A_M_W_2015_05_

BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER M k.X 51

The last stages of assembly

went as smoothly as the rest of

build, although care must be

taken to align the undercarriage

legs correctly. Hand-painted

lines along the wing roots

and around the dinghy access

panel constituted the finishing

touches to the weathering...

these represented doped-on

sealing strips which were replaced

regularly in service. The exhaust

rings and propellers were clicked

into place without any need for

glue, such was the excellent fit.

All the kit-supplied aerials slotted

in without issue, and were then

rigged with Uschi Van Der

Rosten Lycra thread. The

final touches were the two

tiny aerials added to the

nose, and a whip aerial on the

fuselage spine...all made from

heat-stretched styrene.

Worth the wait

There has been much talk here

of excellent fit and engineering,

and in this kit Airfix has taken

another step closer to the leaders

in the field. Where previous new-

tool kits needed a little fettling

or filler, this kit needed none.

It literally fell together in the

manner of a modern Eduard or

Tamiya kit. It may not have been

quite as crisply moulded as the

aforementioned, but it was not at

the cost of being enjoyable, as this

build was an absolute pleasure.

So may the rejoicing continue,

for now modellers truly have an

affordable and excellent 1/72

Beaufighter to enjoy.

The last stages of assembly

went as smoothly as the rest of

build, although care must be

rigged with Uschi Van Der

Rosten Lycra thread. The

final touches were the two

tiny aerials added to the

nose, and a whip aerial on the

fuselage spine...all made from

heat-stretched styrene.

Worth the wait

There has been much talk here

of excellent fit and engineering,

and in this kit Airfix has taken

build, although care must be another step closer to the leaders

taken to align the undercarriage

legs correctly. Hand-painted

lines along the wing roots

and around the dinghy access

panel constituted the finishing

touches to the weathering...

these represented doped-on

sealing strips which were replaced

regularly in service. The exhaust

rings and propellers were clicked

into place without any need for

glue, such was the excellent fit.

All the kit-supplied aerials slotted

in without issue, and were then

The last stages of assembly

went as smoothly as the rest of

build, although care must be

RECOMMENDED

REFERENCE

The Bristol Beaufighter

Modellers Datafile, by Richard

A Franks (SAM Publications),

ISBN: 0-9533465-5-2

Separate hubs were provided for the wheels, but the two-part tyres meant that

the inner section had to be painted before assembly, as this was the only way to

avoid masking. The rest of the tyre was subsequently painted by hand.

Once the exhaust stacks had been added, stains were airbrushed with a very thin

black-brown mix around the nacelles and cannon apertures, which by this time had

been daubed with a red-brown colour.

Kit-supplied weaponry comprised an aerial torpedo complete with the

breakaway stabiliser and a set of rockets. The latter were used on this model, with

added fuse wires.

46-51_Beaufighter.CC.indd 51 19/03/2015 15:01