tonyot Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) Hiya Folks, I was really looking forward to building the new Airfix Blenheim and really enjoyed it right up until I reached the canopy fitting stage,.....then I rapidly lost interest! Fitting the canopy last is an absolute nightmare and I ended up cracking mine which is why the lower right bomb aimers window is new faired over (which it was on some fighters anyway), plus the cockpit filled up with sanding dust! Anyway I`ve finished it using the new DK Decals sheet 72004 in markings for a 25 Sqn Blenheim Mk.If during the summer of 1940 and it was converted into a Mk.If by fitting the gun pack from a Frog kit. I managed to find a couple of photos of the real aircraft and although it has freshly applied Sky undersides the fabric control surfaces are still in the previous black and white halved colours as these would have to be re balanced if fresh dope was appied. Alongside is another Blenheim which still wears the full black and white colours underneath, hinting at an early summer 1940 time period. Cheers Tony Edit- Underside view added,........ I also meant to say that I`m currently reading Brian Cull`s excellent `Blenheim`s Over Greece & Crete' and I had not realised just how well the Blenheim Mk.If fighters actually did over there in the day fighter role against the Italians and Germans! Here is one of the photos of the real Blenheim used for reference; reproduced here under fair use rules. It could argued that it has a spare aileron fitted with the earlier colours applied but as the aircraft alongside still has black and white undersides the theory that the fabric surfaces have yet to be refinished seems more relevant to me so that is what I went for? I`ve also been asked why no gun troughs are fitted.....but I personally think that these were a later modification, which I`ve seen fitted to Mk.IVf`s. Cheers again, Tony Edited October 25, 2014 by tonyot 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Looks pretty good to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Excellent work - I like delicate weathring... Why you do not show undersurface - just write on this? Regards Jerzy-Wojtek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted October 25, 2014 Author Share Posted October 25, 2014 Thanks folks, Jerzy,....your wish is my command,..I just didn`t think that anybody would be interested!; I`ll add it to page 1 too, Cheers Tony 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Thank you Tony - such exceptions from rules like these are always interesting! Regards Jerzy-Wojtek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockeyboy76 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Great build. I gave up on mine after the canopy fit. Glad I'm not the only one suffering with this. Well played sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeW Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Nightmare aside - great save. Looks great. ( Liked seeing the underside too ) Cheers, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csrt2006 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 Really nice build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 Lovely job Tony she turned out a beaut, and your struggle with the cockpit left no visible traces. Interesting transitional scheme on the underside too, do you think later on they must have decided that re-painting didn't unbalance the ailerons and elevators? Cheers, Stew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted October 26, 2014 Share Posted October 26, 2014 Great build Tony,I have this kit to do and yet again the canopy seems to be an issue,thankfully I now know what to look for nice to see it turned into a slightly different MK and change of squadron too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Val Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Looks great t'me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted October 29, 2014 Share Posted October 29, 2014 Hiya Folks, I was really looking forward to building the new Airfix Blenheim and really enjoyed it right up until I reached the canopy fitting stage,.....then I rapidly lost interest! Fitting the canopy last is an absolute nightmare and I ended up cracking mine which is why the lower right bomb aimers window is new faired over (which it was on some fighters anyway), plus the cockpit filled up with sanding dust! Anyway I`ve finished it using the new DK Decals sheet 72004 in markings for a 25 Sqn Blenheim Mk.If during the summer of 1940 and it was converted into a Mk.If by fitting the gun pack from a Frog kit. I managed to find a couple of photos of the real aircraft and although it has freshly applied Sky undersides the fabric control surfaces are still in the previous black and white halved colours as these would have to be re balanced if fresh dope was appied. Alongside is another Blenheim which still wears the full black and white colours underneath, hinting at an early summer 1940 time period. Cheers Tony Edit- Underside view added,........ I also meant to say that I`m currently reading Brian Cull`s excellent `Blenheim`s Over Greece & Crete' and I had not realised just how well the Blenheim Mk.If fighters actually did over there in the day fighter role against the Italians and Germans! Here is one of the photos of the real Blenheim used for reference; reproduced here under fair use rules. It could argued that it has a spare aileron fitted with the earlier colours applied but as the aircraft alongside still has black and white undersides the theory that the fabric surfaces have yet to be refinished seems more relevant to me so that is what I went for? I`ve also been asked why no gun troughs are fitted.....but I personally think that these were a later modification, which I`ve seen fitted to Mk.IVf`s. Cheers again, Tony Great build, sad to hear about the fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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