BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER M k.X 47
filler, by allowing it to ooze from
the join and covering the exterior.
When sanded, the CA filled any
tiny crevices or faults that would
otherwise have required extra
work. The completed interior floor
could then be offered from below,
where it literally clicked into place
and could have been left without
glue. At this point, two holes were
drilled in the sides of the nose to
accept a pair of aerials later in the
build. The next step was to affix
the separate belly plate; however,
test-fitting had shown that clean-
up of the lower wing join would
be marginally easier if this was
left off at this stage. With that in
mind, work moved to the wings.
These comprised two parts each,
complete with moulded wheel
bays in the lower parts. Fitting thehalves together was simple, with
minimal seam sanding required
afterwards. Although a specific
landing light for the aircraft being
modelled was selected, in truth
this was moot, since that area had
to be filled...rocket-armed aircraft
had their landing lights plated
over to avoid damage from the
rocket exhausts. Lastly, late-type
wingtip lights, and the separate
ailerons were fitted, which left
the wings complete and ready to
attach to the fuselage.Herculean power
Adding the wings was simplicity
itself; the spars provided location
and support, which allowed
liquid cement to be run into
the join once everything was
butted together. As snug asROCKET QUEEN
VARIATION ON A THEME
Typically thorough, Airfix included several optional extras in this kit.
Probably the most notable of these was the tailplane set-up, as two
complete units were provided to cater for the early and late Mk.Xs, and
their different elevator hinge lines. Additionally, several minor variants
were represented by different transparencies. Both types of landing light
cover were included, along with early or late wingtip navigation lights.filler, by allowing it to ooze from
the join and covering the exterior.
When sanded, the CA filled any
tiny crevices or faults that would
otherwise have required extra
work. The completed interior floor
could then be offered from below,
where it literally clicked into place
and could have been left without
glue. At this point, two holes were
drilled in the sides of the nose to
accept a pair of aerials later in the
build. The next step was to affixThese comprised two parts each,
complete with moulded wheel
bays in the lower parts. Fitting theliquid cement to be run into
the join once everything was
butted together. As snug asKIT COLOUR SCHEMES
Airfix’s two liveries in its new Beaufighter kit are:- TF.X, NE829/PL-J, Fg Off Maurice Exton DFC, 144 Sqn, RAF Banff,
Scotland, October 9, 1944 - TF.X, RD367/H, 27 Sqn, RAF South East Asia Command, Burma,
June-August 1945
“THE PARTS PRESENTED A
SMOOTHER SURFACE FINISH THAN
OTHER RECENT RELEASES”
Since the tailwheel was not completely covered in flight, a raised option was
supplied as well as the standard unit. Whichever is chosen, it must be trapped
between the fuselage halves.46-51_Beaufighter.CC.indd 47 19/03/2015 14:58