Bristol Beaufort and Beaufreighter

[Old Wombat]

Special Hobby did a 1/72 DAP Beaufort - unfortunately OoP (I have one but I ain't selling! );



ScaleMates Link: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/special-hobby-sh72027-dap-beaufort-mkviii--112212

[zenrat]

You may even have to buy some MORE Beauforts! 

Buy? BUY? You don't "buy" Beauforts, they just arrive with other things automatically! 

Nah, three is seriously enough. Having calculated the price of getting a High Planes Beaufreighter conversion, I think I'll leave that idea for somebody closer to Singapore and go for option 2:

Taurus-engined - Russian lend-lease (easiest & get a feel for the kit)
Hercules-engined - Congo with COIN weapons (easiest engine swap)
Merlin-engined - Coastal Command with ASV radar and missile (most work)

DAP Beaufort's used a pair of P&W R-1830 Twin Wasps.  You've got a pair of them in the Academy Catalina box...

[Weaver]

You may even have to buy some MORE Beauforts! 

Buy? BUY? You don't "buy" Beauforts, they just arrive with other things automatically! 

Nah, three is seriously enough. Having calculated the price of getting a High Planes Beaufreighter conversion, I think I'll leave that idea for somebody closer to Singapore and go for option 2:

Taurus-engined - Russian lend-lease (easiest & get a feel for the kit)
Hercules-engined - Congo with COIN weapons (easiest engine swap)
Merlin-engined - Coastal Command with ASV radar and missile (most work)

DAP Beaufort's used a pair of P&W R-1830 Twin Wasps.  You've got a pair of them in the Academy Catalina box...

The Aussie Beauforts also had a larger fin though.

Also, if the engine swap was as simple as swapping the cowlings, why do High Planes give you the whole nacelle as well? I think the exhausts are different: on the Aussie one they seem to run semi-recessed down the side of the nacelle above the gear doors.

[Doug K]

You mean Merlin conversions for a Beaufighter? If so, then I doubt they'll fit the Beaufort wing because it carries it's engines below the wing whereas the Beaufighter carries them half above, half below. The engines had to be moved up during the Beaufighter's design due to the larger props used on the Hercules.

The Merlins on the Mk.II sit lower, more like the Beauforts engines.

Here's the conversions on Hannants. They're a simple replacement for the inner wing section, the only issues should be how it meets the fuselage and if the outer wing profile closely matches the conversion.
https://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?product_category_id=&product_division_id=&manufacturer_id=&code=&product_type_id=1812&scale_id=956&keyword_search=Beaufighter+mk.ii&setPerPage=25&currency_id=0

It may save cutting up a Beaufighter if it works.

Oh, okay: I've never really looked hard at the Merlin-Beaufighter, and the last time I saw a conversion set, I'm pretty sure it wasn't CMK.

I did this a few years ago, airfix Beaufort, Beaufighter Merlin conversion. It was almost a straight drop-in.

Icelandic Beaufort

[Weaver]

You mean Merlin conversions for a Beaufighter? If so, then I doubt they'll fit the Beaufort wing because it carries it's engines below the wing whereas the Beaufighter carries them half above, half below. The engines had to be moved up during the Beaufighter's design due to the larger props used on the Hercules.

The Merlins on the Mk.II sit lower, more like the Beauforts engines.

Here's the conversions on Hannants. They're a simple replacement for the inner wing section, the only issues should be how it meets the fuselage and if the outer wing profile closely matches the conversion.
https://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?product_category_id=&product_division_id=&manufacturer_id=&code=&product_type_id=1812&scale_id=956&keyword_search=Beaufighter+mk.ii&setPerPage=25&currency_id=0

It may save cutting up a Beaufighter if it works.

Oh, okay: I've never really looked hard at the Merlin-Beaufighter, and the last time I saw a conversion set, I'm pretty sure it wasn't CMK.

I did this a few years ago, airfix Beaufort, Beaufighter Merlin conversion. It was almost a straight drop-in.

Icelandic Beaufort

Ah, yes! I remembered the colour scheme but totally forgot it had Merlins - well done: it's a really nice model.

[jcf]

Bristol Taurus*
Dia: 46.25"
Lgth: 49.2"
Wt: 1300 lbs

P&W Double Wasp S3C4-G**
Dia: 48.19"
Lgth: 63.44"
Wt: 1492 lbs

The longer chord cowling of the DAP Beaufort is very apparent in photos and the fwd. end of the nacelle also appears to have been changed. The exhaust collector of the Twin Wasp is at the rear of the engine. As to why they opted for the long exhaust pipe, your guess is as good as mine.

*Lumsden, British Piston Aero Engines

**P&W Index of Twin Wasp & R-1830

[Doug K]

You mean Merlin conversions for a Beaufighter? If so, then I doubt they'll fit the Beaufort wing because it carries it's engines below the wing whereas the Beaufighter carries them half above, half below. The engines had to be moved up during the Beaufighter's design due to the larger props used on the Hercules.

The Merlins on the Mk.II sit lower, more like the Beauforts engines.

Here's the conversions on Hannants. They're a simple replacement for the inner wing section, the only issues should be how it meets the fuselage and if the outer wing profile closely matches the conversion.
https://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?product_category_id=&product_division_id=&manufacturer_id=&code=&product_type_id=1812&scale_id=956&keyword_search=Beaufighter+mk.ii&setPerPage=25&currency_id=0

It may save cutting up a Beaufighter if it works.

Oh, okay: I've never really looked hard at the Merlin-Beaufighter, and the last time I saw a conversion set, I'm pretty sure it wasn't CMK.

I did this a few years ago, airfix Beaufort, Beaufighter Merlin conversion. It was almost a straight drop-in.

Icelandic Beaufort

Ah, yes! I remembered the colour scheme but totally forgot it had Merlins - well done: it's a really nice model.

Thanks, the undercarriage fit was tricky but it worked. Not happy with how I left the bomb bay, but lessons learned!

[zenrat]

You may even have to buy some MORE Beauforts! 

Buy? BUY? You don't "buy" Beauforts, they just arrive with other things automatically! 

Nah, three is seriously enough. Having calculated the price of getting a High Planes Beaufreighter conversion, I think I'll leave that idea for somebody closer to Singapore and go for option 2:

Taurus-engined - Russian lend-lease (easiest & get a feel for the kit)
Hercules-engined - Congo with COIN weapons (easiest engine swap)
Merlin-engined - Coastal Command with ASV radar and missile (most work)

DAP Beaufort's used a pair of P&W R-1830 Twin Wasps.  You've got a pair of them in the Academy Catalina box...

The Aussie Beauforts also had a larger fin though.

Also, if the engine swap was as simple as swapping the cowlings, why do High Planes give you the whole nacelle as well? I think the exhausts are different: on the Aussie one they seem to run semi-recessed down the side of the nacelle above the gear doors.

You'll have to wait until Hannants get some in then.   
All this talk is making me itchy to build one of my conversions.  I'll let you know the difference if I do.