ADVANCED BUILD
With the immenent return of Airfix’s 1/72 Beaufort in Mk.Ia guise, Airfix Model World editor Stu Fone adds aftermarket detail and takes on the challenge of one of his least favoured schemes.
Airfix’s 1/72 Bristol Beaufort was released to considerable acclaim in 2020, depicting either an early or late Mk.I version (see AMW119, Oct 2020). Eagle-eyed modellers at the time noticed the inclusion of extra parts, such as air filters for the engines, the smaller Blenheim-type turret and a top-mounted direction-finding (DF) loop antenna fairing, all pointing towards a Mk.Ia variant and the firm is due to release this sub-type in the near future as item A04021A.
The styrene parts on six runners are unchanged, but a new decal sheet supplies markings for two airframes (see Kit schemes). As expected, the unused components are now brought into play, with the alternative turret glazing still fitting neatly over the Vickers K machine guns (no troublesome sliding of the gun barrels through a small opening) and onto the common turret ring.
Above: The main contribution from CMK was its interior update set (7506), which featured a mix of finely cast resin and unpainted photo-etched (PE) brass components. Immediately noticeable a…
