"Slippery Ship II" Bristol Beaufighter MkVIF *Finished*

[Dunny]

2 hours ago, phat trev said:

Looks a great start. Will be following it closely. What colour is your interior?

Thanks for the kind words Trev - it's Vallejo Interior Grey Green, which I would highly recommend,

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[Dunny]

1 hour ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said:

Hi Roger,

 

There was some discussion recently (I don't think I was part of it, or not much at least) about whether any Beaufighters really wore RAF Desert Scheme at all. I recall the consensus was that most of those cases which are often illustrated as Desert Scheme are more likely to have been Temperate Sea Scheme instead.

Jamie,

 

An interesting prospect. 

 

 

I am actually sorely tempted as I think DSG/EDSG over Night on a Beaufighter would look very cool. I've not gone far enough down the Desert Scheme rabbit hole that I can't back out so will give it serious consideration! Thanks for the steer - much appreciated,

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[Dunny]

1 hour ago, bigbadbadge said:

Was that the Malta ones Jamie?

 

1 hour ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said:

Hi Roger,

 

There was some discussion recently (I don't think I was part of it, or not much at least) about whether any Beaufighters really wore RAF Desert Scheme at all. I recall the consensus was that most of those cases which are often illustrated as Desert Scheme are more likely to have been Temperate Sea Scheme instead.

This will of course make the title of my thread somewhat problematic 🤣

[bigbadbadge]

28 minutes ago, Dunny said:

 

This will of course make the title of my thread somewhat problematic 🤣

Hi Roger, quick change it whilst no one is looking,  I won't tell if you don't!!!

I seem to remember that thread very vaguely, not sure if this was Malta based ones or not??? 

Chris

 

Edit

 

Here's the link to the thread, I have just found it in the WW2 section

 

[Dunny]

1 minute ago, bigbadbadge said:

Hi Roger, quick change it whilst no one is looking,  I won't tell if you don't!!!

I seem to remember that thread very vaguely, not sure if this was Malta based ones or not??? 

Chris

Chris,

 

There are a couple of threads, this being one:

I would say that the only certain about 'Slippery Ship 2' was the black undersides! I think I probably have sufficient latitude to choose either but I do quite fancy TSS over night as per Nick's suggestion. Interesting debate nonetheless!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[bigbadbadge]

4 minutes ago, Dunny said:

Chris,

 

There are a couple of threads, this being one:

I would say that the only certain about 'Slippery Ship 2' was the black undersides! I think I probably have sufficient latitude to choose either but I do quite fancy TSS over night as per Nick's suggestion. Interesting debate nonetheless!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

TSS over night sounds a great scheme.

Chris

[Dunny]

6 minutes ago, bigbadbadge said:

TSS over night sounds a great scheme.

Chris

Do we need to have a vote? Happy to succumb to BM democracy 🤣

[The Spadgent]

I feel silly saying this now after you mentioned this was a well owned and built kit BUT.... I have one in the stash. 🥸 I have never seen one built (at least I can’t remember. ) so I’ll tag along here if I may.  Cowls look good and great heads up on the corrections. Apart from the first bit about panels. Not wanting to offend but what changes did you make? It looked like you sanded some flat but couldn’t be sure.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Johnny.

[Dunny]

1 minute ago, The Spadgent said:

I feel silly saying this now after you mentioned this was a well owned and built kit BUT.... I have one in the stash. 🥸 I have never seen one built (at least I can’t remember. ) so I’ll tag along here if I may.  Cowls look good and great heads up on the corrections. Apart from the first bit about panels. Not wanting to offend but what changes did you make? It looked like you sanded some flat but couldn’t be sure.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Johnny.

Johnny,

 

Thanks for the kind words - much appreciated. There are a number of panels on both wings which are raised details. Tamiya incorrectly duplicated them from battle damage repair on a Duxford (I think) example. As you say it's just a case of sanding them flat - an easy fix, as are the others. Happy to have you aboard sir!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[The Spadgent]

4 minutes ago, Dunny said:

Johnny,

 

Thanks for the kind words - much appreciated. There are a number of panels on both wings which are raised details. Tamiya incorrectly duplicated them from battle damage repair on a Duxford (I think) example. As you say it's just a case of sanding them flat - an easy fix, as are the others. Happy to have you aboard sir!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

Ahhhh now I see them. Thanks that’s an easier fix. Looks like a great kit and you’re doing a brilliant job. 🙌

 

Johnny.

[JosephLalor]

1 hour ago, Dunny said:

Thanks for the kind words Trev - it's Vallejo Interior Grey Green, which I would highly recommend,

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

Hi Roger, what Vallejo product code is that paint?  71.305?

Edited April 3, 2021 by JosephLalor

[Dunny]

6 minutes ago, JosephLalor said:

Hi Roger, what Vallejo product code is that paint?  71.305?

Joseph - that is the one! It's the best I've come across,

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[Dunny]

Well @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies, look what happens when you open a !!

 

The thought of 'Slippery Ship II' in TSS over Night rather than Desert Scheme over Night very quickly became an itch that had to be scratched. I therefore masked up the cowlings and resprayed them in Dark Slate Grey and Extra Dark Sea Grey. I oversprayed them with lightened shades of each (using mid-stone and medium sea grey respectively to lighten). Here's the result after painting:

 

 

And here's the lot after an oil wash. I'll go back and do some chipping later, as this will be a worn airframe:

 

 

I'll edit the title of the thread as it's now no longer relevant! 🤣

 

That's all for today as off to lunch at the in-laws. Hope you all have a Happy Easter,

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Roger

Edited April 4, 2021 by Dunny
Name change

[Dunny]

Hi All,

 

Another quick update. Flushed with success from my cowling respray I decided to tackle the empennage. Here it is:

 

 

I'm glad I made the effort with the elevator balance rods - I think it improves the overall appearance. That was so easy I thought I may as well add the wings. This is just with the wing uppers, but I couldn't resist popping the cowlings on (just to check fit, you understand):

 

 

Everything that has ever been written about this kit is true 'blah blah superb fit' 'blah blah falls together'. It really is that good. Here's a final shot with the lower wings attached:

 

 

Phwoar - I need to go for a lie down!

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Roger

[Wlad]

Hello @Dunny, I have been looking at Beaufighter builds this weekend to get more familiar with the type and discovered there is a mistake on the kits: The tab actuators are actually below the elevators. The example at the RAF Museum was put together incorrectly and the kit manufacturers used it as an example. Sorry I caught this after you added the tailplanes on your kit.

 

Cheers,
Wlad

[AdrianMF]

Looks good! TSS over night is an appealing scheme.

 

Regards,

Adrian

[dogsbody]

53 minutes ago, Wlad said:

Hello @Dunny, I have been looking at Beaufighter builds this weekend to get more familiar with the type and discovered there is a mistake on the kits: The tab actuators are actually below the elevators. The example at the RAF Museum was put together incorrectly and the kit manufacturers used it as an example. Sorry I caught this after you added the tailplanes on your kit.

 

Cheers,
Wlad

 

I think that depends on which variant you're talking about. 

 

 

 

Chris

[bigbadbadge]

Looking good all together and as Adrian said TSS over night is a very appealing scheme, so can't wait to see this progress.

Great work fella. 

Chris

[Dunny]

5 hours ago, AdrianMF said:

Looks good! TSS over night is an appealing scheme.

 

Regards,

Adrian

Thanks Adrian - I am salivating at the prospect of scheme!

 

2 minutes ago, bigbadbadge said:

Looking good all together and as Adrian said TSS over night is a very appealing scheme, so can't wait to see this progress.

Great work fella. 

Chris

Thanks very much Chris - hopefully it will progress smoothly!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[Dunny]

5 hours ago, Wlad said:

Hello @Dunny, I have been looking at Beaufighter builds this weekend to get more familiar with the type and discovered there is a mistake on the kits: The tab actuators are actually below the elevators. The example at the RAF Museum was put together incorrectly and the kit manufacturers used it as an example. Sorry I caught this after you added the tailplanes on your kit.

 

Cheers,
Wlad

 

4 hours ago, dogsbody said:

 

I think that depends on which variant you're talking about. 

 

 

 

Chris

Thanks for that Wlad - not to late to change it! Chris - are you aware of the MkVIF tab configuration? I am not so any advice would be greatly appreciated before I dive in & make a change!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[Alan P]

This is a great thread Roger, appreciate both your attention to detail and good-humoured approach to these gnarly WW2 subjects!

[Dunny]

2 minutes ago, Alan P said:

This is a great thread Roger, appreciate both your attention to detail and good-humoured approach to these gnarly WW2 subjects!

Thanks for the kind words Alan - much appreciated!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[heloman1]

Looking good, I'm not a modeller of WWII but like to see how good modellers tackle their builds. My interests lie from Korea onwards, with helicopters being my main field of interest.

 Well Egypt 1943, my mother was serving in the RAF as a stores basher, issuing flying clothing to aircrew. My farther in the army they married there and I appeared in August '46.

Detail on the kit looks good, so I understand the lack of need to add lots of extras.

I have popcorn and a comfortable seat ready...

 

Colin

[Dunny]

1 minute ago, heloman1 said:

Looking good, I'm not a modeller of WWII but like to see how good modellers tackle their builds. My interests lie from Korea onwards, with helicopters being my main field of interest.

 Well Egypt 1943, my mother was serving in the RAF as a stores basher, issuing flying clothing to aircrew. My farther in the army they married there and I appeared in August '46.

Detail on the kit looks good, so I understand the lack of need to add lots of extras.

I have popcorn and a comfortable seat ready...

 

Colin

Thanks for the kind words Colin - I certainly wouldn't class myself as a good modeller but the sentiment is much appreciated! Welcome aboard sir,

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[AndyL]

Don't know if this helps regarding colour schemes, but 89 Squadron were originally based in North Africa, mainly Abu Sueir, with several detached flights based at other airfields such as Idku, and by the start of May 1942 they had claimed seven destroyed, two probable and two damaged. A detached flight, known as the Malta Flight, or 'C' Flight was raised and this is when 89 started to account for more enemy aircraft. This Malta Flight consisted of Shipard, Reeves, Fumerton, Mitchell, and Ross; they were posted to Malta on 22nd June 1942.  Also, the squadron undertook a few shipping escorts in daylight too and at night flew intruder sorties over Sicily.

 

If you look closely at the image I posted with Shipard and Reeves stood in front of Slippery Ship II, you can see what could be an overpainted roundel? I've never worked out if it's overpainted or a trick of the photographic film.