Airfix 1/7nd Beaufort Mk.Ia x 2,.... 22 Sqn, SEAC & 16 Sqn, SAAF.

[tonyot]

Hiya Folks,

                 Well we`ve all been waiting for this kit for yonks and what a beauty it is too! Thankfully Airfix include some parts to enable you to go part way to building a Mk.Ia version, including the clear DF Loop and the later Bristol turret,...... so I just had to find a set of Brownings for the turret, fit a pair of Vickers K Guns into the nose and add some ASV radar.

 

I built mine along with Dave (RABBIT LEADER) on his excellent build post here,..... his methodical build of the kit is VERY highly commended;

 

And here are the models;

 

22 Sqn, Ceylon, 1943-44,.... the ASV Antennae come from an old Encore Beaufort with mounting struts made from Aeroclub aerofoil strut,......;

 

 

16 Sqn, SAAF, N.Africa, 1943,...... this ex Blenheim Mk.V unit took over the aircraft of 47 Sqn RAF and used them for anti submarine and convoy protection duties,..... later converting onto the Beaufighter. 47 Sqn modified its Beaufort`s by mounting the antennae directly to the wing leading edges by bolting them onto the wing spars as part of a series of other modifications to increase their range and make them faster,..... and for the model the antennae came from a Special Hobby kit;

 

A massive thank you to Airfix for releasing this kit and for doing such a good job on it,........ personally I`m over the moon with it and have quite a few more planned including at least a few Aussie aircraft,..... once the conversion sets become available,...... a few Malta aircraft are planned too including a Mk.II!

 

Cheers,

             Tony 

 

 

[Eric Mc]

Great to see one (or two) finished. They certainly look the biz.

 

I take my hat off to the young lads who risked their necks in these things.

[tonyot]

8 minutes ago, Eric Mc said:

Great to see one (or two) finished. They certainly look the biz.

 

I take my hat off to the young lads who risked their necks in these things.

Thanks Eric,...... and most definitely,....... they had the highest casualty rate within the RAF,..... I`m in the middle of another book about these brave fellow`s now.

[bigbadbadge]

Hi Tony  great work on the two, they look stunning as usual and are very impressive models  that cleat DF loop looks fantastic too.  Had a real so ans so of a job knocking one up for the Italeri Hudson, so it's great that Airfix have included one in the kit.

Great work 

Chris

[tonyot]

27 minutes ago, bigbadbadge said:

Hi Tony  great work on the two, they look stunning as usual and are very impressive models  that cleat DF loop looks fantastic too.  Had a real so ans so of a job knocking one up for the Italeri Hudson, so it's great that Airfix have included one in the kit.

Great work 

Chris

Thanks Chris,.... yes I was relieved to see it on the parts,.... it did help a great deal and I should have a few to put in the spares box for other projects in the future too.  

[2996 Victor]

Beautiful work as always, Tony! The background information and attention to detail lifts them out of the ordinary.

Looking forward to getting my hands on one of these kits and having a go myself!

Cheers,

Mark

[tonyot]

18 minutes ago, 2996 Victor said:

Beautiful work as always, Tony! The background information and attention to detail lifts them out of the ordinary.

Looking forward to getting my hands on one of these kits and having a go myself!

Cheers,

Mark

Thanks Mark and very kind of you,..... you`ll love it when you get one! 

Jadlam Racing have them in stock for £19.95 and their postage is reasonable!

Cheers

         Tony

[keithjs]

Nice jobs there Tony.!! Made all the better by showing yet more colour schemes this model can be built in. Roll on a Mk.VII/VIII conversion and we can see some more.

[tonyot]

13 minutes ago, keithjs said:

Nice jobs there Tony.!! Made all the better by showing yet more colour schemes this model can be built in. Roll on a Mk.VII/VIII conversion and we can see some more.

Thanks Keith,.... yeah roll on indeed mate,...... I`ll be building a few!! 

[Vinnie]

Outstanding work again. 👍

[Wulfman]

Two beautiful Beauforts, excellent modelling as usual !

 

Wulfman

[Michael51]

But do they look real?

 

Yes they look very real - great work!

 

Michael

[tonyot]

1 hour ago, Vinnie said:

Outstanding work again. 👍

Thanks Vinnie. 

 

39 minutes ago, Wulfman said:

Two beautiful Beauforts, excellent modelling as usual !

 

Wulfman

Thank you Wulfman. 

 

33 minutes ago, Michael51 said:

But do they look real?

 

Yes they look very real - great work!

 

Michael

Thanks Michael,.... they look like models to me,..... but glad you like them! 

[ian1485]

3 hours ago, tonyot said:

Thanks Eric,...... and most definitely,....... they had the highest casualty rate within the RAF,..... I`m in the middle of another book about these brave fellow`s now.

 

[ian1485]

I’ve just read this. https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/124/2020/05/Beaufort-W6530-HOLLELY-V2_2.pdf
 

Sad story. 

 

lovely models. I can just imagine them lumbering into the sky on those underpowered engines.

[tonyot]

48 minutes ago, ian1485 said:

I’ve just read this. https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/124/2020/05/Beaufort-W6530-HOLLELY-V2_2.pdf
 

Sad story. 

 

lovely models. I can just imagine them lumbering into the sky on those underpowered engines.

Thanks mate,..... I`m not sure they were underpowered as such,..... but the Taurus engined versions had non feathering props which affected the single engined performance,...... the Mk.II`s and Aussie versions with Twin Wasps also had feathering props. Either way,.... the torpedo bomber role was so bloody dangerous, especially in daylight,...... and the men that did this have my utmost respect! 

[Jonners]

Very nice, Tony. A great looking aircraft, but one that I would definitely NOT have liked to fly, I think - especially with Taurus engines. The odds wouldn't have been great...

 

1 hour ago, tonyot said:

the men that did this have my utmost respect! 

Completely agreed. I once briefly had the very great priviledge of holding Kenneth Campbell's posthumously-awarded Victoria Cross. What it represented was not lost on me.

Jon

 

[tonyot]

51 minutes ago, Jonners said:

Very nice, Tony. A great looking aircraft, but one that I would definitely NOT have liked to fly, I think - especially with Taurus engines. The odds wouldn't have been great...

 

Completely agreed. I once briefly had the very great priviledge of holding Kenneth Campbell's posthumously-awarded Victoria Cross. What it represented was not lost on me.

Jon

 

Cheers Jonners,..... yeah talk about a poison chalice being posted to a Beaufort unit,......and yet they just got on with it..... bravest of the brave! I`ve often wondered what they thought when finding out which type they would be flying...... the Blenheim crews too.  

Edited April 19, 2021 by tonyot

[72modeler]

2 hours ago, Jonners said:

A great looking aircraft, but one that I would definitely NOT have liked to fly, I think

True, but at least the RAF and RAAF did not have to fly the TBD Devastator; the Beaufort at least had two engines and better defensive weaponry. Brave young men, each and every one of them. Wonderful tribute models, @tonyot-  I think those crews would be proud of you.

Mike

[Dunny]

Beautiful work Tony. I'm very jealous - unlike Dave I've not been able to get my hands on this kit yet! When I eventually do I'll be very happy if they turn out half as well as yours and @Rabbit Leader's. A most enjoyable WIP from both of you - thank you!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[Rabbit Leader]

Well done Tony, two exceptionally beautiful replicas of Bristols hard working Beaufort. It’s been a pleasure sharing the build thread with you and am sure we’ve both inspired many worldwide modellers to go out and buy this kit. Both these Beauforts are top shelf models, which is a true testament to your excellent modelling skills and this kits great overall design. You were always going to finish yours before mine, but have now given me the additional motivation to push my kit towards the finish line. 

Cheers, thanks and a big thumbs up from the other side of the world.. Dave. 

[tonyot]

8 hours ago, 72modeler said:

True, but at least the RAF and RAAF did not have to fly the TBD Devastator; the Beaufort at least had two engines and better defensive weaponry. Brave young men, each and every one of them. Wonderful tribute models, @tonyot-  I think those crews would be proud of you.

Mike

Thanks Mike,..... and very true about the Devastator but remember us Brit`s had our fair share of duffers,..... remember the Fairey Battle in France for a start!  The blokes flying biplane Swordfish torpedo bombers probably would have loved the Devastator too,.... although they did pretty well! 

 

27 minutes ago, Dunny said:

Beautiful work Tony. I'm very jealous - unlike Dave I've not been able to get my hands on this kit yet! When I eventually do I'll be very happy if they turn out half as well as yours and @Rabbit Leader's. A most enjoyable WIP from both of you - thank you!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

Thanks Roger,.... I hope you get your hands on one soon,....... Oz got theirs long before the UK, so it is shame you missed out then. 

 

9 minutes ago, Rabbit Leader said:

Well done Tony, two exceptionally beautiful replicas of Bristols hard working Beaufort. It’s been a pleasure sharing the build thread with you and am sure we’ve both inspired many worldwide modellers to go out and buy this kit. Both these Beauforts are top shelf models, which is a true testament to your excellent modelling skills and this kits great overall design. You were always going to finish yours before mine, but have now given me the additional motivation to push my kit towards the finish line. 

Cheers, thanks and a big thumbs up from the other side of the world.. Dave. 

Cheers Dave,.... and thanks for the invite to join in on your thread mate,......your Beaufort is coming along beautifully. I`ve got another one which I`ll probably build as an early 22 Sqn aircraft,.....inspired by your choice of schemes,... and a book I`m reading.   

[IanC]

Nice work as ever Tony. 

 

When I finally get mine I'll be doing a St Eval- based 217 Sqn Coastal Command aircraft, so I can use the famous colour photos as reference. Hope it turns out as neatly as yours.

[tonyot]

3 hours ago, IanC said:

Nice work as ever Tony. 

 

When I finally get mine I'll be doing a St Eval- based 217 Sqn Coastal Command aircraft, so I can use the famous colour photos as reference. Hope it turns out as neatly as yours.

Thanks Ian and I`ll look forward to that mate,.... I intend on doing one of those too,...... a great scheme with the black undersides,...... and a great way to pay our respects to these brave men.  

[stevej60]

Two cracking builds of this new kit Tony,great finishing on both.