Beaufighter Cowling - Copper ?

As I recall, the copper part of the front cowling on a Beaufighter (and a Swordfish, for another example) is actually the collector ring for the engine exhaust - here's a nice pic of a Swordfish showing same -

And the best I could to on a quick search for a Beau -

Notice that the copper ages over time, and doesn't stay anywhere near as bright as most modelers leave it.

gladiators, walrus, on many bristol engined aircraft. also, stirlings, and i think the bristol hallibags. there were a lot. check faa and costal command birds, too.

that's an awfully clean stringbag. very cool, that collection of old and odd bits.

It's not copper, it's steel exhaust collector ring. Badly burnt steel. And the front lip is double-layered and therefore less affected, lighter color.

Don't confuse it with Macchi MC200 copper cooler ring.

> Clock.jpg

Royal Navy Historical Flight, one of two kept in flying order.

Atlantic and Russian convoy protection, Taranto, Bismarck. We owe that collection of wood and string, and the men who flew them, an awful lot. All pulled along by a nine-cylinder radial Bristol Pegasus.

Good picture attached to the Wikipedia article

up really large, too of ideas for the detail-minded in there :-)

Again, that is a museum aircraft so the engine hasn't been fired up and the condition of the exhaust ring does not match that of an operational example, which, as noted downthread, would be "burnt metal" - that variously blued, tarnished and carbonised finish, laughably sold by some hobby paint manufacturers as "exhaust color" (as if there was only one).

The Beaufighter was powered by the later Bristol Hercules, a fourteen cylinder two-row sleeve-valve radial. The Beaufighter at Hendon is not flyable, so the collector rings are probably painted. In addition to being the exhaust manifold, the collector rings are also aerodynamically shaped to act as the forward edge of the engine cowling, where it is cooled by the airflow.

Here's some pictures of the Canadian restoration of a Halifax, showing some details of the Hercules installation.

Here's one from Wikipedia.

there are many cowlings painted copper.

that 5856 is a fine looking machine. it has that carefull neatness that is the mark that it is loved. that halibag is awesome, can't wait to see it restored. i can't believe that there are no flying aircraft. i know people were sick of war, but they could have saved one, dammit.

Possibly, but Bristol ones are not.

The subject is periodically covered on modeling forums such as britmodeler or hyperscale.

hmm. i see a gladiator with one and also a walrus. or am i thinking of something else and got it wrong? i know i've seen a sunderland color photos with copper cowls painted. not the whole thing, just a band in the front. was it engine specific? doesn't seem so, but the brits walk their own path.

i believe we are both right depending on time and unit. yo jules, help? i believe in copper color but not copper metal. i've also seen some that go from copper to white with a thin band of red or yellow. was that a unit thing or wing commanders plane or just some feeling artsy? i believe that there was no coherence or order used and that they were painted just to torture model builders with those of at least 50 years later being specified. no, i am not paranoid. they really ARE out to get us.

I have a photo of a Gladiator cowling showing the tarnishing of steel into a coppery colour, caused by heat.

If anyone wants a copy, please email me!

Chris