****DONE: 1/32nd scale Beaufighter VIF, 46 Sqn RAF, Egypt 1943 Group Build

[Heinz]

Great work Terry!

 

[Micdrow]

Sweet and your welcome!!!

 

[Wayne Little]

Beauty Terry

 

[muller]

Looking good Terry 8) I'll be keeping an eye on this, I haven't got a clue how I'll detail the Stuka engine!

 

[Airframes]

Thanks very much guys. Keith, with an in-line engine, it's pretty straightforward, as most things run in straight lines, with the odd bend here and ther, more or less! Pipework and wiring can be added from various sizes of stretched sprue, copper or lead wire etc., and ancilliaries can be made from tube, rod and plastic card.

 

[Micdrow]

Nioce shot Paul! As you say, pics of 46 Sqn Beaus are rather scarce. I have found some, but earlier Mk1's, or later MkVI's with the AI MkVIII radar in the thimble nose as you've posted. Ah well, not to worry! Thanks for trying mate.

Damn Terry, this one is a real stumper. Usually you can find something but every thing Ive found well is either not very clear or not very big with the squadron in front of them. Still looking though.

 

[Airframes]

That's exactly the problem I've found Paul ! There appear to be a number of shots of 252 Sqn aircraft, but other units are sparse. As you've probably found out, there are so many that are not identified, mainly due to the single letter codes, wihout squadron code letters. Also, at various times, many of the Beau squadrons in the MTO shared the same bases, so a particular picture can potentially be from any unit at the place and time the pic was taken, unless positively identified.
I've even searched various sources on 46 Squadron itself and, although I've found some good pics, they've been of Mk1's, or unclear MkVI's in action, where the aircraft are small in the overall pic.
Don't worry if you can't find anything mate, as I can work off the profile, and usae your excellent colour pics as a guide to the faded and worn paintwork. I do have one pic which might be a 46 Sqn MkVI, although the author concerned states it's possibly a 252 Sqn machine. This looks very like the one I'm modelling too, so in a way it confirms the camouflage pattern shown in the profile.

 

[Wurger]

 

[vikingBerserker]

WOW! The engine work is superb!

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Wojtek and David.
I've now got the exhausts made and fitted, as well as the fuel inlet pipes and the ignition wires. Once they've all fully set, the area will be cleaned up and any gaps in the joints of the pipes sealed, before painting. The engine cylinders will also be re-touched, and then the collector ring fitted, along with its support rods, the latter made from stretched sprue.
PICS 1 and 2 show the pipes, made from plastic rod, and the inlets and ignition wires, made from stretched sprue.
PICS 3 and 4 Show the exhaust collector ring / cowling temporarily fitted, in order to check that the chamfered ends of the pipes match up with the internal ring. As with the port collector ring, the manifold outlet has been drilled out and filed to an oval hole, and the breather pipes added, again using plastic rod with the ends drilled out.
There's a few more small jobs to complete, including sanding off the unwanted parts of the framework on the early-style canopy and polishing it, before this is fitted, and then the relevant parts of the model will be masked, ready for the initial paintwork.
Thanks again for your interest and comments.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

This is coming along great Terry, brilliant detail and brush work.

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Vic. The bulk of the scratch-building is nearly done, thankfully, so now I should be able to get down to some 'normal' modelling!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

My, you're an early bird!

 

[Heinz]

Looks great Terry!

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Alex.
Vic, I couldn't sleep due to the discomfort - bl**dy weather affects the Arthritis - so I gave up, got up, and got on with some bits and pieces!

 

[Wayne Little]

Super stuff Terry.

 

[Airframes]

Thanks Wayne!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks Alex.
Vic, I couldn't sleep due to the discomfort - bl**dy weather affects the Arthritis - so I gave up, got up, and got on with some bits and pieces!

I can relate to that Terry, I hate the cold as well that's why Oz was attractive to me, shame I picked Canberra to settle in. Bl**dy cold today, hailed like bu**ery tonight and snow maybe tomorrow…….

 

[muller]

I broke my elbow when i was 15, it gets painful when the weather changes, it's like an early warning system for a cold spell! It never keeps me awake though, hope you're feeling better Terry.

That engine looks fantastic! Looking forward to seeing some paint on those added bits. 8)

 

[rochie]

great job Dogsbody !