I’m building tamiya’s beaufighter Mk. VI, but I want to do it as the RAAF Mk. 21(I think) in this picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Beaufighter_%28AWM_OG0001%29.jpg Basically, what are the main differences between the VI and mk. X/Mk. 21?
edit- I just checked the picture and it’s not a Mk. 21. does anyone know what mark it is?
Oh yeah, one more thing- what colors should I paint it?
One difference I noticed right off was the elevation of the stabilizers. On the Mk VI I built recently, they were slightly elevated but these appear to be horizontal. I’m not able to answer any of your other questions, sorry, and I no longer have any of the web sites I went to in researching the Mk VI. But I found a lot through simple Google searches.
I believe that the RAAF Mark 21 was nearly identical to the British Mark X. Dihedral was added to the tail horizontal units as well as a vertical tail extension for better horizontal stability. The Australian Mk. 21 was also given a Sperry auto pilot which showed up as a square box on the nose in front of the pilot. Usually Australian aircraft didn’t have a gun in the rear (observer/radioman) position. By the time these aircraft entered service there was a less of a need for tail protection as the Japanese airforces (Army and Navy) were quite disruped. The Australian aircraft also had different engines and Browning .50 cal machineguns in place of the .303’s in the wings.
Look at the A-20, the lower ventral gun position was removed and a camera was placed there to record bombing run effectiveness in the PTO. This camera was operated by the crew chief who also manned the ventral turret. In the book below, the pilot never saw a Japanese fighter in the air although he fought in New Guinea and the Philippines.
Wreaking Havoc: A Year in an A-20 (Texas a & M University Military History Series, 91.) (Hardcover)
by Joseph W. Rutter (Author)
Mike T.
I think that is a Mark I Beaufighter. From the IIF they all had the dihedral added to the horizontal stabilizers, according to the Putnam book on RAF fighters.
The aircraft in the photo appears to be a MkIc - if it were possible to see the serial number, according to my references, RAAF Beaufighters serialled A19-1 through A19-72 were MkIc’s .
From what I can find, the camouflage pattern should be Dark Earth/Dark Green upper, over sky undersurfaces.
EDIT: Another visible difference between the Mk VI and the Mk 21 is that the Mk 21 (and the Mk X before it) had lengthened intake fairings above the engines. A pic of the aforementioned Sperry autopilot blister can be seen here: http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/images/beau21fuselagebg_4.jpg
The aircraft in the following pic is a Mk 21 http://www.boeing.com/global/Australia/HdH/History/aircraft/beaufighter2_large.jpg
I would suggest it’s a Ic still in original RAF Temperate colours. The flat tailplanes gives it away. The XXI was basically similar to the X but with a flat rear gunners turret.
As mentioned by other respondents, the main external differences between the early Beaus and the Mk.21 are the dihedral on the tailplanes, the “bump” on the nose covering the Sperry autopilot and the removal of the observers’ armament. Otherwise, the overall shape is identical.
But mate, you have opened a can of worms by asking what colour to paint an Aussie Beau!!! I won’t go into detail here (mainly because I’m no expert on the matter) but basically, most of the early model Beaus delivered to Australia were finished in European “temperate” scheme on delivery (some were even in Nth African camo) and the later Mk.21’s which were built in Australia were usually delivered in foliage green overall.
Northern Australian and western Pacific operational conditions were very harsh on the machines and re-touching of the camo or field repairs often resulted in a wide variety camo schemes with several different colours or shades and/or different camo patterns often being seen on one aircraft.
On one hand this is a very confusing subject, but the RAAF modeller can almost be assured that nobody can dispute his finish unless it’s way off the mark. Factors such as fading, corrosion, retouching, the use of non-standard or field-mixed paints could all have resulted in a non-uniform or non-regulation finish on almost any aircraft.
Some references you may like to review are:
Classic Warbirds No.6 - Ventura Publications (ISBN 0-9583594-5-8)
Beaufort, Beaufighter & Mosquito in Australian Service - Aerospace Publications (ISBN 0-9587978-4-6)
Red Roo Models (www.redroomodels.com) website for a discussion on RAAF “Foliage Green”
One additional word of advice/warning - be aware that RAAF “Sky” is a very different shade to RAF “Sky”, being more of a pale, greyish blue. You might find some better info on the colours by perusing the IPMS Stockholm website.
A search of Hyperscale, Aircraft Resource Centre and other modeling websites may also turn up some useful information.
Lastly, Aussie Decals (or Novascale on eBay) produce a good range of after-market markings for Aussie Beaus of you are interested in following your plan…
Hope this helps (but it probably only confuses!!!).
The photograph is of a No 30 Squadron Beaufighter A19-? ‘O’. All British built Beaufighters were prefixed A19 in RAAF service whilst Australian built were prefixed A8. A19-1 to A19-72 were Mk Ics and A19-73 to A19-137 Mk VIcs. So it is either a Mk Ic or Mk VIc. There are number of small bumps on the engine cowling which are supposedly not found on the Mk I which had smooth cowlings. Flat tailplanes were fitted to early production Mk IIfs (Merlin engined) and Mk VIfs. I cannot find any reference to them being fitted to Mk VIcs. However, photographs of A19-10 and A19-44, Mk Ics, show them fitted with cowlings with bumps and photographs of A19-76 and A19-77, both Mk Vics, show they had flat tailplanes. Perhaps even the Beaufighter experts will have problems deciding exactly what mark this aircraft is.
Going through our ADF Serials site just now, this a/c is a Mk Ic A19-15/T4945 which operated out of Port Moresby in '42
The Navigator in that Beaufighter is still alive today. His name is Fred Anderson of 30Sqn, RAAF. It was taken over the Owen ranges. Both he and his pilot survived the war. He’s a great guy and still quite healthy.
Keep a watch out for No.30Sqn’s Website. It will be active in about 2 months.
I know it’s an old post …did you ever build your Beau??
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