This is the 1997 release of the Beaufighter and my first real attempt at producing a kit in that scale (we’ll pass over an Airfix Spitfire that was a bit of a disaster…).
I had been told that Tamiya kits were well engineered and this was definitely the case, the option to build the engines and undercarriage modules separate to the fuselage and wings simplified the process, and yes everything did go together beautifully.
Lessons learned:
Preshading – get it evened out, happy for a first attempt, but plenty of scope for improvement
Seams – build the confidence to do something about them!
Weathering – I decided to quit whilst I was ahead and didn’t
Decals – very thick, but on the whole behaved with Microset/Microsol, but one tiny bit of silvering.
Paint – I tried Matt Black from the new ATOM range, it is very matt, but sprays well
Varnish – ‘Ammo Lucky’, despite following the psi and distance guidance, there were a couple of issues on the underside.
Paint Booth – this is definitely the largest kit that will (just about) fit
I really enjoyed making it, only one loss to the carpet monster: the gun sight.
I had been told that Tamiya kits were well engineered and this was definitely the case, the option to build the engines and undercarriage modules separate to the fuselage and wings simplified the process, and yes everything did go together beautifully.
Lessons learned:
Preshading – get it evened out, happy for a first attempt, but plenty of scope for improvement
Seams – build the confidence to do something about them!
Weathering – I decided to quit whilst I was ahead and didn’t
Decals – very thick, but on the whole behaved with Microset/Microsol, but one tiny bit of silvering.
Paint – I tried Matt Black from the new ATOM range, it is very matt, but sprays well
Varnish – ‘Ammo Lucky’, despite following the psi and distance guidance, there were a couple of issues on the underside.
Paint Booth – this is definitely the largest kit that will (just about) fit
I really enjoyed making it, only one loss to the carpet monster: the gun sight.
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