Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2313 Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IF R2069 “ZK-A”, 25 Sqn., RAF, North Weald, Essex Sept 1940

Die-cast metal. Superb detailing in 1/72 scale. Pre-painted with pad applied markings. Fully assembled. Weapons that are not permanently attached. Comes with crew figures Display stand included. Option to display model with wheels up or down. Movable propellers. Minimum use of plastic.

The Bristol Beaufighter was designed as a two-seat long-range fighter. To speed up production many parts of the older Bristol Beaufort were used. The tail, landing gear and wings of the Beaufort were transplanted to the Beaufighter and most units were equipped with airborne radar located in the nose for night-fighting. The Mk. IF was the initial production and fitted with four 20 mm cannons in the nose along with six 7.7 mm machine guns in the wings. There were a total of 553 of the IF version produced.

No. 25 Squadron spent the first 3 years of WWII flying defensive patrols using the Bristol Blenheim which was proving to be too slow to intercept German bombers. New designs and better engines brought about the much quicker Bristol Beaufighter, replacing the Blenheim. No. 25 received their first Beaufighters in October 1940 and operated them until January 1943 when the ultimate night fighter, the de Havilland Mosquito began assuming the role. Beaufighter, serial R2069 was the first Beaufighter Mk. IF delivered to No. 25 Squadron.

Statistics - Bristol Beaufighter Mk IF Crew 2 X (1) pilot (1) radio/radar operator Engines 2 X Bristol Hercules XI engines / 1,500 hp Fuel 100 octane Capacity 550 Imp gallons / (660 US gallons) / (2,500 liters)

Performance Max Speed - 321 mph at 15,800 feet / (520 km/h at 4,572 m) ICR - 1,850 ft/min at sea level / (564 m/min at sea level) Climb to 20,000 ft - 14 minutes 6 seconds / (6,095 m in 14 min 6 seconds) Ceiling - 26,500 ft / (8077 m) Range - 1,170 miles at 5,000ft at 182 mph / (1,883 km at 1.524 km at 292.9 km/h)

Dimensions Wing Span - 57ft 10in / (17.64 m) Wing Area - 503 sq. ft. / (46.73 m2) Length: 41ft 8in / (12.6 m) Height - 15 ft 10 in / (4.83 m)

Weights Empty weight - 14,069 lb / (6,382 kg) Operational - 21,100 lb / (9,571 kg)

Armament 4 X 20mm cannon under nose 240 rounds per gun 6 X .303 machine guns in wings 1000 rounds per gun