Aussie Beaufighter??

[Mycapt65]

I have an old Aeromaster sheet and a Tamiya Beaufighter mkVI kit. I'd like to build the one in this artwork but I'm not sure if it's a real plane and if so how would it be armed. Seems some of the Mk21s had different wing guns and American zero length rocket launchers. The artwork shows torpedo shackles and no rockets. I'm looking to see if this would be an easy build with what's in the box. 

Thanks 

https://flic.kr/p/2nmdBFC

[Mycapt65]

Sorry I tried to load the pictures directly but not having any luck. The insert image box turns red and then nothing. This system of posting photos here is convoluted and aggravating 

[FinnAndersen]

18 minutes ago, Mycapt65 said:

Sorry I tried to load the pictures directly but not having any luck. The insert image box turns red and then nothing. This system of posting photos here is convoluted and aggravating 

Any help?

[RJP]

Was there a serial number?

[Troy Smith]

53 minutes ago, Mycapt65 said:

Sorry I tried to load the pictures directly but not having any luck. The insert image box turns red and then nothing. This system of posting photos here is convoluted and aggravating 

 

Do not use the insert image box from Flickr

look at bottom right of flickr,  there are 4 icons,  star, box with +, left facing arrow

click left facing arrow, pick "BB Code" 

click the box, it will copy the code you can see, you can select image size, "large 1024 x700 or so" is good"

paste that code here directly, do not use insert image

 

like this

 

Beau 1 by Ron  Stearns, on Flickr

 

1 hour ago, Mycapt65 said:

I have an old Aeromaster sheet and a Tamiya Beaufighter mkVI kit. I'd like to build the one in this artwork but I'm not sure if it's a real plane and if so how would it be armed. Seems some of the Mk21s had different wing guns and American zero length rocket launchers. The artwork shows torpedo shackles and no rockets. I'm looking to see if this would be an easy build with what's in the box. 

Hmm, we have had threads on Aussie Beaufighters before.

This has a few colour pics, 

 

I'll @Ed Russell @Sydhuey  @Magpie22

 

IIRC you can, but you need to do some minor modifications, also helps to list which sheet

 

so yon want A8-186

stick in into google

https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/beaufighter/A8-186.html

 

and

http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a8.htm

interesting...

"A8-186

05/04/45 5 AD.
21/05/45 5 RSU.
23/07/45 Allotted 22 Sqn.
21/09/45 Along with A8-12 and A8-183 took part in last recorded 22 Sqn operation which was to Ambon.
Pilot: FLGOFF C.G.Williams Nav Woodford (Parnell p.63).
15/10/45 5 AD.
13/11/45 stored. Category C
20/01/47 Approved for conversion to Instructional Airframe No. 8.
15/03/50 sold by DAP to W. Strong Borree Creek near Forest Hill for his children (Parnell p.78).
1965 Camden Museum of Aviation, Camden NSW.
Extant and coded as DU-I.
Currently located at Camden Museum of Aviation
This is a private collection and not open to the public"

 

I'll @NAVY870  as he works there, and would probably know more, and whats is needed for the Tamiya kit

..... he took the photos....

http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/index.php?/category/beaufighter-a8-186

 

HTH

T

[Ed Russell]

It's a bogus scheme. Painted on a nose which, as far as I know, has never been attached to a flying aircraft. "A8-186" was acquired in 1965 and restored using parts from many sources to become “Beau-gunsville“. The museum also has another nose section from A8-386 dubbed “Harry’s Baby” which never entered RAAF service.

@NAVY870 is the go-to man for further information.

[NAVY870]

No rocket rails or torpedo mounts

Dual 50 cals in the wings

Use the auto pilot bulge

Gunners cupola is an odd shape on Mk 21's, it has a cut out for the gun but the shape is that of a non gun variety

 

[Mycapt65]

1 hour ago, Troy Smith said:

 

Do not use the insert image box from Flickr

look at bottom right of flickr,  there are 4 icons,  star, box with +, left facing arrow

click left facing arrow, pick "BB Code" 

click the box, it will copy the code you can see, you can select image size, "large 1024 x700 or so" is good"

paste that code here directly, do not use insert image

 

like this

 

Beau 1 by Ron  Stearns, on Flickr

 

Hmm, we have had threads on Aussie Beaufighters before.

This has a few colour pics, 

 

I'll @Ed Russell @Sydhuey  @Magpie22

 

IIRC you can, but you need to do some minor modifications, also helps to list which sheet

 

so yon want A8-186

stick in into google

https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/beaufighter/A8-186.html

 

and

http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a8.htm

interesting...

"A8-186

05/04/45 5 AD.
21/05/45 5 RSU.
23/07/45 Allotted 22 Sqn.
21/09/45 Along with A8-12 and A8-183 took part in last recorded 22 Sqn operation which was to Ambon.
Pilot: FLGOFF C.G.Williams Nav Woodford (Parnell p.63).
15/10/45 5 AD.
13/11/45 stored. Category C
20/01/47 Approved for conversion to Instructional Airframe No. 8.
15/03/50 sold by DAP to W. Strong Borree Creek near Forest Hill for his children (Parnell p.78).
1965 Camden Museum of Aviation, Camden NSW.
Extant and coded as DU-I.
Currently located at Camden Museum of Aviation
This is a private collection and not open to the public"

 

I'll @NAVY870  as he works there, and would probably know more, and whats is needed for the Tamiya kit

..... he took the photos....

http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/index.php?/category/beaufighter-a8-186

 

HTH

T

I did want to do 186 until I just read its a bogus scheme and it seems like it had a short uneventful service. There's a second RAAF Beau on that decal sheet with a lion's head on the nose. Maybe I'll do that one or I'll do a spurious generic one. It doesn't bother me to make up my own markings once in a while if they are plausible and consistent with existing examples. 

 

Thanks all for the help. I'll dig more here for the necessary information. 

Be well 

Ron 

[Ed Russell]

4 minutes ago, Mycapt65 said:

There's a second RAAF Beau on that decal sheet with a lion's head on the nose.

The "lion" is actually a tiger. I haven't seen the decals but the tiger head Beaufighter is genuine. The pilot was a Richmond supporter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Football_Club

 

[Mycapt65]

13 minutes ago, Ed Russell said:

The "lion" is actually a tiger. I haven't seen the decals but the tiger head Beaufighter is genuine. The pilot was a Richmond supporter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Football_Club

 

That's cool thank you. Do you have any idea how this plane would have been armed? 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx

 

Australian Archives A9186 45 RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 22 City of Sydney Squadron
clicking on the title gives the option of looking at the file one page at a time or downloading a 572.5 Mb PDF.

 

No torpedoes, the RAAF went out of the torpedo bomber business in 1945

 

You do not say which serial number aircraft, 22 Squadron were dropping bombs in 1945, starting with the first Beaufighter mission on 11 February, 16X300 pound demo and 50 rounds of 20mm expended, where the records mention the ammunition expenditure it is only 20mm, no machine gun, the wing machine guns could be replaced by fuel tanks.  Bomb racks were under wing.  No mention of using rockets.

 

The squadron says the airfield at Tawi-Tawi was Sanga-Sanga or Sanga.

 

RAAF Beaufighter rocket trials using A19-186 were done in May/June 1944.  Trials with A8-1 in August 1944 included bomb racks carrying 500 pound bombs.

[Ed Russell]

9 hours ago, Mycapt65 said:

Do you have any idea how this plane would have been armed?

Not having seen the decals, I don't know which one it was. More than one aircraft carried the tiger.

[Sydhuey]

Other RAAF Mk 21 on that sheet is A8-23, with 31 Sqn , EH-C, early Mk 21 without wing .50's , more than likely 250 Ib bombs under wings , not sure about rocket fit.