Good work Bob,
although I am trying to cut my collection down, I also picked this up the other day from my local hardware shop - purely in the name of supporting local businesses you understand. It'll be a while before I start it but I do find the instructions are not entirely clear on whether you put rockets on in addition to or instead of the torpedo. What do you think?
Hi Wizzel,
in answer to your question is one or the other not both.
Torpedo armed Beaufighter's were known as 'Torbeau's' and were dedicated to torpedo shipping, they were normally accompanied on missions by 'Flak-Beau's' the rocket armed version, though not necessarily on all missions. Sometimes only gun equipped Beaufighter's acted as escort.
I have noticed that on the latest boxing of the Airfix Beaufighter, as per Bob's here, the box art does show both the torpedo and rocket in one of the marking options.
On all my references, the Beaufighter, did not have both on operational missions, though some may have been photographed with both in situ, for propaganda purposes.
I too, have this kit in the 'to build' pile, but I am also contemplating building all 3 Bristol Twins, Blenheim, Beaufort, and Beaufighter. Question is when I have time to do so.
It is a lovely kit, and as Bob has done here builds well, though as Bob has pointed out you need to be ultra careful in your gluing surfaces as any paint throws things out.
Cheers,
Bigkev
