So I am about to do something I have not done for a long time, build something with wings. So to get back into the practice, I decided to go with the Tamiya Beaufighter Mk.VI.



It looks to be a great looking kit, and should prove to be a nice build.

So starting off, the cockpit. I did find one ejector mark that will make fit a little wobbly, but a little sanding deals with it quickly.


While Tamiya provides decal seatbelts, I decided to use a set of seats from UltraCast which looks very nice.


So painted with Vallejo Interior Green then detailed with Vallejo paints and wash.




While there is a lot of interior detail left out by Tamiya, most of the time it would be difficult to see once closed up.

Up next will be closing it up.

Great kit and you're doing a fantastic job of it.


I love Ultracast items - the owners are local to me and great people.

This was my first kit build when I got back into the hobby a couple of years ago. I'll be following for (but not only) nostalgia.
Looking good.

regards.

Nice start Kevin!

It's great to see you building a wingy thing - and the Beaufighter's an excellent choice!

All the best

Rowan

Kevin, you can't go wrong with the Tamiya Beau. It's a great kit. Done the night fighter in US markings a few years ago. No major problems there beside some sanding. Have fun with it!

Torsten

Things are starting to come along, it has wings now.



Only some minor putty and a little sanding.




No to add some details, wait for Ultracast exhaust and wheels to arrive, then some paint.

If I remember correctly Kevin there are some small raised panels on the upper wing that shouldn't be there. I think that they are some sort of repair on the aircraft that was used for measurements etc. However, checking my kit, they are too evenly spaced across both wings (6 of them on each side and you can see 3 of them in the close up on the starboard wing) so they might be strengthening plates. Anyway I am sure that they need removing. They are not in the plans that I have from Richard Caruana.

I found the article about the about the Beaufighter, in Quarter Scale Modeller Issue 4/97. It talks about other stuff but this diagram shows the offending lumps to be removed.

Wow that was some rapid progress!

Hi Kevin

Nice progress. Mal's scan of the plans also shows the issue with the gun access panels which I told you about more more neatly than I could explain.

All the best

Rowan

There is actually quite a lot of other stuff but yep the gun access panels and these lumps are the main issues I think.
Kevin, I can try scanning the article if you like? But I will, personally, only be bothered about these 2 issues, which are easy fixes

Well finally got some paint on it, used the instruction recommended mix for the Azure Blue, Vallejo Middlestone, and 50/50 Mix of Tamiya Earth and Red Brown for the Dark Earth. I do find the Middlestone to be a little yellow, hopefully I can tone is down with a little weathering.

Hi Kevin

Hopefully the colour balance is off in the photo. If not I'd definitely do a repaint over the Vallejo Middle Stone before going much further - it looks way too yellow and I wouldn't rely on weathering to pull it back to something more accurate. I'm traditionally wary of many of Tamiya's colour matches, and the Dark Earth and Azure Blue here are maybe a bit questionable, but that Vallejo "yellow" does look very strange.

All the best

Rowan

From comparing the picture and the model, there is a color balance issue, it is much yellower in the picture.

Hi again Kevin

That's a relief! It almost looks like yellow zinc-chromate on my monitor. Yuk!

I found an interesting page with a good selection of vintage WW2 colour photos of Spitfires which include some useful western desert shots HERE.

The hues tally encouragingly closely with my RAF Museum colour swatches - so you can get a good idea of what to aim for. Beyond the Middle Stone, the Dark Earth wasn't very red (the redder shade ties in better with the US Dupont paints) and you can see how dark Azure Blue was (relatively speaking). It's often shown as a more vibrant colour (almost cornflower blue), but by the time it was weathered a bit, I think the Spit halfway down the page is a good one to go by.

All the best

Rowan

That is good news regarding the color balance. I was going to jump in about how yellow it was, but fortunately someone with more street cred got in first.
Nothing can be more demoralising than realising all your effort has produced an unsatisfactory result (to your eyes primarily, but also others). I’m amazed at how I can almost convince myself that an unsatisfactory result will be ok if I just do this or that rather than biting the bullet and reworking something.
I look at the Azure blue on my example Beau (which I think I mixed from the Tamiya instructions) and I still think it’s way too purple, but a little purple goes a long way so my mix was probably off.

Happy modelling.

Our PC monitors are generally not calibrated, that's why colours often look a bit strange compared to the real thing.
Anyway, on my last DAF Spitfire I have used Gunze Middle Stone, which looked like a big yummy caramell toffee before I added Dark Earth (also Gunze) .... You might try that too, Kevin.

Torsten

Very Interesting, care to share a bit more of the article?

Well here is the beast done, as mentioned, I am not much of an aircraft builder, but I do have fun, and that is what it is all about.

Nice work Kevin. Glad you enjoyed your little trip away from armor.
I've got an old Tamiya 8 ton semi-track in the stash I might tackle one day as a bit of change.

All the best.

That looks really good, you should build planes more often methinks