Bristol Beaufighter Mk.X/Mk.XI/Mk.21 'RAAF Service'
Bristol Beaufighter Mk.X/Mk.XI/Mk.21 'RAAF Service'
This injection-moulded kit contains 47 parts, 5 resin parts and six clear parts (cockpit canopies, position lights etc.). A comprehensive instruction leaflet and a decal sheet are included.
Colour schemes included in the kit:
1) Bristol Beaufighter Mk.X, A19-181 (ex-LZ322), White EH-Q, No.31 Sq., RAAF, Darwin airfield, Northern Territory, autumn 1944
2) Bristol Beaufighter Mk.XIC, A19-142 (ex-JM177), White J, No.30 Sq., RAAF, Vivigani airfield, Goodenough Island, Papua New Guinea, autumn 1943
3) DAP Beaufighter Mk.21, A8-124, White SK-T, No.93 Sq., RAAF, Labuan airfield, North Borneo, summer 1945
4) DAP Beaufighter Mk.21, A8-229, No.8 Communication Unit, RAAF, Madang airfield, Papua New Guinea, summer 1945
| Ref. No.: | MKM144051 |
| Availability: | IN STOCK |
Bristol Beaufighter Mk.X/Mk.XI/Mk.21 'RAAF Service'
The Bristol Beaufighter was a British long-range heavy fighter, developed from the Beaufort torpedo bomber and first flown in July 1939. It became an efficient fighter and also night-fighter, employing the then novel AI radar.
The Beaufighter was a two-seat (three seats in later TF Mk.Xs), twin engine, all-metal mid-wing cantilever monoplane, fitted with a retractable undercarriage. It was powered by two Hercules radial engines and the armament consisted of four cannons in the nose, four guns in the starboard wing and another two guns in the port wing.
Following the first fighter variants, the Mk.I and VIs, a new version the Mk.X, with more powerful Hercules engines became the main production Mark of the Beaufighter. In total, 2,200 aeroplanes were built and they were fitted with a dihedral tailplane with increased span and longer carburettor air scoops above the engines.
A dedicated torpedo-carrying version also appeared in mid-1942, known as the Torbeaua. A strike variant of this variant but with its torpedo gear deleted, was designated the Mk.XIC.
The highly successful use of British-made Beaufighters by the RAAF led to the Beaufighter production by the Australian Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) from 1944 onwards.
Known as the Mk.21, the DAPas variant was an a
ttack and torpedo bomber and the design changes included another type of Hercules engines and some minor changes in armament. Between September 1944 and 1946, 365 Australian Beaufighter Mk 21s were built.
Products purchased together with this product
Watts 2-bladed LH propeller
Mark I Models 1:144
Watts 2-bladed LH propeller (2 pcs) This set contains two left-handed propellers, made in resin. They are designed to be used with Mark I Gladiator kits.
Watts 2-bladed RH propeller
Mark I Models 1:144
Watts 2-bladed RH propeller (2 pcs) This set contains two right-handed propellers, made in plastic. They are designed to be used with Hawker Hurricane kits.
Mirage IIID/50DC/50DV/Dagger B Two-seater ‘Australia & South America’
This injection-moulded kit contains 47 parts and two clear parts (the cockpit canopy and a landing/taxiing lamp). A comprehensive decal sheet is included.
1) AMD/GAF Mirage IIID, s/n A3-104, White 104, No.2 OCU (Operational Conversion Unit), Royal Australian Air Force, Williamtown Base, New South Wales, Australia, 1979
2) IAI Dagger B (ex-IAF Nesher T), C-426 (c/n T-05), Black C-426, Escuadrón I de Cazabombardeo (Fighter-Bomber Sq.), Grupo Aéreo 6 de Caza (Air Fighter Group), VI. Brigada Aérea (Air Brigade), Argentinian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina), Tandil Military Air Base (BAM), Argentina, 1982
IAI Dagger B (ex-IAF Nesher T), C-426 (c/n T-05), Black 26, special decoration to celebrate centenary of the AAF, Escuadrón I de Cazabombardeo (Fighter-Bomber Sq.), Grupo Aéreo 6 de Caza (Air Fighter Group), VI. Brigada Aérea (Air Brigade), Argentinian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Argentina), Tandil Military Air Base (BAM), Argentina, 2012-14
3) AMD Mirage 50DC, c/n 516, Black 516, Grupo de Aviación 4 (Aviation Group), IV Brigada Aérea (Air Brigade), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aérea de Chile, FACh), Chabunco Air Base (Base Aérea Chabunco), Punta Arenas, Chile, the 1990s
4) AMD Mirage 50DV (upgraded Mirage 5DV), c/n 7512, Black 7512, Escuela de Aviación Militar (Military Aviation School), Grupo Aéreo de Caza No.11 (Air Group), Venezuelan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Venezolana, FAV), El Libertador Air Base (Base Aérea Libertador), Aragua, Venezuela, seen during ‘Exercise Cruzex II’, Natal Air Force Base, Brazil, November 2004
