Hobby Master 1/72 RAAF Royal Australian Air Force Bristol Beaufighter TF-X NE548 (HA2310)

Up for sale is a brand new 1:72 scale RAAF Royal Australian Air Force Bristol Beaufighter TF-X NE548 (HA2310) by Hobby Master.

The Bristol Beaufighter was developed in about 8 months by using sections from the earlier designed Bristol Beaufort. It was given more powerful engines and a variety of modifications making the aircraft capable of many tasks. It was a night fighter, fighter bomber and torpedo bomber performing anti-shipping duty as well as ground attack and long range interdiction. The different variants, 14 in all, were capable of carrying bombs, torpedoes, rockets, canons and machine guns. The Beaufighter was operated by 11 countries.

This aircraft was from No. 455 Squadron RAAF which was formed on May 23, 1941 in Williamtown, NSW. Late in 1943 Bristol Beaufighters replaced the aging Hampdens of RAAF 455 Sqn and were stationed along side the RNZAF 489 Sqn aircraft that were formed into a strike force with newly developed tactics. This force was known as the ANZAC Wing and moved to Langham on April 12, 1944. From this base the ANZAC Wing conducted operations in an effort to clear the English Channel of German vessels in preparation for D-Day and during the D-Day landings. A photograph was taken of Beaufighter UB-E NE548 firing a salvo of rockets has become the iconic photo of a TF-X or perhaps of any Beaufighter.