Revell Bristol Beaufighter TF.Mk.X 1:48 – build review

Kit Ref: 03943
Full Review with Geoff Coughlin

Our thanks to Revell for supplying our review sample. Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For details visit www.revell.de/en

A tale of two Bristols

Sometimes you just need a break and so it is as I complete my slightly epic build of the ‘Classic Kit’, Airfix Bristol Superfreighter in 1:72. That one’s at the decal stage just as this new-tool 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.Mk.X has arrived (I’ve bought another one too!) …well, it would be rude not to, wouldn’t it! :). I am planning one of our Speed Builds for this one.

A couple of references…
I have found these helpful:

Just in case you haven’t seen my box-review of this kit, you can see that in Aircraft-Here Now-Kits.

What’s the plan?

Basically to build this one as much from the box as possible so that you get a good feel for what you can do with what’s provided. The only additions that I’ll be using are a set of Eduard pre-painted seat belts for the pilot and observer seats and a set of aftermarket decals.

As much as I like the decals provided in the kit, Dave C has already completed his Tamiya Mk.X Beaufighter in a very similar scheme and so I want to show this kit in different pyjamas.

I saw this great sheet from Xtradecal (X48188) for the Tf.Mk.X and the No.45 Squadron aircraft based in Tengah, Singapore from Malaya in 1949 proved too much to resist.

The good news is that most of what you need to complete this version of the aircraft: extended fin fillet and thimble nose is included. The omissions I’ll need to address are a set of underwing rockets (if I fit them) – the mounting plates are included in the Revell kit, just the rockets and rails are missing. The only other feature of these aircraft is the small intake mounted above and just aft of the cockpit and I’ll worry about that later.

Construction…