Hobby Master Archive

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. The Beaufighter TF Mk.X was the last major version with 2,231 built.

In 1919 No. 144 Squadron was disbanded after a brief period of action. In January 1937 the No. 144 Squadron was re-established and equipped with Handley Page Hampdens. In 1943 the 144th received the Bristol Beaufighter that was much more suited to the task of torpedo bomber. In June 1943 the squadron moved to Algeria to operate in the Mediterranean. Three months later the 144th returned to Great Britain. In September 1944, 144 Squadron moved to RAF Banff for anti-shipping attacks near Norway and were disbanded in May 1945.

Specifications: Bristol Beaufighter T.F.X Dimensions Wing span - 57 ft. 10 in. (17.64 m) Length - 41 ft. 4 in. (12.59 m) Height - 15 ft. 10 in. (4.84 m)

Weight Empty - 15,592 lb (7,072 kg) Maximum - 25,400 lb. (11,521 kg) Disposable Load - 9,808 lb. (4,448 kg)

Performance Powerplant - 2 x Bristol Hercules XVII fourteen-cylinder two-row sleeve-valve radial engines rated @ 1,725 hp (1,286 kw) @ 2,900 rpm for take-off rated @ 1,395 hp (1,040 kw) @ 2,400 rpm at 1,500 ft. (457 m) Maximum Speed - @ sea-level - 320 mph (514 km/h) Service Ceiling - 19,000 ft. (5,791 m) (without torpedo) Range with torpedo and normal fuel - 1,400 miles (2,253 km) with torpedo and long-range tanks - 1,750 miles (2,816 km)

Armament 4 x 20-mm. Hispano cannon in the fuselage nose 6 x 0.303-in. machine-guns in the wings 1 x 0.303-in Vickers “K” or 1 x Browning gun in the dorsal position 1 x 18-in. torpedo under fuselage 8 x rocket projectiles instead of wing guns.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2316 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X No. 144 Sqn, RAF Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, February 1945

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