FIRST LOOK! EXCLUSIVE! Beaufighter TF.X (Test Shot) First look at Revell 1/48 Beaufighter TF.X (Test Shot)

will start by giving my normal disclaimer about I previewing a test shot, this is not the finished article and is not injected in production quality plastic so you may see a few sink marks and incomplete engraving that will be missing or replaced on the production kit. My first thoughts on opening kit is very well detailed, where the box were that Revell had Tamiya only supplied the cockpit supplied me with two kits in error. Revell have detailed the whole of I know the Beaufighter was a the using 19 separate parts large aircraft but this kit at first plus some very nice detail on the look contains almost twice as inside of the fuselage halves. They much plastic as the Tamiya kit. have also supplied the options But I soon realised why this for positioning the pilots escape hatch and navigators blister in to the tail. The tailfin is supplied the open position as well as the with or without the extended fin crew entry hatch on the lower fillet that was added to improve fuselage so you will at least get a directional control. But Revell chance to see all that lovely detail. have also supplied two complete Another reason for the large tail surfaces with dihedral and a part counts is the large number choice of early or late elevators. of optional parts that have been Late production Beaufighters had supplied. Our example contained a tailplane with reduced surface three styles of noses, the original area to improve their balance, bull nose, bull nose with a strike and Revell have supplied both camera and a thimble nose. The styles, a first I think in any scale. laps can be positioned extended On most kits the wings are or retracted and all the control assembled conventionally but on surfaces are positionable, adding this kit Revell have supplied the some animation to your model. whole of the lower as one During the production run there large piece, which automatically were a number of changes made sets the dihedral on the wings at

40 • JULY 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

040-45-FirstLooks-0718.indd 40 11/06/2018 13:58 the correct angle while at the same time making a very rigid assembly. To this you add the 12 part Hercules engines, which include optional open or closed cooling gills and a very nice representation of the complex undercarriage. representation of the Torpedo on its release in a few months time. a decal sheet (48148) that supplies Weaponry is next and this complete with an air drop tail. The The only issue I can see is that the a further four marking options. is where Revell have skimped a armament often carried heating pipe system looks a little My thanks to Revell for supplying little as you only get a very nice by the type is missing though anaemic compared to photos but this new kit for a First Look, in the plates that they mount on are that is relatively easy to sort and is advance of its worldwide release. included on the same runners far outweighed by the large amount Expect to see the new Beaufighter as the thimble nose. All you of detail supplied out of the box. TF.X on your Revell dealers shelves need to do is source the rocket I am sure over the next few years later in the summer and you can visit stubs and or wait for we will see many other version of revels website at www.revell.de/en the later version of this kit that the Beaufighter released by Revell for all the latest product news. will no doubt include them. and Hannants have already released Markings are supplied for two options • Bristol Beaufighter TF.X, NE429, P6-S, 489 Squadron, 1944. This aircraft has the early style nose and no tail fillet plus early tailplanes. It has quite a worn finish and a full set of D day stripes. • Bristol Beaufighter TF.X, RD467, QM-J. 254 Squadron, 1945. This has the later style tail and a fin fillet plus a thimble nose.

CONCLUSION I am very impressed by this new kit and am eaget to add one to my stash WWW.SAMPUBLICATIONS.COM • JULY 2018 • 41

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