In Box Review of Airfix/Craftmaster 1/72nd Scale
Bristol Beaufighter T.F.X.
Kit no. 1211-50
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
My kit has a copyright date of 1967.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
My kit has a copyright date of 1967.
HISTORY:
The Bristol Beaufighter started life as an improvisation, being designed to use many parts of the Bristol Beaufort which was already in production.
First flown in 1939. the Beaufighter was in service with the R.A.F. in 1940 as a night fighter. Later variants were used as long-range day fighters and ground strafers, and by 1943 the T.F.X. was in action with Coastal Command.
The T.F.X., which was the last variant to be produced in large numbers, combined the virtures of the fighter with the striking power of a torpedo-bomber, and soon rendered the earlier torpedo-bombers obsolete. By the end of the war over 5,000 Beaufighters had been produced and used on almost all fronts.
The T.F.X. was powered by two Bristol Hercules XVII engines, giving a top speed of 320 mph and a loaded range of 1,400 miles. In addition to the 18 ins. torpedo it was armed with four 20 mm cannon in the nose, one .303 in. machine gun in the dorsal position and either 6 machine guns or eight rocket projectiles on the wings.
Its wingspan was 57 ft. 10 in. and its length was 41 ft. 4 in.
THE KIT:
Airfix is an old prolific model company based in the UK. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Beaufighter torpedoing a ship. It is in a wave pattern of dark-green and dark-grey over a dark egg green under carriaige. It has a red fuselage code of MB (roundel) T and a black serial no. NT950 under the elevators.
One side panel of the box has a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the Beaufighter.
The other side panel has 3 color box arts of other aircraft kits Airfix markets: an Arado Ar-196, a P-47D Thunderbolt and a Hawker Hunter. No kit numbers or scale is shown for these. I assume they are to 1/72nd scale.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 3 medium-grey parts trees, individual medium-grey fuselage and wing halves, a clear tree, a black tree, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single sheet printed on both sides in 8" x 9" page format.
The face side of the instructions begins with the history of the Beaufighter, above suggested color scheme and the first assembly step.
The reverse side of the instructions has 2 more steps for a total of 3. Steps are all accompanied by a lot of text to walk modelers through the builds.
There are no parts tree illustration in the instructions. Trees are not alphabetized and there are no part number tabs on them next to the parts. Bad move Airfix.
Part trees are not cello bagged either.
The 1st medium-grey tree holds: elevators, torpedo halves (4 parts)
The Bristol Beaufighter started life as an improvisation, being designed to use many parts of the Bristol Beaufort which was already in production.
First flown in 1939. the Beaufighter was in service with the R.A.F. in 1940 as a night fighter. Later variants were used as long-range day fighters and ground strafers, and by 1943 the T.F.X. was in action with Coastal Command.
The T.F.X., which was the last variant to be produced in large numbers, combined the virtures of the fighter with the striking power of a torpedo-bomber, and soon rendered the earlier torpedo-bombers obsolete. By the end of the war over 5,000 Beaufighters had been produced and used on almost all fronts.
The T.F.X. was powered by two Bristol Hercules XVII engines, giving a top speed of 320 mph and a loaded range of 1,400 miles. In addition to the 18 ins. torpedo it was armed with four 20 mm cannon in the nose, one .303 in. machine gun in the dorsal position and either 6 machine guns or eight rocket projectiles on the wings.
Its wingspan was 57 ft. 10 in. and its length was 41 ft. 4 in.
THE KIT:
Airfix is an old prolific model company based in the UK. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Beaufighter torpedoing a ship. It is in a wave pattern of dark-green and dark-grey over a dark egg green under carriaige. It has a red fuselage code of MB (roundel) T and a black serial no. NT950 under the elevators.
One side panel of the box has a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the Beaufighter.
The other side panel has 3 color box arts of other aircraft kits Airfix markets: an Arado Ar-196, a P-47D Thunderbolt and a Hawker Hunter. No kit numbers or scale is shown for these. I assume they are to 1/72nd scale.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 3 medium-grey parts trees, individual medium-grey fuselage and wing halves, a clear tree, a black tree, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single sheet printed on both sides in 8" x 9" page format.
The face side of the instructions begins with the history of the Beaufighter, above suggested color scheme and the first assembly step.
The reverse side of the instructions has 2 more steps for a total of 3. Steps are all accompanied by a lot of text to walk modelers through the builds.
There are no parts tree illustration in the instructions. Trees are not alphabetized and there are no part number tabs on them next to the parts. Bad move Airfix.
Part trees are not cello bagged either.
The 1st medium-grey tree holds: elevators, torpedo halves (4 parts)
The 2nd medium-grey tree holds: propellers, cowlings, pilots, exhaust pipes, landing gear legs etc. (10 parts)
The 3rd medium-grey tree holds: the main wheel halves, rockets, air scoops, tail wheel, machine guns, propeller shafts, antenna, landing gear compartment doors etc. (33 parts)
The fuselage halves, upper and lower wings are next.
The clear tree holds the cockpit windows. (2 parts)
The black tree holds the display stand parts. (2 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kits contents.
This is a nice older kit. I have 3 different kits of Beaufighters in my stash.
I bought this kit at my local hobby shop years ago that went out of business.