Dunny Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 (edited) Hi All, My next build will be Airfix' lovely little Beaufort. Now some of you may have a rather alarming sense of deja vu, as I only completed one of these kits in November 2022 (itself a repeat build of an earlier failure), but fear not dear reader - this will be completed as a Mk.Ia!! I enjoyed the last build, and fancied a different scheme for this project. A bit of light browsing bought up this: I am planning to complete as the bottom left scheme, which is LR906 of No.2 Torpedo Training Unit, based at RAF Castle Kennedy, Scotland, in September 1943. I cannot find any photos of this aircraft, but the scheme appears repeatedly on various decal sheets. As you can see it is finished in white with EDSG upper surfaces, with DSG aircraft codes - until I hear different I shall go with this. I shan't bother with sprue shots as I've already built this kit - here's the WIP if anybody wishes to see it: Now if you look at the above schematics, you may note that the major difference between the MkI.a and the Mk.I is the turret (I think the Mk.Ia also used a later version of the Bristol Taurus). Now I dimly recalled that there had been some discussion on @Rabbit Leader's lovely build a couple of years back, and indeed a search through Dave's most entertaining WIP unearthed that the kit does contain the required turret components. Here's the thread: You will find the turret information on page 4 (thanks also to @AdrianMF for his significant contribution). Here is the clear sprue which shows the two turret types: You can see the glazing for the Mk.Ia Bristol turret bottom left, with the original Mk.I Daimler turret top right (I think that's the right way round?). Rather curiously, the sprues do not appear to contain the twin Brownings required for the Bristol turret, so some scratch-building may be required. The other interesting thing for this build will be the torpedo - my understanding is that training versions of the torpedo had a red or yellow nose, which will surely brighten up the scheme! Anyway, it should prove to be an interesting build! Thanks for looking, Roger Edited January 26 by Dunny Grammar & spelling 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 Hi All, Whilst searching in vain for pictures of LR906 I did turn up some interesting torpedo pics, both of which are related to ICM's British Torpedo Trailer kit (presumably carrying a training torpedo with red nose): Whilst I'd ideally like to see photos of the torpedo concerned I think that's enough for me to go for red, at least for the moment! Thanks for looking, Roger 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 Hi All, Another quick update. Whilst searching using a different browser (on laptop vs. phone ) I turned up a photo of a Beaufort in a similar scheme: Although it does show a different aircraft, as I suspected should be the case the white wraps around the leading edge of both wings and stabilisers - an important visual cue which I have seen missed on other builds of LR906. Interesting to also note that the aircraft carries no squadron or aircraft codes, and that the turret has been faired over. Also I could be mistaken, but is that a Yagi antenna mounted under the wing? The plot thickens, Thanks for looking, Roger 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Should be another great thread to follow. It's always nice seeing an Airfix Beaufort build and am slightly surprised we haven't seen another boxing for a Mk 1a among Airfix's 2023 releases. I'm sure it'll come one day soon. Cheers and all the best.. Dave 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 (edited) 32 minutes ago, Rabbit Leader said: Should be another great thread to follow. It's always nice seeing an Airfix Beaufort build and am slightly surprised we haven't seen another boxing for a Mk 1a among Airfix's 2023 releases. I'm sure it'll come one day soon. Cheers and all the best.. Dave Thanks Dave - I'm also surprised given the popularity of the Mk.I release. I have also just noted that the Mk.Ia carries a nose-mounted MG in some pics, so may need to plan for that too! Cheers, Roger Edited January 26 by Dunny Spelling 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 13 minutes ago, Dunny said: I have also just noted that the Mk.Ia carries a nose-mounted MG in some pics, so may need to plan for that too! Yes, I believe Tony O'Toole added these guns on a few of his great quick builds, however sadly those images have been taken down from the old WIP thread. I've also been tempted to start a second Beaufort kit and have a set of P & W engines and nacelles to go with it, however I've committed myself to a few GB's this year, so doubt I'll find the time to fit this one in. Cheers.. Dave 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 1 minute ago, Rabbit Leader said: I've also been tempted to start a second Beaufort kit and have a set of P & W engines Nice - sounds like a DAP build in the wings? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Ooooooo anther Beaufort, looking forward to this one Roger, still got mine in the stash, to do one day!!! Chris 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 11 minutes ago, bigbadbadge said: Ooooooo anther Beaufort, looking forward to this one Roger, still got mine in the stash, to do one day!!! Chris Thanks Chris - I couldn't resist the colour scheme! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 It certainly is a striking scheme Roger and will stand out in your display. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliGauld Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Excellent choice Roger, I'm planning a Mk.Ia when I get round to mine so this will be invaluable. I thought i'd seen some photos and builds with the nose guns and will be looking forward to what you find. Cheers, Alistair 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheyJammedKenny! Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Nice project! I'm looking forward to this... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted January 27 Author Share Posted January 27 Hi All, Rather than diving in headlong as is my normal approach, I thought in the case of the turret a little investigation was required. Here's the instructions for the Mk.I turret: There are no instructions for the Mk.Ia turret, so to summarise, the changes are as follows: - Components D19 and D20 are retained and assembled in the same manner - Mounting ring D21 is replaced by D25 - Glazing components F18 and F10 are replaced by a single piece F13 - 2 x Browning 0.303 guns to be sourced/scratch built - Fuselage mount A5 replaces A3 - Fairing D36 deleted I thought a dry fit of the assembly was in order: Finally, here's the assembly within the appropriate fuselage mount (A5): With that important change bedded in I can now crack on with the build proper! Thanks for looking, Roger 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabbit Leader Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 Thats's a great help to identify what turret parts to use / discard. Much appreciated Roger. Cheers.. Dave 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 Great thinking getting that bit sorted. Looking forward to the build proper now. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 On 25/01/2023 at 21:09, Dunny said: Hi All, Another quick update. Whilst searching using a different browser (on laptop vs. phone ) I turned up a photo of a Beaufort in a similar scheme: Although it does show a different aircraft, as I suspected should be the case the white wraps around the leading edge of both wings and stabilisers - an important visual cue which I have seen missed on other builds of LR906. Interesting to also note that the aircraft carries no squadron or aircraft codes, and that the turret has been faired over. Also I could be mistaken, but is that a Yagi antenna mounted under the wing? The plot thickens, Thanks for looking, Roger Notice that this Beaufort has no turret. No, that is not a Yagi-style antenna under the wing. All I see is a straight rod-like antenna, the fuel dump pipe and the extended flame-dampening exhaust pipe. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AliGauld Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 Thanks for those instructions Roger, They will be invaluable. Cheers, Alistair 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Quack Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 Absolutely cracking scheme..........and a less well known Scottish airfield. I'm in. Niall. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 I think the Bristol-style 1a turret is the same as the Blenheim? In which case it could carry either a Vickers gun or Brownings? Any photo that showed the gun barrel(s) clearly would show which gun(s) were mounted, I guess. Looking forward to the white acheme! Regards, Adrian 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted January 27 Author Share Posted January 27 14 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said: Thats's a great help to identify what turret parts to use / discard. Much appreciated Roger. Cheers.. Dave Thanks Dave - I figured that it may be of help tp somebody! 12 hours ago, bigbadbadge said: Great thinking getting that bit sorted. Looking forward to the build proper now. Chris Thanks Chris - hopefully plain sailing from here! 3 hours ago, dogsbody said: Notice that this Beaufort has no turret. No, that is not a Yagi-style antenna under the wing. All I see is a straight rod-like antenna, the fuel dump pipe and the extended flame-dampening exhaust pipe. Chris Thanks for the clarification Chris. It is a little curious. On looking at the photo again it appears to be completely unarmed - curious? 2 hours ago, AliGauld said: Thanks for those instruction Roger, They will be invaluable. Cheers, Alistair Thanks Alistair - as I said to Dave above, I figured it could help somebody... 50 minutes ago, Dr. Quack said: Absolutely cracking scheme..........and a less well known Scottish airfield. I'm in. Niall. Welcome aboard Niall! 38 minutes ago, AdrianMF said: I think the Bristol-style 1a turret is the same as the Blenheim? In which case it could carry either a Vickers gun or Brownings? Any photo that showed the gun barrel(s) clearly would show which gun(s) were mounted, I guess. Looking forward to the white acheme! Regards, Adrian Thanks Adrian - so I could just mount a single Vickers? That would make life easy... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 As for a torpedo trolley, each Airfix Swordfish kit comes with one. Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted January 27 Author Share Posted January 27 2 minutes ago, dogsbody said: As for a torpedo trolley, each Airfix Swordfish kit comes with one. Chris ...and ask who's the fool who didn't keep his after his Swordfish build? Never mind... 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 37 minutes ago, Dunny said: ...and ask who's the fool who didn't keep his after his Swordfish build? Never mind... What? Dude, I have spare parts that were left over from kits I built in the early 70's! They're all stored in these two units: Chris 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted January 27 Author Share Posted January 27 3 minutes ago, dogsbody said: What? Dude, I have spare parts that were left over from kits I built in the early 70's! They're all stored in these two units: Chris That's impressive - I feel rather inadequate now 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted January 27 Share Posted January 27 It's what happens when you're somewhat anal-retentive. Chris 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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