beaufort. It's not a bad kit. The problem as mentioned is the canopy isn't very good. I could use a bit of plastic card and Kristal Klear to 

sort it, but it will never be first or second class. On the other hand the Beaufighter is a Russian made one. It is in good order with just a bit of flash and some minor sink

holes. It looks like and Australian one with decals that don't look to bad. I think I should go with it. What do you think Dave? Sort evens the playing field with you doing

a NZ bird and me doing a Aussie one. 

Just bought new decals for the Beaufighter. 

[Rabbit Leader]

That's the ANZAC Spirit Greg, however I must admit, I think I'll be starting off with the better base model! Not sure how accurate those RAAF decals are, however Frog must have found a photograph somewhere to prove a 93 (RAAF) Squadron Beaufort did exist. Perhaps they used them for training prior to being equipped with Beaufighters? Either way, it depends how far you want to go as Aussie Beauforts were powered by P&W radials and also had an enlarged tail fin which I'm sure you can make out of scrap plastic. From what I know of this kit, it may also need a new turret as the kits option is more akin to a Coastal Command Mk.1 (I think?). 

 

Either way, the result will still look like a Beaufort so that's really all that counts here. 

 

Cheers.. Dave 

 

 

[Greg Law]

I have got new Novo Decals for the Beaufighter which I will use. I will see about the Beaufort. I won't have time to make lots of changes. So it will most likely be a mongrel. A bit of everything. 

If you look at the sprue image of the Beaufort you will see the chewed canopy. I think when you have an issue like this it is best just to make the most of it and not worry to much.

New decals ordered for the Beaufort. 

The Beaufighter of the other hand will be much better. 

 

 

This is the Beaufighter.

 

 

[stevehnz]

Greg, if you clear bits are that poor, you might want to check the stuff available from John Stone in the depths of Southland out. I've used him quite a bit & the service is good.

Steve.

[Greg Law]

37 minutes ago, stevehnz said:

Greg, if you clear bits are that poor, you might want to check the stuff available from John Stone in the depths of Southland out. I've used him quite a bit & the service is good.

Steve.

Fantastic Steve. Thankyou very much for that. Parts ordered. Wheels, two engine nacelles, and canopies. Excellent prices.

Now these have turned up I will focus this GB on the Beaufort and do the Beaufighter if there is time.

Dave: The early Australian Beauforts had normal tails, so I will do one of those. Unless I can find decals for a Malta one.

I thought I saw one once while I was surfacing the net this morning. I seem to have lost it now. 

[Rabbit Leader]

Nice collaboration chaps - it’s always nice helping someone spend their own money. They look to be good additions for your Beaufort, Greg. They’ll also probably arrive before this GB starts as well. 

 

Cheers.. Dave

[vppelt68]

1 hour ago, Greg Law said:

Unless I can find decals for a Malta one.

Here´s one excellent sheet with a very colourful Maltese Beaufort included: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X72161 V-P

[Greg Law]

32 minutes ago, vppelt68 said:

Here´s one excellent sheet with a very colourful Maltese Beaufort included: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X72161 V-P

Ordered thanks

[JOCKNEY]

Good morning, 

Sorry I seem to have been redirected to a shopping website, I'll try to get back to the kit building one I was looking for !  

Cheers Pat

[Greg Law]

What would I have done without this internet shopping advisery forum. Now I can get back to the kit forum with a full string bag. No longer can use plastic shopping bags here. 

[PeterB]

6 hours ago, vppelt68 said:

Here´s one excellent sheet with a very colourful Maltese Beaufort included: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X72161 V-P

Must admit I rather fancy a Maltese Beaufort in the two tone Mediterranean blue scheme that some apparently used - dark on top and "light" below.

 

Pete

[vppelt68]

23 minutes ago, PeterB said:

Must admit I rather fancy a Maltese Beaufort in the two tone Mediterranean blue scheme that some apparently used - dark on top and "light" below.

 

Pete

Wasn´t that actually a three tone blue scheme?! Dark and Light Mediterranean over Azure blues, just check Jerzy-Wojtek´s Beau-tiful-Fort here:

 

[PeterB]

Interesting link. Malta colours are difficult as they used a lot of non standard or home made ones - like the Spits that were supposedly painted during delivery on USS Wasp, which some say were USN Blue, and others Dark or Extra Dark Sea Grey, often thinned to the point of being almost transparent due to supply problems.

 

I was going on a faint recollection of an article I saw, or perhaps a sheet of Xtracolour Decals. Checking, the only thing I have found so far is in Scale Aircraft Modelling International which says unconfirmed use of dark/light Med Blue on top and side and either night or Ident. Blue on the bottom for night anti shipping strikes by Beauforts and perhaps also Swordfish/Albacores. Ident blue is I suppose roundel blue not Azure, but was that wartime or pre-war blue? Your guess is as good as mine. The colour on the kit in the link is very close to the lighter of the upper colours, in fact I am not entirely sure it is a different colour.

 

I might find the original article sometime as I am sure it showed a profile, but I doubt it was 100% confirmed. Later SAM 14-11 has one in two med blues above and azure below.

 

Cheers

 

Pete

Edited May 27, 2019 by PeterB

[Greg Law]

What would I have done without this internet shopping advisory forum. Now I can get back to the kit forum with a full string bag. No longer can use plastic shopping bags here. 

Has anyone noticed that Hannants has a 1/48 one listed in the future Special hobby section. I wonder if it is just them  trying to encourage SH to make one or if it is on the cards.

If it came out I would be first in line to get one and it wouldn't sit in the stash. I would probably want to build three. Aussie one a Malta one and the one that attacked Scharnhorst.

I've always been a big Scharnhorst fan.  I made one and it's sister for CFS3 years ago.

 

 I remember making the channel dash where I was in an S-boot escort. Made that as well. When the Swordfish attacked. I was stationed along side her.

With all the guns going off creating a lot of smoke it felt the most real moment I had in computer sims  About the only thing I didn't create myself in it was the Swordfish.

It was a long mission starting in the Bunkers at night. Fighting off the MTB's and the Swordfish. 

[Greg Law]

The Beaufort is underway. Photos shortly. The canopy and engine coweling turned up yesterday. I have to admit to getting started on them last night. They cut out very well. The front canopy seems to be one piece so I will have to cut the front of the fuselage a lot. I glued one of the cowelling parted together without only problems. 

However, looking at the kit it looks like it won't be easy. How could they sell a kit in this state amazes me. No wonder that they didn't last after the other kit manufacturers started up.

[PeterB]

Greg,

 

Probably the worst engine cowlings Frog ever made - nearly conical. Not their finest hour!

 

Pete

[Greg Law]

Not only that the rest of engine isn't that great. Takes a bit of super glue fill to get them looking right. I can see why Adrian went to the trouble replacing them. 

Unfortunately I don't have the time or the skill to do all the work he put into it. It will be a miracle if it doesn't get binned before the end. I will do my best. I don't give up easily. The only reason I binned the Me 262 was I had another kit sitting there and it seemed pointless to continue with it after I had found the cause of the problem.