Beaufighter Question...

[AeroplaneDriver]

My current build while killing time before the OWGB is a RW Tamiya Beau...I'm fitting it with rockets and have read that rocket armed Beaus had a sheet metal cover fitted over the landing light in the last wing to prevent damage from the rocket exhaust.  I can't see to find a pic of how this should look?  Crude thing riveting on or a formed cover resulting in a near-flush leading edge over the light.  Anyone ever seen this or a reference to this?

[dadlamassu]

I have never heard of the cover over the landing light. 

Hoever, in "Bristol Beaufighter" (1994 ISBN 1 85310 122 2) by Victor Bingham on p37 "Just in case the rocket blast on firing should prove a problem to the airframe "blast plating" was fitted under the wings above the rails. Flight tests as well as operational use soon proved this unnecessary."

[AeroplaneDriver]

Same with the Swordfish I think...they had the same basic plates on the wings but soon found out it wasn't necessary.  I have found some pics of rocket armed Beas that don't seem to have the clear lens on the left wing.  It stands out as not present since it is in one of the black invasion stripes. I'm not going to worry about it and just go with it as Tamiya tell me to unless I find something to contradict it clearly. 

[NARSES2]

The few photos I found that were clear enough to see also didn't have a lens on the left wing.

The Hurricane IV also had those plates on the wings for the rockets. They appear to be quite hefty when you can see them clearly in photos.

[jcf]

Most Beaufighters had two landing lights in the port wing mounted next to each other,
behind windows they are visible in these two photos of RAAF rocket-armed Beaus.
One with rails, the other has stubs.





The next two are both RAF, both show only a single light with a round lens assembly, both have rails.

[NARSES2]

Interesting shot of the Beaufighter with stubs. Might make a nice variation on the "norm"

[zenrat]

Interesting shot of the Beaufighter with stubs. Might make a nice variation on the "norm"

That'll be an Australian built DAP Beaufighter Mk21 which were fitted for 5" HVAR

[NARSES2]

Interesting shot of the Beaufighter with stubs. Might make a nice variation on the "norm"

That'll be an Australian built DAP Beaufighter Mk21 which were fitted for 5" HVAR

Thought as much, but thanks for confirmation. I can't recall seeing a Brit built Beau' with stubs although that doesn't mean there weren't any.

[PR19_Kit]

Is it correct that the Aussie built Beaus were the only ones with the bulge forward of the windscreen?

There to accommodate the Sperry autopilot IIRC.

[The Wooksta!]

Yes, as that's the fairing for the Sperry autopilot.