SecurityCodeRed Posted January 9 Posted January 9 (edited) First Beaufighter, picked up cheap from a vendor at SMW. Thought it would be an interesting build; I am trying to broaden my repertoire. Only Spitfires, Mosquitos and a Hurricane so far. adding some extras: Not installing the pilot and gunner as I'm adding some aftermarket details ... going to make a small diorama instead. I know I'll only need two crew... undecided which ones. Making a start: Cut away the control panel, quite detailed 3rd party to replace that. I'll get it smooth later... A quick prime. and I'll crack on with some interior green tomorrow. Edited January 11 by SecurityCodeRed 8
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 11 Author Posted January 11 Time for some PE ... and again found the Photo Etch glue from Deluxe a complete Godsend. ... after unblocking the minuscule nozzle! Decided to do the instrument panel and the side walls before tackling this nightmare...... I love some PE ...but some of these bits are the size of a grain of sand.... and you know those unused swabs that we all have left from the covid tests ... they make ideal model clean up sticks! They don't leave fine hairs like Cotton buds (Q-Tip for our American friends) Was nearly side railed by the instructions here, I thought they were showing the part upside down ...... realised the image was wrong...... Check twice ...glue once! Think I need to attach part 10 PE to the inside of the canopy. I checked and does seem that way. Will do that once I have painted the canopy frame. Thought I'd do a dry fit to see that nothing clashes or gets in the way That will do for today ...still lots to do ...but I need to watch some TV or something and refocus my eyes! 10
2996 Victor Posted January 12 Posted January 12 Fantastic start! This is another kit I've never managed to get around to, so I'll be watching your progress. I agree about PE parts - sometimes they're just too fiddly for me, but you've done a superb job and the cockpit is looking amazing! Cheers, Mark 1
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 13 Author Posted January 13 (edited) Another day .... some more PE! Cracking on ... Quick tape together ... I'm quite pleased with that fit, needn't have worried Some of the throttle ...and whatever levers where a challenge to say the least ... but they are in .... getting quite tight in there. Unpainted canopy added to cover most of the work so far.... was it worth the effort, we'll have to see That will have to do for now... I have on order some seatbelts/harnesses just to finish off... so I'll let my eyes rest for a few days.... Now for something easy ...wings perhaps! As always thanks for comments, help, critique and guidance. Edited January 13 by SecurityCodeRed 10
sandros Posted January 13 Posted January 13 Very nice cockpit. It's a pitty Eduard doesn't provide a seat as well to replace the "armoured" kit's offering.
Tomcat101 Posted January 14 Posted January 14 The cockpit is excellent. I built a 1/32 scale Bristol Beaufighter last year and I regret the cockpit didn't have half the detail yours has. Fantastic job. Good luck with the rest of the build.
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 14 Author Posted January 14 1 hour ago, sandros said: It's a pitty Eduard doesn't provide a seat as well to replace the "armoured" kit's offering. It seems they might have done. Here and i have seen this on ebay .... dont tempt me.... but im not needing that, i'll just go with the harness and call it a day. Here
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 14 Author Posted January 14 22 minutes ago, Tomcat101 said: I built a 1/32 scale Bristol Beaufighter last year and I regret the cockpit didn't have half the detail yours has Thanks Tomcat! I appreciate the comments.... oh, for a larger scale.... would help my eyes I'm sure ... but I have settled myself to be 1/48 only ....at the moment. Just enough room for detail, without taking over the house! one display cabinet only! 1 1
2996 Victor Posted January 14 Posted January 14 12 hours ago, SecurityCodeRed said: was it worth the effort Yes! Definitely! Lovely clean, neat work there - do you give tutorials? Cheers, Mark
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 14 Author Posted January 14 5 hours ago, 2996 Victor said: do you give tutorials? HA! Cheers Mark! I've only been doing it a couple years... not sure I should start my own Youtube channel just yet! It's not perfect, and I can see a few errors and some of it is not quite as neat as I would wish.... but with my sausage fingers and older eyes, they will have to pass for now. However, I am learning on each build, I shall attempt some weathering on this one, seen a lovely example online which gave me some ideas of what to do I do love doing these "work in progress" blogs... and if anyone finds something interesting then that's the idea. Peter 1
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 14 Author Posted January 14 To FILL or to DRILL ...that is the question... Drilled holes as per instructions for Rocket Pylons, filled one set of cartridge ejection holes I presume as directed .... seems odd that the others are left open? Starting to fill the gun ports, - as instructions. How were these done in real life? Did the Mk X even have them at all? Where they filled and smoothed completely or just perhaps daubed over and the echo of them remained, and perhaps reopened as necessity demanded? I know it looks a bit ropey right now. I got halfway and became undecided. Then finally should the exhaust mufflers have holes front and back? I can't seem to find any photos of the back of them. From photos that I have seen of the front it seems pretty obvious they are. So, I will drill holes in the protruding tubes, after a clean-up. A little experiment I think the back of the muffler looks better with the suggestion of a hole rather than without, but I am happy to be pointed in the right direction. 5
Col. Posted January 16 Posted January 16 Coastal Command didn't have wing guns fitted to their Beaufighter and it seems the various ports were fitted with wooden plugs. 1
Keeff Posted January 16 Posted January 16 Fantastic work on the PE ... clean and tidy and really enhances the cockpit. I'm tempted to add some to my Tamiya Beaufighter now ..... 🤔 Keith ☺️ 1
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 17 Author Posted January 17 On 16/01/2025 at 07:25, Col. said: Coastal Command didn't have wing guns fitted to their Beaufighter and it seems the various ports were fitted with wooden plugs. cool ... I scoured the internet for photos, could not find any definitive answers, so I'll fill and smooth then! a bit of homemade spue--glue, and a dab of surfacer and the jobs done, no one will ever know! and this has all become clear... I wondered why I didn't need to fill all the shell ejection holes.... doh! Think i will fit these now rather than later as instructions since painting after would be a pain ... especially since I am painting invasion stripes. One little issue with this kit ... this part seems to have warped quite bit. Still warped with rest of the wing glued in.... Hopefully won't be too much of an issue. quick test.... think with right pressure from above... we should be ok. Meanwhile, added a little scuffing to the insides and started the engines. A little before and after... flat coat ..then a slight brush of bronze to get the metallic look. does anyone have any good photos of these engines? think I need to add more trunking and cables. its looking a bit bare in there. As always, thanks for comments, help, critique and guidance. Peter 5
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 21 Author Posted January 21 Landing lights today........ Lights are silver chrome, with a dab of "Looks like Glass". Treated myself to some Eduard Masking, I thought that £4 now would save me that amount of hassle later ... Now for some airbrushing....catch you later ....... 8
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 22 Author Posted January 22 Arrived in the post today.... Should have perhaps put these on the seats before gluing them in, oh well you live and learn! Not saying it was a pain... but it was a pain! especially with the steering column in the way of drilling the hole but got there in the end. 5
dogsbody Posted January 23 Posted January 23 Here's a Hercules engine. No wires, just exhaust pipes leading to the collector ring. Chris
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 23 Author Posted January 23 7 hours ago, dogsbody said: Here's a Hercules engine. No wires, just exhaust pipes leading to the collector ring. Thanks Chris, I was looking at a few other photos as well, think I can add the exhaust pipes at least. and after reading this thread i am going do the same to the rear gun as well. Its looking a little bare back there so maybe some scratch build ...ammo boxes, first aid kit? taking my cue from this picture below. i was tempted to purchase ... however, when i saw the price of £25 I thought not! that's more than i paid for the kit in the first place! and does seem a lot of work in PE for something you'll never see, so only going to do the things that ...might show and cover up those unsightly molding marks as well. Rear Gunner going to get some love and an upgraded shooter... Thought he should have at least some ammo. A thin strip off the edge of a scalpel packet. ---work in progress... I'll give it a little paint and see how it looks later. Any other ideas and tips are always welcome. Peter 5
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 23 Author Posted January 23 update: wasn't happy with the ammo.... a rummage in the spares box later... Also had a go at some exhaust pipes in the engine. and hydraulics on the landing gear... 5
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 25 Author Posted January 25 sometime later ... The engines are exhausted ... and so am I Added a few extras in the back gunner's area, probably not historically accurate, but gives the impression of something there. and with the canopy on ... what you going to see... not a lot! Probably time to zip her together...wish me luck 6 1
dogsbody Posted January 25 Posted January 25 This is what WW2 era Bristol Hercules engines look like. The exhaust pipes of forward from the cylinders into the collector rings. The ignition/sparkplug wires go into the top of the cylinders from the rear of the engine. Chris 1 1
SecurityCodeRed Posted January 25 Author Posted January 25 10 minutes ago, dogsbody said: This is what WW2 era Bristol Hercules engines look like. The exhaust pipes of forward from the cylinders into the collector rings. The ignition/sparkplug wires go into the top of the cylinders from the rear of the engine. Cheers Chris I wasn't convinced I was doing it right.... looked at what I've done, i might be able tweak it, the copper wire is not glued in yet... if i put some slightly thicker copper coming forward from the two pieces towards the front .. that might look better. Had a quick look. its 1:30am but hey not doing anything tomorrow.... might be able to blag it like this ... 3
Pete M. Posted January 25 Posted January 25 One other item that stands out like the proverbial on the Tamiya kit is the battle damage repair patches they have unfortunately moulded into the wings! Now is your chance to eliminate them before you go to the paint shop... Cheers, Pete M. 2
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