Bristol Beaufighter Mk.Ic and Mk.VI.c Conversion

RAAF South West Pacific

High Planes Models, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The Bristol Beaufighter was a development of the successful Beaufort light bomber. It entered service with the RAF in 1941 and subsequent versions continued in use well into the 1950s.

The Beaufighter IC variant was provided to the Coastal Command and was the first Beau that could carry bombs for strike duties.

The Mk VIC was an improved version with uprated Hercules engines, torpedo capability and other changes. While the early versions were superficially the same as the IC, the tail planes of the later version had a marked dihedral.

Most were fitted with Automatic Direction Finding (ADF) and Standard Beam Approach (SBA) systems to assist overwater navigation, but the latter appears to have been removed on arrival in Australia.

The RAAF received 72 Mk IC and 64 Mk VIC which were used for strike missions in the South West Pacific.*

The Airfix Beaufighter released in 2015 is a lovely kit that represents a late version TF.X. This differed from the Mk.Ic and early Mk.Vc in a number of obvious respects including the engine nacelles and the distinct dihedral on the later model's tail surfaces.

High Planes Models has now produced a conversion to deliver a Mk.Ic or early Mk.Vc in Australian service in the South West Pacific.

High Planes Models' 1/72 scale Bristol Beaufighter Mk.Ic and Mk.VI.c conversion comprises 11 parts in pale grey coloured resin; 16 parts on one photo-etched fret, decals for four aircraft plus instructions and notes on three double-sided A4 sheets.

Contents are:

• Flat tail planes and elevators

• Hercules bulged cowls with early oil heater in resin

• tubular exhaust in resin

• five spoke wheels in resin

• Decals for RAAF A34, A19-40 & A19-87

The resin parts are very nicely cast with no serious imperfections that I could see. Details are crisp and fine. There is some resin flash that should be easy and fast to clean up with a sharp hobby knife and a sanding stick.

The photo-etched parts supply various fittings for sensors and antennae. These varied from aircraft to aircraft so check your references.

The only additional work required to the donor kit is shortening the kit intakes and filling a gap at the horizontal tailplane root.

The decals are of the proper silk-screen waterslide variety. Quality looks very good.

High Planes has given us lots of choice in terms of the colour of the markings (RAAF Sky Blue, faded Sky Blue or White) and the choice of dark or faded blue in the roundels.

This is a really nice touch.

The instructions are excellent, with text and illustrations detailing each step of the conversion.

The instructions also include a colour guide with Beaufort paint cross-references to Gunze, Humbrol, SMS, Revell, Tamiya, Xtracolor and Alclad.

Four view colour diagrams and notes are supplied for all four decal subjects. Where there is doubt about the actual colours, the instructions call out the different possibilities.

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Thumbnail panels:

I think this would be a relatively straightforward conversion for the modeller who mght be considering their first step into mutimedia conversions.

Item HPA072074 - Bristol Beaufighter Corrected Tail

Also now available on High Planes' website is a corrected tail and rudder for the Airfix 1/72 Beafighter.

This is a simple accessory made up from just two resin parts.

I think if this set is used, you won't have to fill the gap at the tailplane root.

Instructions are not included but they're really not required.

This simple update is available separately for AUD$8.57 plus shipping from High Planes Models.

This is a useful conversion to backdate the Airfix 1/72 scale Beaufighter TF.X to the flat-tailed Mk.Ic or Mk.VIc.

The quality of the resin is very good and there is minimal surgery required to accommodate the new parts.

This is a great way to get yourself an accurate early UK-production Beaufighter Mk.Ic or Vc

* Historical text courtesy of High Planes Models website

Purchased by the reviewer from High Planes Models

Review Text & Images Copyright © 2021 by Brett Green
Page Created 1 September, 2021
Last updated 9 September, 2021

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