**** DONE: Beaufighter Mk 1F 219 Sqn RAF

[jamierd]

ok decided to paint the underside then remembered the little bits that needed to be added to the cowling gills and the intakes in the wings so will need to repaint the underside of the engines lol although it does look quite snazzy with its little black bits

 

[Wayne Little]

 

[ozhawk40]

looks good 8)

 

[Airframes]

Starting to come to life there Jamie, good work mate.

 

[Crimea_River]

Nicely done Jamie!

 

[javlin]

Like the pit,the engines look good,I say she's well on her way to being a fine representation of a Beaufighter. Cheers

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Coming along nicely Jamie

 

[rochie]

looks great to me

 

[T Bolt]

Looking good Jamie!

 

[jamierd]

got some colour on her canopy is just sat on there still needs to be done lots of little jobs to do now and 1 big job still cant find codes for her

 

[Airframes]

Looking smart mate. I've searched all my Beaufighter refs, and haven't found any more info on the codes. Nearest I got was R2204 as FK - J.

 

[jamierd]

found something that should interest you terry both R2097 and 2204 were crashed while on the books at 51 OTU Cranfiled by the SAME pilot
From the accident card summaries for these incidents it appears that on the first occasion the engine (both engines?) on Beaufighter (Mk IF) R2097 had stopped due to fuel starvation, the pilot having failed to change tanks in time. Sgt Goodwin, a New Zealander, had retracted the undercarriage and glided into the nearest field but in the course of doing so the port wing of the aircraft hit a tree, the aircraft swung and hit the ground. It was written off. The second emergency had occurred 2hrs 11minutes into a practice aircraft interception flight when the starboard engine of Beaufighter R2204 caught fire and smoke filled the cockpit. Subsequent investigation by the manufacturer ascertained that a fatigue fracture had lead to the failure.

 

[rochie]

looks great Jamie and bloody big too !!

 

[Wurger]

 

[Airframes]

Hmm. I guess that pilot didn't really have an affinity for Beaufighters then ?!!

 

[Crimea_River]

Beauty Jamie.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Beautifully done Jamie

 

[dirkpitt289]

Very cool build so far. Ver impressive. I also think its cool that you were able to find those accident cards. Although it was brief it was interesting reading

 

[jamierd]

looks like it will be a change of identity here have tried to find codes for R2097 every possible way i can think of nothing doing but i have found a picture of R2069 ZK-H at debden in september 1940 ZK is 25sqn it didnt have the bow and arrow radar on the nose and it has a different fin flash other than that it looks the same so i will probably be going with that .Do i have to change the title of my thread ,

 

[Airframes]

Hmm. Officially, 25 Sqn were still on Blenheims, getting the first Beaus for conversion training in October 1940, and completing conversion by January 1941. Although it's possible the Beaus saw action in the later stages of the BoB, I haven't found any definite evidence, and they moved to Debden (from North Weald) on 8th October.
There's always the two '600' Squadrons, or there's a possibility of R2204, FK-J, of 219 Sqn ?
If the pic of the 25 Sqn Beau doesn't show the 'arrowhead' antenna, or the wing di-poles, then it might have been deleted by the censor at the time. Or, of course, it might not have had the A.I. fitted at the time, which would almost certainly mean the aircraft was not operational as a night fighter.