Bristol Beaufort repaints

nazca_steve · Post by **nazca_steve** » 05 Nov 2006, 06:20

Hello all,

here is the first of the repaints I've been working on for William Renwick's Bristol Beaufort model. There should be a few more coming along over the following weeks, but this something to whet your whistle. I'll be uploading them to Classic British Files soon.

On that note, if anyone has any good Beaufort pics, esp. colour ones, please could you bung them my way as reference is hard to find outside of the RAF Hendon shots.

Cheers,

Steve

Post by **DaveB** » 05 Nov 2006, 11:47

Nice colours there Steve.. very authentic looking

ATB

DaveB :tab:

nazca_steve · Post by **nazca_steve** » 05 Nov 2006, 18:45

Cheers Dave, credit has to go to Simmers Paint Shop though for their handy old paint guide - they are definitely my new friends

Steve

nazca_steve · Post by **nazca_steve** » 07 Jan 2007, 07:43

Another Beaufort repaint soon to go up on Classic British Files...
L9802 of No.415 Sqn, RCAF, Nov. 1941.

Cheers,

Steve

RAF_Pegasus · Post by **RAF_Pegasus** » 07 Jan 2007, 09:05

S! Steve

Great to see this aircraft getting the attention it deserves.
My Beaufort will look splendid in their new paint schemes. Thanks.

If I may be so bold as to put in a special request for a particular aircraft, as flown by one of the unsung heroes of WWII -

Beaufort N1016 X-OA flown by Flying Officer KENNETH CAMPBELL V.C.

Background History ...

Three Beauforts off 22 Squadron had been sent to attack the German capital ships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in Brest harbour which was then the most heavily defended port in all of Europe. This attack was on the express orders of Churchill.

The weather was atrocious, with the pilots having to grope their way through driving rain, thick fog and sea mists. Three other bombers sent ahead to destroy the torpedo nets around the harbour had failed even to reach the French coast.

When F/O Campbell reached his target at dawn, he and his three man crew found themselves alone and facing a murderous arc of fire from over 1,000 guns on shore batteries, flak ships and on board the battle-cruisers themselves. When it became evident that none of the other Beauforts had made it, he dropped below the fog and began his attack.

What happened next was recorded in his citation, which was posted in the London Gazette , 13th March 1942

Valour of the Highest Order

â€œEven if an aircraft penetrated these formidable defences it would be almost impossible after attacking at low level, to avoid crashing into the rising ground beyond. Knowing all this, Flying Officer Campbell ran the gauntlet of the defences and launched a torpedo at point-blank range, severely damaging the battle-cruiser below the water-lineâ€¦â€¦â€

DispatchDragon · Post by **DispatchDragon** » 07 Jan 2007, 09:11

Sounds like a very worthy request John

Hopefully Steve will be able to complete the request

I wonder sometimes where all the real heroes went to

Leif

Steve - did you already upload this to CBF - as I cant find it in the upload files this morning

Post by **TSR2** » 07 Jan 2007, 12:11

Having been to Brest a few years back and seen the gun emplacements along the two shores I can only imagine what a feat this was.

nazca_steve · Post by **nazca_steve** » 07 Jan 2007, 18:31

DispatchDragon wrote:Sounds like a very worthy request John

Hopefully Steve will be able to complete the request

I wonder sometimes where all the real heroes went to

Leif

Steve - did you already upload this to CBF - as I cant find it in the upload files this morning

John, consider it done. I'll see what I can dig up, or if anyone else can furnish some pics of this particular a/c or similar that will help. A very worthy request. Funnily enough, this story is almost identical to an old Battle Picture Library comic I had as a kid called 'Scratch Crew' - I'm sure if served as inspiration for the comic as it is a truly amazing tale. It was this comic which got me into the Beaufort as well - something about it just looked good.

Leif, I have not yet uploaded it, but will do today, along with another RAF day bomber scheme I finished last night. Will advise when uploaded.

nazca_steve · Post by **nazca_steve** » 08 Jan 2007, 01:19

DispatchDragon wrote:Sounds like a very worthy request John

Hopefully Steve will be able to complete the request

I wonder sometimes where all the real heroes went to

Leif

Steve - did you already upload this to CBF - as I cant find it in the upload files this morning

Just uploaded it now, please ignore the first one - it was missing a thumbnail. Cheers,

Steve

thehappyotter · Post by **thehappyotter** » 08 Jan 2007, 09:06

Both files now available.