Special Hobby 1/72 Bristol Beaufort Mk.I "Torpedo Bomber"

SPECIAL HOBBY 1:72 BRISTOL BEAUFORT MK.I "TORPEDO BOMBER"
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Carlos Giani (carlos_giani2002@yahoo.de)

Kit: Special Hobby 1/72^nd scale Bristol Beaufort Mk I „torpedo bomber“ (Kit N° SH72026 ). Produced in Czech Republic

Aircraft History: Born from a 1935 requirement of the Air Ministry for a torpedo bomber/ reconnaissance bomber, the Beaufort evolved as Type 150 and later Type 152 based on the Blenheim. The Beaufort was bigger than the Blenheim because of the need to accommodate a torpedo and 4 crew members. The selected engine was the new 1050 HP Bristol Taurus with sleeve valves, and a production contract was signed in August 1936. However, developing problems with the engine caused the flight of the first prototype to be delayed until October 1938, and the ineluctable problems that appeared with the test flight resulted in further delays, the Beaufort having it's maiden operational flight on 16th April 1940.

Parts: Inside a typical end-opening box you find a main plastic bag containing 4 sprues with 84 crisp parts in ocean grey, one sprue with 13 injected clear parts, a plastic bag with 26 resin parts and one bag more with decals and an etched plate (7 parts, from Eduard, just for the torpedo's fin and attachment brackets).

Panel lines are recessed and there is very minimal flash, although there are some big ejector pins which must be filed down, mostly inside of the fuselage and wings. Not all the parts are used on this kit, which means another version is on the way (you get two sets of engine nacelles and wheel well doors). The canopies are very clear, and there is enough stuff to make a busy cockpit, mostly with the help of the resin parts.

Even the torpedo bomb bay is provided. The landing gear is complex, consisting of 7 parts each side without the wheels. Propellers have separate blades, which you have to glue to a resin shaft, and you get lots of aerials.

Machine guns are also resin. No location pins, of course. All in all, the first impression is good, and the kit „invites you to build“.

Instructions: 10 pages in A5 size with aircraft history (English and Czech), sprues layout with numbers, 10 construction steps with some typical unclear positioning, five sketches to improve placement of wings and other parts and colour guide for two versions, with colours having names (i. e., Extra dark sea grey“; „Sky“). Detail painting is extensive and is given numbers from Gunze.

Versions: No.217 Squadron, Coastal Command, AFB St. Eval, Autumn 1941, in black, extra dark sea grey and dark slate grey (could be Humbrol 33, 27 and 102); No.22 Squadron, Coastal Command, AFB St. Eval, April 1941, in sky, dark earth and dark green (classical Humbrol 90, 29 and 30).

Decals: Printed by AVIPRINT, with a „Propagteam-like“ look; there is no stencilling. Roundels being common to both versions

Detail: Great, as one would expect from Special Hobby. Good surface quality and beautiful panelling. Plenty of resin!

Options: The torpedo bomb bay can be displayed open or closed, and you can choose between some of the little aerials. A wheels-up version would need some surgery on the lower wing parts.

Impressions: If you are a Coastal Command fan, or just like to have mainstay aircraft in your collection, then this kit is a „must“; it's the only game in town (please, just forget about Frog-reboxings; the mold is very, very aged). If you, like me, have built the Frog kit ages ago, then you will love this offering, just after opening the box!

Recommendations: I think for the intermediate and up, this kit will present no major problem. Not for beginners.

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