1:48 Bristol Beaufort RAAF Part-2

Bristol Beaufort RAAF decals, part 2 (1:48)

A Print Scale decal sheet focused on Beauforts in Royal Australian Air Force service, in 1:48 scale. It is an accessory for a finished model, not a kit: the markings transfer onto an airframe that is already built and painted. The part designation means the subject is covered by several separately sold sheets.

The real subject

The Bristol Beaufort was a twin-engined torpedo bomber and patrol aircraft with a crew of several men. Alongside British production, a large series was built in Australia, where the machines for the Royal Australian Air Force were built under license and powered by American Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp radial engines. Australian Beauforts served mainly over New Guinea and the southwest Pacific, attacking shipping targets, patrolling and bombing. They differed from the British machines in their powerplant and in details of the tail, which also shows in the form of the markings.

Large decals need a different approach than small ones

National insignia, squadron codes and the bands on the fin are among the largest pieces that go onto a model, and it is exactly with these that a mistake shows at first glance. Soak a large decal a little longer, but move it onto the model together with its backing paper: the film will slide off on its own and will not fold. Put enough water underneath so the piece can be moved, and squeeze it out from the center toward the edges with a soft brush or a damp towel. Watch the wing edge and the transition to the fuselage, where a decal wrinkles most easily. Pierce any remaining air with the tip of a scalpel and press it down with a drop of softener.

Who the sheet is for

• For Beaufort builders who want Australian service rather than British.
• For modelers focused on the war in the Pacific and the southwest area.
• For those who build several machines of one type in different markings.
• For advanced modelers who will take on even large pieces of decal.