Bristol Beaufort and Beaufreighter

[Weaver]

My idea is a "Super Beaufort" with Beaufighter wings and engines, and a Defiant four-gun turret. It may or may not get some sort of early air-to-surface missile if I can concoct something.

For a different look, you could use Merlins from a Beaufort II. CMK do a couple of conversions that simply replace the inner wing section, assuming they fit the Beaufort okay.

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.

[Weaver]

Ooops!  For 'Divefiant' I read 'Deviant'.

I mean, if the hat fits...

You could call it the "Deviator" so that it sounds like it's related to "Devastator".

[Mossie]

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.

[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.

[Mossie]

Special Hobby did one I believe,  looked very similar to the CMK version, it might even be the same conversion. AeroScale and Magna Models have also done them.

[George the Cat]

The donor Defiant would get a single swivel gun, wing guns, Sptifire-style wing-mounted radiator/oil cooler and a dive-bombing crutch on the centreline ( a Divefiant, if you will...). It might also get skis and Finnish markings.

Excellent idea Weaver.

[Old Wombat]

I like the 4-engined extended Beaufort (Beaufortress) idea. 

[Weaver]

Special Hobby did one I believe,  looked very similar to the CMK version, it might even be the same conversion. AeroScale and Magna Models have also done them.

My idea is a "Super Beaufort" with Beaufighter wings and engines, and a Defiant four-gun turret. It may or may not get some sort of early air-to-surface missile if I can concoct something.

For a different look, you could use Merlins from a Beaufort II. CMK do a couple of conversions that simply replace the inner wing section, assuming they fit the Beaufort okay.

Okay, you convinced me. I had a Hannants cart that was slowly increasing towards the free postage level, and this pushed it over the edge. 

I got the later style conversion because it has normal exhausts with PE shrouds (which I can leave off), whereas the early one has internal exhausts that are only really relevant to a night fighter.

I'm thinking that they do the Beaufort Mk.III with Merlins, but then demand for the engines gets too high as Lancaster production takes over from Stirlings (which originally ate the Beaufighter's Hercs, leading to the Merlin Mk.II), so they do a Beaufort Mk.IV with Hercs.

[jcf]

The donor Defiant would get a single swivel gun, wing guns, Sptifire-style wing-mounted radiator/oil cooler and a dive-bombing crutch on the centreline ( a Divefiant, if you will...). It might also get skis and Finnish markings.

Howabout a twin-gun installation for the gunner? Something along the lines of the twin Browning M1919 .30 as used on the SBD.

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[zenrat]

High Planes Models (now based in Singapore) make a range of Beaufort stuff.

https://www.hpmhobbies.com/search.php?search_query=beaufort&section=product

I have a couple of the conversion sets.  They look very good in their bags.

[Mossie]

Okay, you convinced me. I had a Hannants cart that was slowly increasing towards the free postage level, and this pushed it over the edge. 

All part of the evil plot to push every modeller into insolvency!    

Hope it works out, it'l be an interesting one.

[Mossie]

Thinking aloud (not aimed at Harold's project necessarily), I feel the Beaufort would suit Swedish markings and the single colour uppers would look a little different.  Maybe as a licence built alternative to the delayed Saab B18.

[NARSES2]

Special Hobby did one I believe,  looked very similar to the CMK version, it might even be the same conversion. AeroScale and Magna Models have also done them.

I'm fairly sure they are both part of the same stable nowadays Mossie. When the recent Special Hobby Mossie's came out they were advertising the CMK upgrades. Could just be a marketing link though.

[NARSES2]

Thinking aloud (not aimed at Harold's project necessarily), I feel the Beaufort would suit Swedish markings and the single colour uppers would look a little different.  Maybe as a licence built alternative to the delayed Saab B18.

Now that's a nice idea    and if Weaver doesn't use it I may well borrow it. The Airfix Beaufort is a nice kit btw

[Weaver]

Special Hobby did one I believe,  looked very similar to the CMK version, it might even be the same conversion. AeroScale and Magna Models have also done them.

I'm fairly sure they are both part of the same stable nowadays Mossie. When the recent Special Hobby Mossie's came out they were advertising the CMK upgrades. Could just be a marketing link though.

True, however CMK's own website lists more parts than Special Hobby's does under CMK. Something that I only discovered as a result of this conversation.