1:72 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X

Painting masks for the Beaufighter TF.X (1:72, AML)

Self-adhesive painting masks from the Czech manufacturer AML for spraying the camouflage onto a model of the Bristol Beaufighter TF.X in 1:72 scale. The naval schemes of Coastal Command rest on the contrast of darker upper surfaces and light undersides, and it is exactly the long, clean boundary between the two bands that decides how a model looks. With the masks the boundary is straight, symmetrical and free of brush marks.

The real subject

The Beaufighter TF.X, nicknamed the Torbeau, was the ultimate strike version of the type: it carried a torpedo under the fuselage and unguided rockets on the wing, and its Hercules radial engines were tuned for performance at low altitude, where the strike squadrons operated. Coastal Command aircraft attacked enemy shipping along the European coast in formations combining torpedo and rocket attacks. It was hard service and low over the waves, and the purposeful naval camouflage matched it.

Spraying tips

• Start with the light shade of the undersides and side surfaces, then stick the masks on once it has dried.
• Spray the darker upper band in thin coats working away from the edge of the mask.
• On the long boundary on the fuselage work in sections and keep pressing the edges down.
• Once the masks are lifted off, add the details and let the surface cure before the decals.

Who it is for

For builders of Coastal Command strike aircraft who want a clean naval scheme with no outlining by hand. Suitable for anyone who works with an airbrush, from moderately advanced upwards.