Heather Kay Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter MkIF, R2069 ZK-A, No 25 Squadron, RAF Fighter Command, September 1940 Born of an improvisation by the Bristol design staff, where the Beaufort torpedo bomber design then under development was adapted in short order to provide Fighter Command with a long range heavy fighter, the Beaufighter first flew in July 1939. Of all-metal construction, save for the fabric-covered control surfaces, and with a crew of two, the first production Beaufighters were powered by two Bristol Hercules XI radials, developing 1,500hp when using the new 100 octane fuel. The Beaufighter MkIF was visualised as a night fighter, since the airframe was shown to be capable of carrying the bulky Airborne Interception radar being developed in 1940. Initial deliveries were made to Nos 25 and 29 Squadrons of Fighter Command in September 1940. R2069, the subject of this build, was photographed shortly after delivery to No 25 Squadron, which was flying the rather inadequate Blenheim MkIF at the time. No 29 Squadron, however, was the first to be fully operational on the Beaufighter. As originally supplied, the first production series was only armed with four 20mm cannon under the nose. Later, six Browning 0.303in machine guns were installed in the wings, four in the starboard and two in the port. Nos 219, 600 and 640 Squadrons were also soon equipped with the new planes. No 640 Squadron is on record for the first Beaufighter victory using the AI MkIV radar, when a Junkers Ju88 was shot down on 19 November 1940. Once the concept of Ground Control Interception was added to the on-board radar equipment early in 1941, the early promise of the Beaufighter as a night fighter was fulfilled. The Beaufighter went on to many greater things during the course of the war, of course, but seeing an early version sporting the RAF's temperate land scheme camouflage is a nice change and definitely fits into my 1940 theme. Although I already had a Beau MkIF in my collection, I wasn't happy with it. It was a High Planes short run kit, and presented me with numerous problems which took me a long time to overcome. I was quite pleased when I spotted the Hobby 2000 kit on the market. The kit was vice free, originating as it does in a 1990s Hasegawa boxing. The parts were cleanly moulded and flash-free, and fitted together well. The kit included a sheet of four different sets of markings, printed by Cartograf, covering the Mks IF and IC in a variety of theatres and a set of vinyl cut masks for the transparencies. I made one or two modifications to the model. The cockpit was detailed a little further. I filled the under-wing cartridge chutes as I wanted to show the aircraft as delivered in September 1940, before the wing guns had been fitted. Additional detail was added to the engines, representing the support struts for the exhaust collector ring. The model was painted using Xtracrylix paints, with details painted using Humbrol acrylics and enamels. Final enamel satin varnish was from Phoenix Precision Paints. WIP thread is here: 55 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMA131Marine Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Well that looks just right Heather and factory fresh - the spinners and TLS really make for a sharp looking Beaufighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMCS Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Lovley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyGair Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Nice job Heather. I have a couple of MPM boxing of this kit and it goes together well. I don't think the fuselage is as good shape wise as the new Airfix or even the old High Planes kits, but it still looks the part. Davey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Nice to see a Beau in such early and rare camouflage. Edge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Kay Posted February 25, 2020 Author Share Posted February 25, 2020 Thanks everyone! I think it turned out okay. I think my finishing is getting better, of painting and decorating at least. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 That's super crisp and lovely. I have the same airframe in 1/48 out of a slightly modified Tamiya kit from back when that was new. Really nice to see this and some of the other Hasegawa kits back out under this banner at vaguely sensible prices - I feel a modest investment coming on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 Gorgeous Heather, she's a Beauty! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Kay Posted February 25, 2020 Author Share Posted February 25, 2020 5 minutes ago, CedB said: Gorgeous Heather, she's a Beauty! And the prize for Pun Of The Day goes to… ! Cheers Ced! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 It's pronounced 'boaty'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairtrigger Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 Exceptionally well presented piece of modelling... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winenut Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 20 hours ago, Heather Kay said: And the prize for Pun Of The Day goes to… ! Cheers Ced! Please don't encourage him lol!! Nice clean Beau really well done Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 I love the paint finish on this one. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Kay Posted February 26, 2020 Author Share Posted February 26, 2020 35 minutes ago, David Womby said: I love the paint finish on this one. Thanks David. I was aiming for a finish that implied the plane had only just been delivered to the squadron. I think I achieved it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbudde Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 Looking great, very smooth. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnticlockwisePropeller Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 Cracking job, Heather! What a lovely Beau! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 Outstanding build Heather,beautifully finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Kay Posted February 27, 2020 Author Share Posted February 27, 2020 On 26/02/2020 at 18:03, bbudde said: Looking great, very smooth. Cheers 11 minutes ago, AnticlockwisePropeller said: Cracking job, Heather! What a lovely Beau! 5 minutes ago, stevej60 said: Outstanding build Heather,beautifully finished. Cheers chaps! It was a relatively pain free and simple build, just the thing to refresh the modelling palate so I can get stuck into something crammed with resin and PE! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve27752 Posted February 28, 2020 Share Posted February 28, 2020 Bootiful, I love the finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted March 6, 2020 Share Posted March 6, 2020 Very tasty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now