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Blenheim fuselage underside


christian Boehm

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Hello everybody

 

I am on both  airfix new tool Blen,ehims (Mk I and Mk IV) in 72 scale

While studying the future black/white undersides of my Mk I, I saw , specially on cam drawings,  a round Windows just aft the bomb bay (on starboard side).

I searched them on the rare underside photos and found it only, but obvious,  on the cover page of Cam&Markings Blenheim - Ducimus Ed N° 7.

In Airframe album n°5 (blenheim);  page 36 you'll find a picture and some explanations about it ; it's close to a small camera sight , included in an escape hatch

 

Both escape hatch drawing and window are omitted on both Aifix kits. But it's easy to add them

 

I have 2 questions to my ( specially british ! ) modeller friends:

1) ist it a window or an indetification light ?

2) were such hatch fitted on all versions ?

And to end my message , I curiously read in airfram that this hatch w

 

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… gon,e too quick !

 

….And to end my message , I curiously read in Airfram book  that, for canadian built Mk, IV,  this hatch was actually set on port (and not starboard) side...

thanks for help

Christian from Eastern France

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Salut!

 

For what it is worth. All Finnish AF Blenheims did have the hatch and the window in it. Also the Sarja IV which was Mk I in RAF configuration.

 

The hatch was AFAIK smaller in Sarja I which were the Blenheims Finland ordered before war and were of indigenous configuration. Open bomb bay etc.

 

On Sarja V (short nose) and VI (long nose) manual shows the window could be coverd over with hinged plywood cover from inside. I do not know if British Blenheims had the same.

 

In theory the hatch could be used for emergency evacuation. In some rare photos one can see it hanging open. Nothing I can link to, unfortunately.

 

Cheers,

Kari

 

Edited by Kari Lumppio
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Hei Kari , wellome Finland !

Hello graham

 

Thanks a lot

 

I just wanted to check if I have to insert a clear round window after drilling , ang engraving this hatch

 

Another lack of Airfix's Blenheim IV is the "Bubble" side window for the pilot

(same lack for MPM kit although it's drawn on the box). I Don't know if it's in boxes of later Airfix kit issues

This bubble was in place , as I know, on most following series , specially for the MTO

I can tell the old airfix had it because I built it 30 years ago; and the Falcon clear kit does not.

Not too difficult to make it scratch.

 

Although I am french (!!) I don't want to make the "over-known" Mk. IV FAFL desert plane.

Desert good photos of Blenheims are not too curent as I saw

I plan to make the 14 squadron Z5893 in Lybia plane ( the squadron moved to Lybia after stationned in Irak) ; on a photo showing several planes in the air, unfortunately this window his hidden by the engines; The aircraft in front is Z5893 , actually "W" plane , and not "N" as on many profiles and even false  decals.(see Xtra 72203).

I suppose it had it …?

 

christian

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28 minutes ago, christian Boehm said:

Another lack of Airfix's Blenheim IV is the "Bubble" side window for the pilot (same lack for MPM kit although it's drawn on the box). I Don't know if it's in boxes of later Airfix kit issues.  This bubble was in place , as I know, on most following series , specially for the MTO.  I can tell the old airfix had it because I built it 30 years ago; and the Falcon clear kit does not.  Not too difficult to make it scratch.

No. it is not present in any of the 4 boxings of the new Blenheim Airfix have issued so far, possible reasons being that the Bolingbroke they used as a pattern aircraft didn't have them and that they are not that easy to mould convincingly.   On real-life Blenheims, the blisters were present from just after the Battle of France onward - so most subjects should have them. 

Edited by Seahawk
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Thanks Seahawk

 

keeping researching I found that 14 squadron photos in desert included

> yes the "N" plane but a photo on google shows obviously it's serial Z7631 ; and this one had the blister

> also the "W" as Z5893 (and not "N" like in Xtradecals sheet) ; there are 90 % chances it had them as well

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