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Beaufighter Mk.21 Conversion


Beggsy

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G'day everyone.

 

With my Beaufort project finished, I summoned up the mojo to deal with a few outstanding issues on this project.  And shortly after that, it was done!  This is the Airfix Beaufighter TF.X with some modifications to turn it into the first Mk.21, as flown on May 26, 1944.  The work needed for the conversion was relatively tame compared to the Beaufort, but I ended up making a bunch of extra work for myself with resin engines and Eduard lowered flaps.

 

Here are some details

Kit:  Airfix Beaufighter TF.X

Aftermarket:

 - Barracuda resin wheels with tread pattern

 - Eduard general photoetch set

 - Eduard photoetch flaps

 - Eduard masking set

 - HPM resin autopilot housing, instrument panel and rear canopy

 - CMK resin hedgehog exhausts

 - Vector resin Hercules engines

 - Quickboost resin undercarriage doors

Paint:

 - Exterior: Gunze H-302 (approx. RAAF Foliage Green)

 - Interior: Mix of Tamiya XF-81 (Dark Green 2 (RAF 2)) and XF-21 (Sky)

Decals:  From the HPM set, tail number modified into A8-1 (the font is not quite correct but close enough.  If I stumble across a better set in future I'll repaint and re-decal that area)

Other modifications:

 - Drilled out the gun ports in the lower fuselage

 - Left off the HPM machine gun barrels as A8-1 and A8-2 didn't have the extra wing guns

 - Drilled out bulbs in the wingtip lights

 - Opened up tubes on the front of the exhausts by rotating the point of an exacto knife

 - Added EZ-line aerial wire

 - Removed second antenna behind DF loop

 - Added greebling inside the fuselage (slightly visible from just the right angle)

 - Added feature on front of canopy (rear-view mirror?) from styrene card

 

And now, here are the photos!

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This is definitely one of my better finishes for an aircraft with a single colour all-over.

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The canopy windows are big and very clear.

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The after-market flaps, wheels and gear doors all look great!

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Finally, here are a few side-by-side with the Beaufort.

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At this rate, I think I'm actually finishing kits faster than buying them this year! 😮

 

 

 

 

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Totally awesome Beggsy, that a fantastic and supremely accurate DAP Beaufighter and a fitting tarmac buddy to your superb Beaufort.

Although a somewhat plain scheme, the attention to detail and historical significance makes up for the lack of colourful markings. 

Cheers and beautifully modelled.. Dave 

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23 minutes ago, djos said:

I am planning same conversion

 

Which parts are you looking at using?  I saw that CMK do a full conversion set now.  If the rest of it has as much detail as the hedgehog exhaust I used, it should be great.  The HPM set is pretty good too, but hard to find these days.

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10 hours ago, Beggsy said:

 

Which parts are you looking at using?  I saw that CMK do a full conversion set now.  If the rest of it has as much detail as the hedgehog exhaust I used, it should be great.  The HPM set is pretty good too, but hard to find these days.

 

Hi Beggsy. i purchase CMK, and only still not decide which model to use, Hasegawa or Airfix one.

 

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9 hours ago, k5054nz said:

On reflection, seeing the amount of AM required makes me sad there's not a mainstream Mk.21 out there.

 

Most of the AM was just detail upgrades.  The CMK set and the Airfix kit together would make a perfectly good Mk.21, I just decided to go all-in on the details.

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Thanks for the kind words everyone!

 

In excellent news on the "Aircraft-built-at-Fishemans-Bend" front, the Avro Lincoln conversion set from Blackbird has just come back into stock, and I've ordered one.  That's going to be a big project!

 

If anyone else had been eyeing up that set, get in quick and order yourself one!

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