Airfix 1:72nd Bristol Beaufort MK 1 - Sitting pretty in the North African desert late 1942

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

Dear fellow modellers. Here is my most recent creation. The rather excellent recently released  Bristol BeaufortMk1 in 1:72 scale.

Built  OOB with a slight departure from the kit decals. This is a sort of 22 Squadron aircraft. I've done it without the torpedo fit but as a land based medium bomber. A What If of sorts. I did find a reference to 22 Squadron being in the North African desert from early 1942. With this in mind I elected to do it in RAF Desert colours. 

 

I liked this kit very much. I believe it's a very recent moulding? There is a ICM offering in 1:48 this might be one for me to buy in the near future too. I hope you like it posed on my desert diorama base, which I made for a previous 1:48 Hurricane Trop .

 

Paints are AK with some MIG silvers where necessary.  

Sorry I didn't do a WIP for this one. Did most of the work between meetings at work ! Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

I hand painted the underside Azure blue. The top cammo pattern was using my airbrush and I used the blue tack sausage method to deliniate the two colours. I used the painting guide from the kit instructions and lightly ma4ked with pencil the pattern.

 

I'm quite astounded this has received some many likes so far. Thank You all so much. 

Since i took the pics i've tidied up the paint on the glazing bars on the cockpit. So i'm a bit happier with the end final result now

 

Regards, Andy

 

A few of the requisite 'Vintage' shots..

 

 

 

 

Underside - i do like the RAF Azure Blue. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2022 by Col Walter E Kurtz
additional commentary added

[russ c]

That`s a great looking Beaufort there Andy. Superb build, photo`s and setting too

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

2 minutes ago, russ c said:

That`s a great looking Beaufort there Andy. Superb build, photo`s and setting too

Thank you Russ. Much appreciated positive comments.  I really like the Beaufort as an subject. The glazing bars were quite a challenge on this one.. not as crisp as I'd like. Thank you though 

[Horatio Gruntfuttock]

That looks the bee's knees Andy - love the pose and the effect of a hot sun blasting down on it. Your model is beautifully constructed and painted in that reasonably unfamiliar scheme - well done!

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

Why thank you for your comments and appreciation. The hot sun effect is just a 40 watt reading lamp arranged  directly above for the pictures. As it's the desert diorama I thought this would be the best way to capture the lights intensity. The diorama used real sand and small bits of gravel and luchen. Quite simple really . P,eased you like the effect! Cheers.

Coincidentally quite a few e Beaufort were  made under licence in Australia,mainly to serve as home defence aircraft! 

Kind Regards, Andy

[Robert_]

Absolutely stunning. Well done and thanks for sharing. 

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

1 minute ago, Robert_ said:

Absolutely stunning. Well done and thanks for sharing. 

Thanks very much Robert.its my pleasure to show my humble work. Glad you like it. Cheers, Andy

[Dunny]

Andy,

 

Lovely build and finish! It's a cracker of a kit - I've just ordered another after my recent finish,

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[stevehnz]

That has come up well, a nice kit by everything I've read of it & you've brought out the best in it. I especially like the last photo, maybe it was the lighting but its caught that washed out faded deserty look rather well to my eye.

Steve.

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

6 hours ago, Dunny said:

Andy,

 

Lovely build and finish! It's a cracker of a kit - I've just ordered another after my recent finish,

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

Thanks Roger. It was your Beaufort that initiated my build. Ihave to say your example was much better than mine. Thanks . Andy

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

4 hours ago, stevehnz said:

That has come up well, a nice kit by everything I've read of it & you've brought out the best in it. I especially like the last photo, maybe it was the lighting but its caught that washed out faded deserty look rather well to my eye.

Steve.

Thanks Steve. The kit impressed me too! The last pic is a trick of the light really! I was in half a mind to add some white to the paints to tone them down ,but  lost my nerve in the end . The cockpit goes together without issues and the fuselage halves were almost snap fit. Glad you like it. Thanks, regards, Andy

 

[Dunny]

47 minutes ago, Col Walter E Kurtz said:

Ihave to say your example was much better than mine

Hmmm, I respectfully disagree Andy -  let's just say different. I'm thinking about a Coastal Command finish for my next one, which should be fun!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[keith in the uk]

Looks very good indeed 👍 well done.  

[bigbadbadge]

Lovely Beau Andy, great work, scheme and base too, like it.

Chris

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

3 hours ago, Dunny said:

Hmmm, I respectfully disagree Andy -  let's just say different. I'm thinking about a Coastal Command finish for my next one, which should be fun!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

You are too modest and kind Roger.

 

Now CC liveried Beaufort sounds nice! I'm very tempted to buy the 1:48 ICM kit myself. It's quite expensive for what it is  I've seen it for around £45.00 online. Maybe an early Xmas present? .

 

Sorry the Socceroos didn't prevail against Argentina . I watched the game and was very impressed  by their skill and spirit. I love supporting an underdog ..I have to being a England supporter! 😂 

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

44 minutes ago, bigbadbadge said:

Lovely Beau Andy, great work, scheme and base too, like it.

Chris

Thanks Chris. It's a lovely kit. Glad you thought I did it justice. Cheers! Andy

[MACALAIN]

On 03/12/2022 at 16:13, Col Walter E Kurtz said:

Dear fellow modellers. Here is my most recent creation. The rather excellent recently released  Bristol BeaufortMk1 in 1:72 scale.

Built  OOB with a slight departure from the kit decals. This is a sort of 22 Squadron aircraft. I've done it without the torpedo fit but as a land based medium bomber. A What If of sorts. I did find a reference to 22 Squadron being in the North African desert from early 1942. With this in mind I elected to do it in RAF Desert colours. 

 

I liked this kit very much. I believe it's a very recent moulding? There is a ICM offering in 1:48 this might be one for me to buy in the near future too. I hope you like it posed on my desert diorama base, which I made for a previous 1:48 Hurricane Trop .

 

Paints are AK with some MIG silvers where necessary.  

Sorry I didn't do a WIP for this one.Did most of the work between meetings at work ! Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

I hand painted the underside Azure blue. The top cammo was using my airbrush and I used the blue tack sausage method to deliniate the two colours. I used the painting guide from the kit instructions and lightly ma4ked with pencil the pattern.

 

Regards, Andy

Thought I'd add a couple of Vintage shots 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well done.

 

Alain

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

1 hour ago, MACALAIN said:

Well done.

 

Alain

Merci Beacoup Alain. 

[François Escudé]

very nice Andy !! love it !!👏

[Richard E]

On 12/3/2022 at 3:13 PM, Col Walter E Kurtz said:

Built  OOB with a slight departure from the kit decals. This is a sort of 22 Squadron aircraft. I've done it without the torpedo fit but as a land based medium bomber. A What If of sorts. I did find a reference to 22 Squadron being in the North African desert from early 1942. With this in mind I elected to do it in RAF Desert colours. 

 

Excellent work; as it's a subject I know very little about, had you not titled it as a What If/What Could Be I would have accepted it as a very well recreated replica of a genuine aircraft.

 

One feature which hasn't attracted any attention is it the very well rendered base - it helps give your black and white photographs a credible contemporary feel. 

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

1 hour ago, François Escudé said:

very nice Andy !! love it !!👏

Merci Francois!  Glad you love it . Cheers. Kind Regards Andy

 

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

1 hour ago, Richard E said:

 

Excellent work; as it's a subject I know very little about, had you not titled it as a What If/What Could Be I would have accepted it as a very well recreated replica of a genuine aircraft.

 

One feature which hasn't attracted any attention is it the very well rendered base - it helps give your black and white photographs a credible contemporary feel. 

Thanks Richard.  It's also a type I have a sketchy knowledge about at best too. I wanted to do this one in the desert. The base board I just sort of knocked up in a couple of hours. Kiln dried sand , some carefully selected gravel, some lichen from Suffolk  and plenty if pva glue.  Glad you like it. I got the inspiration from some ww2 pics of North Africa, It's where my grandfather served with the 8th Army and I have his wartime snapshots which show similar features. Thanks for your compliment on my humble work. Regards, Andy

Edited December 4, 2022 by Col Walter E Kurtz

[Sky Keg]

Great results Mr Colonel!!!!  A very pleasing subject to gaze upon.  I salute you my friend!!!! 

 

Mike

[Col Walter E Kurtz]

Thank you Mike ! 

It's been well recieved so far. Cheers for your compliments. 

Kind Regards, Andy

[georgeusa]

I really like your desert scheme Beaufort.  Your diorama is also a delight.  The black and white photographs are a treat.  All in all, just very nice package.  I have the new ICM 1/48 Beaufort and just looking at the box contents, it seems like it will be a nice build and you really should take a look at it if you are a Beaufort fan.  I kinda consider the Beaufort to the Beaufighter like the B-24 is to the B-17.  Both underappreciated and upstaged by their more well know brethren.  Thanks for sharing.