I am creating pages for each operational type used by the command. If anyone would like to remind me of things I've got wrong or missed then please do so using the Contact Form. Also if anyone would like to contribute any relevant information or documents please do so - this page is intended to be a resource for all modellers, not just me!

References used are too many to list but a good start are those on my general reference page

 Specific references for the Beaufighter include

• Bristol Aircraft Since 1910 - Author: CH Barnes, Publisher: Putnam
• Beaufighter At War - Author: C.Bowyer, Publisher: Ian Allan
• Beaufighter Squadrons in Focus - Author: Simon Parry, Publisher: Red Kite
• Aircraft Profile No.137
• Camouflage & Markings RAF NW Europe 1939-45 no.9 Bristol Beaufighter - Publisher Ducimus
• Warpaint Series No.1 - Author: Alan W Hall; Publisher: Hall Park 2004
• Bristol Beaufighter - Author: Jerry Scutts, Publisher: Crowood
• Bristol Beaufighter - Author: Victor Bingham, Publisher: Airlife
• Beaufighter - Author: C.Bowyer, Publisher: William Kimber
• Beaufighter in Action - Author: Jerry Scutts, Publisher: Squadron/Signal
• Bristol Beaufighter: A Comprehensive Guide for the Modeller - Author: Richard Franks, Publisher: SAM Publications
• RCAF Beaufighters of 404 Sqn - Author; Terry Higgins, Publisher: Aviaeology
• 404 Sqn Beaufighters: Black Friday & Other Later Beaux - Author; Terry Higgins, Publisher: Aviaeology
• Dallachy Strike Wing Beaufighters… 144, 455 & 489 Sqns - Author; Terry Higgins, Publisher: Aviaeology
• Buffalo Beau Tens - The Beaufighter TF.X in 404 (RCAF) Squadron Service - Author; Terry Higgins, published in Scale Aircraft Modelling magazine
• Maritime Mauler - Early maritime strike Beaufighter Xs - Author; Terry Higgins, published in Airfix Magazine
• The Ten comes of age - The later permutations of the Beaufighter Mk.X - Author; Terry Higgins, published in Airfix Magazine
• AVIA6/12308 - A.S.V. Mk II installation in Coastal Command Beaufighter aircraft : flight tests
• AIR65/7 - Test of A.I. Mark VIII equipment in Beaufighters for Coastal Command purposes

Particular acknowledgement is due to Terry Higgins of Aviaeology who has taken research into the details of Coastal Command Beaufighters to an extreme. His published material and replies to topics on the Britmodeller website have been invaluable in pinning down some of the finer details for this page.

Note this page is still under construction!!! The first use of the Beaufighter by Coastal Command................

Camouflage and Markings

Something of a contentious topic with many differing opinions over the years, this is my interpretation but please pay attention to the many 'ifs, buts and maybes', mostly it's based on probabilities not certainties. Doubtless there will be changes and corrections on an ongoing basis as new (to me) information becomes available. Also, because of the (relatively) frequent changes and confusion as well as possible shortage of the specified paint colour on a particular base at some point in time not all aircraft conformed to the official standard at any given time so photographs are vital if you want to model a particular aircraft at a particular point in time.

In chronological order (note dates are those on the paperwork, reality was sometimes ahead and sometimes behind):-

Temperate Land scheme (1940 to 10th August 1941)

Temperate Sea scheme (10th August 1941 by memo to??? there is the possibility of a 'fork' as "long range" Beaufighters are picked out - maybe those used for Biscay patrols as opposed to those used on anti-shipping duties?) Initially codes were in Medium Sea Grey, later Red. Serials were Night.

2nd July 1942 AMO664/42 only gives TSS for long range Beaufighters, no mention of any other type of Beaufighter though.

6th Oct 1942 Stations of Coastal Command photo shows X8084 of 235 Squadron in Special Duties scheme A with white undersides. It's possible only 235 and 404 squadrons used this scheme?

8th Oct 1942 AMO1096/42 still only refers to long range Beaufighters in TSS

16th Oct 1942 (action date 1st Nov 1942) memo changing to numeric squadron code

30th Jan 1943 IWM photo shows JL447 in TSS

2nd Feb 1943 postagram to RAF Commands states all Coastal Command aircraft to be in EDSG and White anti-sub pattern

4th March 1943 memo specifically for Coastal Command Beaufighters confirms EDSG and White anti-sub pattern

20th August 1943 request from HQ 18 Group to HQ Coastal Command to use pale blue instead of white on Beaufighters, Hampdens and 333Sqdn Mosquitoes.

18th Oct 43 memo specifically for Beaufighters to change painting in production line changes from white scheme to dark sea grey uppers and sides with undersurfaces Sky to Pattern 1

22nd Oct 1943 postagram to RAF Commands specifically for Beaufighters changes from white scheme to dark sea grey uppers and sides with undersurfaces Sky to Pattern 1

29th Oct 43 previous memo of 18th Oct corrected to EDSG uppers and sides

3rd Nov 1943 Postagram amending postagram of 22nd Oct to RAF Commands specifically for Beaufighters states Uppers EDSG, sides EDSG and undersurfaces Sky. AMO664/42 will be amended in due course.

Special Duties Scheme A (version 1 - my label, not official)  (??? to ???)

Extra Dark Sea Grey Upper surfaces to pattern2 with glossy White undersurfaces to pattern1, area between to be matt White.

Special Duties Scheme A (version 2 - my label, not official)  (??? to 30th March 1944)

Extra Dark Sea Grey Upper surfaces to pattern2 with glossy White undersurfaces to pattern1, area between to be Dark sea grey.

Version 2a - (my label, not official) or maybe what was intended in version 2 - ref pencil note in DTD360 Extra Dark Sea Grey Upper surfaces to pattern2 with Sky (or Sky Blue?? ref Lucas SAM) undersurfaces to pattern1, area between to be Dark sea grey. There must be a lot of correspondence, either in the files at the National Archives or long since binned, about the changes to this scheme as it was reputedly not popular with crews of strike (as opposed to anti-submarine) aircraft and the various iterations must be a result of attempts to find a workable compromise.

Special Duties Scheme A (version 3 - my label, not official)  (30th March 1944 to beyond the end of the war)

U-boat attacks by Coastal Command Beaufighters (taken from 'Search, Find and Kill' by Norman Franks :

Modelling Notes

• In 1/72 the recent Airfix kits are the best basis for TF.X variants and can probably be modified for later Mark VI as well.
• The Hasegawa kits for Mark I, VI and X are also good and they have appeared under the Hobby 2000 and MPM labels recently.
• Matchbox also released a TF.X with errors which were corrected in a later release, also relelased by Revell and this is the best "budget" option.
• The early Airfix and Frog/Novo kits are not really worth bothering with unless you cannot afford more recent kits although the Airfix one can form the basis for a Mark II in conjunction with the Magna conversion kit - build article.
• Finally in 1/72 scale there are kits from High Planes which, if their other kits are anything to go by, will be accurate with fine engraved panel lins but hard work to build being limited run injection mouldings.
• In 1/48 the new Revell kit is probably the best but the Tamiya kits are also good.
• Finally in 1/144 there are several Marks from Mark1 Models