Beau Finale Beaufighter TF.10
Scale Aircraft Modelling|January 2017

The Bristol Beaufighter is an aircraft I’vealways liked although an example hasnever made its way across my workbench because it is essentially a World War II aircraft, which means that it is outside my usual area of interest.

Peter Doyle
Beau Finale Beaufighter TF.10

Built as a heavy fighter the Beau, as it was often called, went on to fulfil a wide range of fighter roles including as a night fighter and also ground attack roles using torpedoes, rockets, cannon and bombs. Reputedly called the whispering death by the Japanese the name was a result of the quiet gentle purring of the Bristol Hercules engines, various versions of which powered the aircraft through its career. The final RAF version was the TFX, which following the late 1940s change in RAF designations became known as the TF10. To my mind the thimble nose radome and dorsal forward extension to the fin, presumably compensating aerodynamically for the radome, made it a particularly purposeful and menacing looking aircraft. Also, the medium bomber post war camouflage of Medium Sea Grey upper surfaces and black lower surfaces, seemed to suit the aircraft particularly well, especially when set off by postwar brightly coloured D type roundels, and it is this latter attribute that conferred upon it its eligibility to join my collection. This scheme was the final scheme worn by 45 Squadron, the last front line unit with the Beaufighter, and it swapped its last aircraft for Brigands in February 1950. Some TF10s were converted at about that time to target towing TT10s, with the fin fillet but without the thimble radome, and these lasted in service until May 1960.

The Airfix Kit

This story is from the January 2017 edition of Scale Aircraft Modelling.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2017 edition of Scale Aircraft Modelling.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SCALE AIRCRAFT MODELLINGView All
Mustard
Scale Aircraft Modelling

Mustard

BAC's Low Speed Research Vehicle

time-read
2 mins  |
April 2023
KOVOZAVODY PROSTEJOV (KP) 1 Was Monty's Triple'
Scale Aircraft Modelling

KOVOZAVODY PROSTEJOV (KP) 1 Was Monty's Triple'

Brian Derbyshire

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2022
SPECIAL HOBBY SAAB J-21A Review
Scale Aircraft Modelling

SPECIAL HOBBY SAAB J-21A Review

From the late 1930s and early 1940s, with thewar in Europe raging around them andedging ever closer to its borders, the Flygvapnet had ordered Seversky P-35A aircraft, alongside Vultee Vanguards, but only sixty of the former and none of the latter were received.

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2022
VFR MODELS Beagle B.121 Pup
Scale Aircraft Modelling

VFR MODELS Beagle B.121 Pup

This is the first 3D printed kit I have come across and it is really rather fine.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2022
Hearts in the sky RIAT RETURNS
Scale Aircraft Modelling

Hearts in the sky RIAT RETURNS

After a nearly three-year hiatus RIAT returned to our skies with a hot show in every sense of the word. SAM’s Mike Verier and Ray Ball were there.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2022
Colour Conundrum
Scale Aircraft Modelling

Colour Conundrum

A Cancellation Conundrum - The RAF F-111s That Might Have Been Part 1

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2022
COPPER CAUDRON Caudron G.Ill in 1/32
Scale Aircraft Modelling

COPPER CAUDRON Caudron G.Ill in 1/32

Copper State Models have carved a name for themselves in the last few years producing high quality plastic kits of  World War One subjects.

time-read
10 mins  |
November 2022
Academy RF-8A Crusader Conversion in 1/72
Scale Aircraft Modelling

Academy RF-8A Crusader Conversion in 1/72

USMC squadron VMCJ-2 used six RF-8As during the Crisis (designation F8U-1P until September 1962), with others held in reserve, two flying out of Guantanamo Bay, and four out of NAS Key West.

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2022
The Cuban Missile Crisis
Scale Aircraft Modelling

The Cuban Missile Crisis

Modelling US reconnaissance assets in 1/72 Part 2: The Nuclear Confrontation

time-read
9 mins  |
November 2022
UKRAINIAT striker
Scale Aircraft Modelling

UKRAINIAT striker

The Sukhoi Su-24 is an all-weather attack aircraft capable of supersonic speeds and characterised by its side-by-side pilot/navigator seating and its variable geometry wing.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2022