TAMIYA 1:48 BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER MK.VI

Reviewer: Gavin Reed  (rec.models.scale)

The Bristol Beaufighter is one of Britain's famous night fighters of World War II and also was used by many other countries around the world - most notably the RAAF in the pacific arena.  This kit from Tamiya is brimming with quality with nice crisp injection molded parts, engraved panel lines and instructions in clear concise format.   While the kit is specifically marketed as a Mk.VI model one could produce many other versions as there are only small differences between variants and some of those differences can be taken from this kit.  Conversion to most other types would be relatively simple for the more experienced modeller, otherwise this kit's example is still very good nonetheless.

Construction begins with the cockpit which is not covered very well but adequate nonetheless featuring seats, stick, instrumentation panels and rear wall.   IIRC there is actually a cockpit detail set from True Details that can be used with this kit to enhance the interior a bit more.  Wheel well detail is not particularly flash but again adequate for wheels-down mode.  Other external detail is actually quite good.

Fit of all the parts is excellent and encountered no problems whatsoever - filler was even kept to a bare minimum during the project and if I was a bit more careful it would not need to have been called upon.  Wings in partcular fitted exceptionally well and only needed the glue to stay put - no coaxing was necessary to get it to sit perfectly.  The canopy also went on nicely but the plastic is a little on the thick side and slightly distorted - but still okay nonetheless.

I embarked on an Australian Mk.21 conversion using the parts in the box to make up my aircraft.  I did not need to scratchbuild any components because the kit provides both styles of engine intakes, underwing rocket pods and the bulge seen on the upper nose just in front of the cockpit.

The kit reproduces two different aircraft types with various markings being a Night Fighter VIF variant and an anti ship strike VIC variant.  I decided to invest in an aftermarket decal set from Propagteam to produce a RAAF bird and I am also aware that there is a decal set from Aeromaster (supposedly better) as well.  My Mk.21 aircraft was finished in overall foilage green depicting a 22.Sqn example based in the Phillipines in 1944/45 and blue/white roundels.  Decals used from the kit were excellent register and conformed nicely onto the aircraft's surface.

Overall this is an excellent kit and definitely worth purchasing for those who can afford the price and luxury of a superbly engineered kit.  Accuracy is quite good although I am not convinced on the subtle lines over the fins, wings and fuselage curvature but that could be my interpretation only.  If you feel like using this kit to produce another version then this is an excellent opportunity and given the number of Beaufighter aftermarket decal sets I am sure that a version out there is one you may well be after.  Highly recommended.

(Ed note: An excellent RAAF reference source would be the 'Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito' in Australian Service authored by Stewart Wilson and obtainable on the Australian Aviation website (www.ausaviation.com.au) which features a wealth of info on the Beaufighter in RAAF service. This includes markings and sketches for cockpit, Beaufighter interior, access panels and instrument panel.)

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An RAAF Mk.21 Beaufighter - not an example produced in the kit but achievable for those who wish
to embark on a conversion project just the same as Gavin appears to have done in his review.
This actual aircraft was delivered to the RAAF in November 1944 and went MIA in Sarawak area 1945