Like Kev I've been away too long regards posting anything. I've been pottering along with this whilst waiting for the valium to kick in before tackling more of the white lines on the Hs 123. As mentioned in the Lastentrager build this is the other half of the Dogfight double. As the kit dates from 1965 there's no internal detail worth mentioning just two 'benches' for the crew, so I'd originally bought the Airwaves etch set only to find out it's for the Matchbox kit, modifications will be the order of the day. Externally there's no gun or cannon ports or landing light, but the wing tip lights are marked!! The front of the engines are basic as are the wheel wells and with rivets galore this is going to be an interesting build. I did build this kit on it's original release but had forgotten how basic/bad it was.

That'll keep you busy Chris.

Hi Chris,
Thats an oldie, but I think you'll beat it into shape with a bit of TLC. When you look at the newer offering you can see how much better kits are now to then.
Watching with interest.

A lot of work went into getting the cockpit together with making the etch fit where it was needed. The rear compartment was even worse as the floor was too wide and after several attempts I cut it off at the access hatch and fitted it. The seat support frame was bent accordingly but when offered up it didn't match the markings on the floor. I thought it was me but looking at drawings it certainly wasn't. Also after looking at drawings the access hatch sides appear to be wrong. Airwaves have four lightening holes but drawings show only two, so I'll go with that and cut one in half plus one of the side plates.

That will keep you quiet for a long long time but you will be happy with the finished article

You're right there MSea. Kev's 1/48 scale Beaufighter last Wednesday night showed me more of what was missing and how to rectify it, so onwards and upwards.

Lots of fettling and adjusting later the fuselage was closed up, the wings and tailplanes were also fitted. The area around the cockpit canopy needed some work to get it to fit but I'm still not sure about the front so will check photos. After masking the upper wing and tailplane areas they were sprayed Vallejo Dark Grey for the Extra Dark Sea Grey required. Once cured the undersides were sprayed with Halfords Appliance white straight from the can. Overspray meant the grey had to be touched up.

Progressing nicely Chris.

Very nice Chris.

Bob c

Next up to be fitted were the rocket projectile racks followed by the undercarriage. I made the Mk. XVI ASV 'cats whiskers' dipoles from spares and fitted those to the nose and before applying the decals I replaced the kit rear machine gun with a cut down Browning .303 from spares as the kit one looked more like a kebab!!!. Once in place and the canopy replaced and covered in Maskol the upper surfaces were varnished followed by fitting the Gee whip aerial behind the cockpit. Both this and the IFF Mk.III Type 90 aerial on the spine between the rear canopy and tail were made from brush bristles. The red is a anti-corrosive sealant applied to joints for a/c operating over salt water.
Completed in the short-lived Scheme A as part of the colour schemes requested when HQ Coastal Command wrote to the Air Ministry on 30 December 1940 when camoflague policy was under review this makes for a different finished aircraft. Thanks to Neil for lending me the book on Beaufighters and for the articles he sent me.

Nice finish Chris.

Bob c

You've made a good job of an old kit. Excellent!
The colour scheme is great... I look forward to seeing it 'in the plastic' at a future club meeting.
Neil
 

Hi Chris,
Nice job on an oldie. The scheme looks striking (no pun intended). Good old fashioned modelling.
Well done!

Thanks everyone,I got there in the end.

we knew you would - great paint job