Scale aviation modeller international

Sam

THE

First Look

Revell 1/48 Beaufighter TF.X

(Test Shot)

see page 40

July 2018 WORLD’S BEST MODEL NEWSPAPER ‘FREE’ http://www.sampublications.com

Beaufighter TF.X (Test Shot)First look at Revell 1/48 Beaufighter TF.X (Test Shot)

I is not the finished article and is not injected in production will start by giving my normal disclaimer about previewing a test shot, this

quality plastic so you may see a few sink marks and incomplete engraving that will be missing or

replaced on the production kit.the box were that Revell had supplied me with two kits in error. My first thoughts on opening

I know the Beaufighter was a large aircraft but this kit at first look contains almost twice as

much plastic as the Tamiya kit.But I soon realised why this

kit is very well detailed, where Tamiya only supplied the cockpit Revell have detailed the whole of

the fuselage using 19 separate parts plus some very nice detail on the inside of the fuselage halves. They

have also supplied the options for positioning the pilots escape hatch and navigators blister in the open position as well as the

crew entry hatch on the lower fuselage so you will at least get a chance to see all that lovely detail.

part counts is the large number of optional parts that have been Another reason for the large

supplied. Our example contained three styles of noses, the original bull nose, bull nose with a strike camera and a thimble nose. The

laps can be positioned extended or retracted and all the control surfaces are positionable, adding

some animation to your model. During the production run there were a number of changes made

to the tail. The tailfin is supplied with or without the extended fin fillet that was added to improve

directional control. But Revell have also supplied two complete tail surfaces with dihedral and a

choice of early or late elevators. Late production Beaufighters had a tailplane with reduced surface area to improve their balance,

and Revell have supplied both styles, a first I think in any scale. On most kits the wings are

assembled conventionally but on this kit Revell have supplied the whole of the lower wing as one large piece, which automatically

sets the dihedral on the wings at the correct angle while at the same time making a very rigid assembly. To this you add the 12 part Bristol Hercules engines, which include optional open or closed cooling

gills and a very nice representation of the complex undercarriage. Weaponry is next and this

is where Revell have skimped a little as you only get a very nice representation of the Torpedo complete with an air drop tail. The rocket armament often carried by the type is missing though the plates that they mount on are included on the same runners

as the thimble nose. All you need to do is source the rocket stubs and rockets or wait for

the later version of this kit that will no doubt include them.Markings are supplied

for two options• Bristol Beaufighter TF.X, NE429, P6-S, 489 Squadron, 1944. This aircraft has the

early style nose and no tail fillet plus early tailplanes. It has quite a worn finish and

a full set of D day stripes.• Bristol Beaufighter TF.X, RD467, QM-J. 254 Squadron, 1945. This has the later style tail and a fin

fillet plus a thimble nose.CONCLUSION

I am very impressed by this new kit and am eaget to add one to my stash

on its release in a few months time. The only issue I can see is that the heating pipe system looks a little

anaemic compared to photos but that is relatively easy to sort and is far outweighed by the large amount

of detail supplied out of the box.we will see many other version of the Beaufighter released by Revell I am sue over the next few years

and Hannants have already released

a decal sheet (48148) that supplies a further four marking options.My thanks to Revell for supplying

this new kit for a First Look, in advance of its worldwide release. Expect to see the new Beaufighter

TF.X on your Revell dealers shelves later in the summer and you can visit revels website at http://www.revell.de/en for all the latest product news.

EXCLUSIVE!

40 • JULY 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

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FIRST LOOK!

WINGNUT WINGS ANNOUNCE RESIN FIGURES!

A Long Time Coming

O

ver seven years ago

Wingnut Wings

announced they were

working with some of the top

sculptors to produce a range

of resin figures to compliment

there 1/32 scale aircraft kits.

Now they have announced

that the first of these resin

figures will be released later

this year in a range of limited

Edition boxes featuring figures

of World War One Aces and

their aircraft. What makes

this release is significant is

that all of the aircraft are kits

that are out of production and

obtaining collectors prices if

you can find them. The second

significant factor is that these

kits are expected to retail for

the same price as the original

kits without the resin figures.

The kits announced

to date are as follows:

• AMC DH.2 with a figure for
  Lanoe Hawker, VC, DSO.


• Sopwith Triplane with a figure
  of Raymond Collishaw, CB,
  DSO & Bar, OBE, DSO, DFC


• Fokker E.II Eindecker with a
  figure of Max Immelmann,
  Pour le Merite, Iron Cross
  First & Second Class, Knights
  Cross with Swords.
  Finally, the inevitable Red Baron, Manfred Von
  Richthofen’s Albatross D.V.
  The latter is the only kit
  that comes with more than
  one marking option as it
  also supplies markings for
  Von Richthofen’s Albatross
  D.III and Fokker Triplane.
  Neither of these aircraft have
  been produced by Wingnut
  Wings and they recommend
  using the Roden kits.

Large Mitten!

O

ne of Zvezda’s big

successes in the

last year was the

attractive Yak-130 (NATO

codename Mitten) in

1/72 scale. Now they have

announced that they will

be producing a 1/48 scale

Yak-130 but this will not be

just a scale up of its small

brother and I am sure will be

welcome by many modellers

who like modern jet trainers.

But as it will be released in

both its trainer and ground

attack version there are

a number of attractive

marking schemes. Hopefully,

this kit will be released

towards the end of 2019.

Wellington Story

A

irfix have released the box art for

their new 1/72 scale Wellington and

this shows one of the bravest acts

by a pilot during the Second World War.

During an air raid on Munster on the

7th July 1941 Wellington Mk.Ic, AA_V,

from 75 (New Zealand) squadron took

a hit from anti-aircraft fire setting

the starboard engine on fire.

The second pilot Sergeant James Ward

realised the aircraft was doomed unless the

fire could be

extinguished.

Breaking a

hole through

the fabric

structure of the

fuselage the

crew tried to

extinguish the

fire unsuccessfully. Though the astrodome

hatch So Sergeant Ward exited the aircraft

and by punching through the fabric covering

of the fuselage and wings enabling him to

grip the geodetic structure underneath. He

made his way to the engine while carrying

the canvas cockpit cover and attempting to

put the fire out until the cockpit covering

was blown away. He then managed to

make his way back inside the aircraft

which successfully returned to the UK.

Sergeant James Ward was subsequently

awarded the Victoria Cross for his action

and also supplied one of my favourite

quotes from Winston Churchill. When

he was introduced to the Prime mister

Churchill said, “You must feel very humble

and awkward in my presence,” he said.

“Yes, sir,” managed Ward. “Then you

can imagine how humble and awkward

I feel in yours,” was Churchill’s reply.

Unfortunately, Sergeant Ward did

not survive the Second World War but

the box art on the latest Airfix kit will be

a fitting tribute to a very brave man.

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