Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA2304
Bristol Beaufighter Mk. VIF "ND220", Sqn Ldr J. H. Etherton,
No. 176 Sqn., Minneriya, Ceylon, March - April 1945

Die-cast metal.
Superb detailing in 1/72 scale.
Pre-painted with pad applied markings.
Fully assembled.
Weapons that are not permanently attached.
Comes with crew figures
Display stand included.
Option to display model with wheels up or down.
Movable propellers.
Minimum use of plastic.
Hobby Master doesn't flood the market with huge numbers of each model and
with the pre-production interest shown world wide this definitely will be a very
rare bird and extremely sought after.

The Beaufighter Mk. VIF was a night-fighter version of the Mk. VI that was equipped with
AI Mark VIII radar. The Mk. VI had the improved Hercules engines with over 1,000 aircraft
of this variant being made. Most of the Beau night-fighters were eventually replaced in
this role by the faster Mosquito but the Beau continued to fight on performing anti-
shipping duty as well as ground attack and long range interdiction. The Beaufighter was
produced in 14 variants and operated by 11 countries.

Beaufighter Mk. VIF ND220 belonged to Sqn Ldr J.H. Etherton of the 176th Sqn
stationed at Minneriya Ceylon from late 1944 until April 1945. Etherton was a Beaufighter
Ace with 6 kills in North Africa before joining the 176th. He used the aircraft to visit
remote units of the squadron and was painted in full South-East Asia Command markings
but lacked aircraft letters. On June 28 1945 the aircraft swung on take-off collapsing the
undercarriage and writing the aircraft off.

Specifications Bristol Beaufighter Mk. VIF

Aircraft Type – Night Fighter

Crew – 2

Performance
Engine – (2) Bristol Hercules VI, 14 cylinder radial, 1,670 hp each turning (3) bladed
propellers
Speed – 333 mph (536kph) @ 15,600 ft   (4,755 m)
Time To Climb to 15,000 ft   (4,572 m) – 7.8 minutes
Service Ceiling – 26,500 ft   (8,077 m)
Range – 1,540 miles   (2,478 km)

Dimensions
Wingspan – 57 ft 10 in   (17.64 m)
Length – 41 ft 8 in   (12.7 m)
Height – 15 ft 10 in   (4.82 m)
Wing Area – 503 ft sq   (46.73 m sq)

Weight
Empty – 14,600 lbs   (6,623 kg)
Loaded – 21,600 lbs   (9,798 kg)

Armament
Nose – (4) 20 mm
Port Wing – (2) 7.7 mm Machine guns
Starboard Wing – (4) 7.7 mm Machine guns

176th squadron motto
Nocte custodimus
(We keep the night watch)

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