Converting Tamiya’s Beaufighter MkVI

To a Costal Command TFX of 455 Squadron RAAF.

By Tony Tanzer

This kit has been around for a couple of years now and it is the usual quality that Tamiya is known for in their kits. I decided to make a early Mk X in the Costal Command colours making up a model of UB-E of 455 Squadron RAAF. 455 Squadron RAAF operated out of Dalachy, Scotland alongside 489 Squadron RNZAF.

The Kit: 

The box contains Tamiya’s usual medium grey plastic consisting of six sprues, one sprue of clear plastic, two "poly cap" fasteners for the propellers and markings for three aircraft. In addition to the instructions there is a large sheet with a 1/48 scale diagram of both fuselage sides and upper surface camouflage demarcation to aid in painting of the model.
The instructions are clearly printed and easy to follow Tamiya has obviously designed a kit that will be used for as many versions as possible from the one moulding. Extra parts include the Sperry auto pilot for the Australian Mk.21, shorter air intakes, an extra tail wheel, a thimble nose which was seen on the TFX series and a set of propeller spinners. The latest Beaufighter release from Tamiya includes the dorsal wing fillet, torpedo aiming site for the pilot and the choice of a torpedo for the underside or a set of 500lb bombs. This is all provided in one new sprue that has been added to the kit that is otherwise the exact same kit that Tamiya released a couple of years ago.
The MkVI and the early Mk X are virtually identical from the outside making it an ideal option for conversion. The kit comes with some irregularities but as a novice aircraft builder I am probably ignorant of what the “purist” would pick up. I have always admired the Costal Command Beaufighters of 455 Sqn.. Especially when adorned in the D Day invasion stripes. Having decided what I wanted to build I had to find a suitable decal sheet buying the Aeromaster (Beaufighters: Whispering Death Part 2) which according to the Aeromaster website is no longer available. As well as a set of Eduard RAF Buckles
The Build: 

When it came time to start putting in the small details I went to the spares box and had a look for anything that might be suitable for the torpedo gear. I came up with some 1/35 Garand rifles that I cut down and reshaped after drilling the holes out from the fuselage (they are already there Tamiya has moulded them on the inside). After gluing these in I got some thin gauge wire for engine bracing and painting the engines and the inside of the engine cowls before masking it up and gluing it onto the wings using a bit of poetic license with their positioning. The molded flap actuator levers on parts C3 and C4 is incorrect so these were cut off and sanded flat. New actuator lever’s were made from scrap plastic and were fitted as shown in photo 1. The wheel wells are a clever bit of moulding that once made fit straight into the wing wells.
The rudder was cut off and repositioned . When it came to the rocket rails I cut off the rockets and used a razor saw to cut in the rails. Once I had completed all of this I painted the interior of the kit with Model Master British interior green, finishing off with a light wash of water colours. The outside received a coat of interior green to show up any visible mould lines or blemishes when these were taken care of, I used Model Master RAF Dark Sea Grey with the underside finished in RAF Sky. The invasion stripes were applied using Tamiya tape and some tedious measuring of the width of the stripes. When all of this was complete the kit got a coat of Clear gloss to allow the smooth application of the decals. The decals went on smoothly with a little bit of decal set to settle the decals into the mouldings. I then gave the kit a coat of flat followed by a wash using water colours. Finishing off with a sealer coat of flat.
Finally: 

The overall finish is quite pleasing and I am happy with the results I thoroughly enjoyed building this kit and after all the work it will not be my only foray into aircraft modelling.

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