BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER M k.X 53
Beaufighter TF.X (early production), in service within RAF overseas commands- typical as delivered to RAF Overseas Commands from late 1943 through to November 1944.
- DF loop fairing and tropical items usually removed at MU for coastal-destined aircraft.
Beaufighter TF.X (mature production from mid-late 1944)- typical as delivered to Coastal Command squadrons through to January 1945.
- Early R/P installations were Mk.I projectors and either armour-
peircing or high-explosive heads, depending on mission. Later
R/P installation used the same 'pannier' (blast plate plus wing
fairing with electrical installation included) but newer Mk.III
single-rail projectors and their associated stirrup and saddle
hardware, as well as newer AP Mk.II solid-shot warheads.
Beaufighter TF.X (mature production early RD-series airframes from late 1944)- typical as delivered to the service through October-November 1944 and to the squadrons through January-February 1945
Note enlarged elevator design and shorter balance tab control rods and
horns moved from below to above the elevators.
Ususally delivered with 'clean' nose caps but these were often retrofitted
with F.24 camera-endowed caps on an as-needed basis.
Some squadrons replaced windscreen wiper assembly with old Coastal
Command-developed venturi box ahead of windscreen on nose.
Most aircraft delivered after July 1944 retained the torpedo gear beneath
the fuselage unless tasked as bombers (increasingly more rare for most
squadrons after October 1944)
All 1/72 scale52-57_Drawings.CC.indd 53 19/03/2015 15:07