Silver Fox Posted December 23, 2018 Share Posted December 23, 2018 Sorry if I have fooled you into thinking this is a full build, it isn't my intention. What I wanted to do was show my progress and point out any areas that I have had problems with. I am no expert on the type so any accuracy issues are beyond the scope of this as well. Anyway, here is my progress to date: I'd rather not have had to assemble the undercarriage at this stage but I can see no way to add it after building the airframe. The firewall and spars are integral to the undercarriage and unless you make ships in bottle I can see no way of adding it later. You can probably see that there is very little filler, just a little around the wing roots and none on the fuselage or tail planes. A little more filler around the turret opening. The first real issue is the flaps, which are clearly designed to be assembled open. There is some nice detail ,on the inner faces and the instructions do tell you to cut off this detail. However I had to reduce the inner flaps to wafter thickness to make them fit. It is a shame alternative parts aren't provided. Not perfect but it will do. A little more filler around the Bombay is visible in this photo. AS you can see the general fit is impressive. I have to say that the package is comprehensive, I believe all the parts necessary to build a bomber are in the box as are tropical filters. I was so looking forward to this kit coming out and I am not disappointed, I'll probably buy at least another one. More updates after Christmas I hope. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted December 23, 2018 Share Posted December 23, 2018 Nice work. Cockpit interior appears quite comprehensive too. Got one in the stash and will watch with interest. Have a wonderful Christmas All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted December 23, 2018 Share Posted December 23, 2018 Good stuff! Is this the Airfix 1/48 kit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted December 23, 2018 Author Share Posted December 23, 2018 Yes Zac, it is the new Airfix Blenheim in 1/48th, I should have made it clearer. I've added a tag to that effect. It is a great kit and I am having fun building her. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted December 24, 2018 Author Share Posted December 24, 2018 In between making a cake for Christmas and shopping, I've managed to add an Eduard masking set and got the first piece of cockpit glazing in place. The set has saved so much time it was well worth the cost. All the pieces fit really nicely and are much better than I could have done. It is Mk If specific as no masks are provided for the clear nose panels of the bomber. Airfix provide alternative parts for the bomber nose as you can see. I have dry fitted the starboard nose piece and It looks like it might need a bit of filing to fit but we will see after Christmas. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
224 Peter Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 I see what you mean about the canopy masks... think I'll get a set. The beauty of the mask is that it is easy to apply a coat of interior green first, visible from the inside, then the external colours. Looking forward to seeing more... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 Mine’s not quite as far on, having got stuck behind a 1/48th Meteor FR. 9 in what passes for my modelling room, but it’s surprisingly easy to build so far, even the undercarriage units (painting them’s going to be fun I think) and the cockpit detail is pretty good straight from the box. I’ve already got a second one on order from my (nearly) local plastic pusher that I’d really like to do as one of 211 Sqquadron’s aircraft from the Greek campaign, but preferably not the oft-depicted L6670 if at all possible. The Squadron was almost completely annihilated during this period and I’d like to commemorate at least one of the other crews who gave everything. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 1 hour ago, 224 Peter said: The beauty of the mask is that it is easy to apply a coat of interior green first, visible from the inside, then the external colours. some sets have both interior and exterior masks, so you can apply framing inside as well.... 34 minutes ago, stever219 said: I’d really like to do as one of 211 Sqquadron’s aircraft from the Greek campaign, but preferably not the oft-depicted L6670 if at all possible. The Squadron was almost completely annihilated during this period and I’d like to commemorate at least one of the other crews who gave everything. I'd ask @tonyot if he knows anything, sort of info he has squirrelled away Neat work on the build @Silver Fox 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 (edited) Looking great so far Andy, `d recommend reading the book `Blenheims over Greece and Crete 1940-41' ,....excellent read, lots of decent info and good photos too; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blenheims-Over-Greece-Crete-1940-1941/dp/1781552800 PM me your e mail address Andy and I`ll e mail some pics to you,..... I think that I have a few from the Greek campaign. Cheers Tony Edit;..... Have a look at these for starters; Blenheim Mark I, L1434, of No. 211 Squadron RAF, undergoing an engine service at Paramythia https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Royal_Air_Force_Operations_Over_Albania_and_Greece,_1940-1941._ME(RAF)1038.jpg And this one,....L1489, UQ-D,... although I don`t agree with the desert camo in the artwork,.....I`d go for DE/DG/ Night; https://ar.pinterest.com/pin/332492384986346720 PS,.... If it helps I also built a 1/72nd Airfix Blenheim I in Greek Campaign markings for 30 Sqn and the thread is here,.... the WIP attached within it also has quite a few Greek campaign pics ; Edited December 26, 2018 by tonyot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies Posted December 26, 2018 Share Posted December 26, 2018 Nice work. I received one for Christmas so am suddenly reading what I can about the kit. It looks fantastic on the parts trees/runners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted December 26, 2018 Author Share Posted December 26, 2018 Cheers Tony, but mine's going to be Mike Herrick's night fighter. Part of my tribute to the man and his machines. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted December 27, 2018 Author Share Posted December 27, 2018 Well I finally got the starboard glazing in place. This was more of a wrestle than expected, I had to use amore filler than I wanted to and it still needs to be sanded back. When I do my next one I will add the glazing to the fuselage half before assembling the fuselage. Once in place the top piece fitted perfectly though the sliding hatch seems a bit wide so I think I'll leave it open. I think th problems are caused because I got the forward fuselage too narrow I did use tape to hold it together so maybe I bent the fuselage inwardly too much. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted December 27, 2018 Share Posted December 27, 2018 Some useful tips coming from this build, I don't have one yet but am planning to get one when I've sold some unwanted stuff. Interesting idea about attaching the glazing before joining the fuselage halves, I might try that when the time comes. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted December 27, 2018 Share Posted December 27, 2018 11 hours ago, Silver Fox said: Well I finally got the starboard glazing in place. This was more of a wrestle than expected, I had to use amore filler than I wanted to and it still needs to be sanded back. When I do my next one I will add the glazing to the fuselage half before assembling the fuselage. Once in place the top piece fitted perfectly though the sliding hatch seems a bit wide so I think I'll leave it open. I think th problems are caused because I got the forward fuselage too narrow I did use tape to hold it together so maybe I bent the fuselage inwardly too much. Thanks for that tip, filed for (hopefully near-) future reference. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 On 12/26/2018 at 9:39 PM, Silver Fox said: Cheers Tony, but mine's going to be Mike Herrick's night fighter. Part of my tribute to the man and his machines. Sorry Andy,..... I misread the query that I was linked into,.... thought that it was from you!! Looking excellent this one,...... keep up the good work, Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC_335 Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 Coming along nicely, Andy. M. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M. Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 Hi Andy. I received mine last Friday, so will be taking notes from your build! Mine will be one of the Malayan based Mk.I's, naturally flown by a Kiwi...🤔 Cheers, Pete M. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted December 28, 2018 Author Share Posted December 28, 2018 Cheers Pete, you will enjoy it. Did you get the Vampire decals I sent? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M. Posted December 28, 2018 Share Posted December 28, 2018 (edited) 10 hours ago, Silver Fox said: Cheers Pete, you will enjoy it. Did you get the Vampire decals I sent? Hi Andy. Yes, card and decals had arrived here yesterday! Our postal system has been super slow this time of the year, worse than ever...cutbacks on staffing levels as usual. The decals look great, better than the poor efforts I did many years back and brought over for the UK based FFM! I'll send you an email this arvo when I get back from work. Pete M. Edited December 28, 2018 by Pete M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted December 30, 2018 Author Share Posted December 30, 2018 No photos for this little update, Christmas and family time has rightly limited my bench time. Working on the engines at the moment, not made easier by the lack of positive alignment points. I built the first engine form pre painted parts but on the second one I assembled parts C29, C30 and C36 as a single unit to paint it and then C37 and C38. Don't leave parts C12 and C13 or part C14 and C15,depending on your chosen scheme,until the end as shown in the instructions I had a heck of job getting them in place on the first engine, I added them as part of the main build and then painted them in situ which seemed to help a lot. Some gentle sanding of the cylinder heads helped align the cowling panels. One final point, the Eduard masking set seems to be missing a panel for the lower port window. I hope I'm not putting you off buying or building the kit, as a veteran of two Classic Airframe Blenheims this is a walk in the park in comparison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted January 3, 2019 Author Share Posted January 3, 2019 Well this is turning into a mojo suppressor. I have really struggled to get the glasswork to align and I now regret not attaching it to the fuselage halves before assembling. She is in the paintshop having the first coat of sky on. I have assembled, filled and undercoated the nacelles, and as I said above the panels fit better with a fair amount of sanding of the cylinder heads, which are invisible once they whole thing is assembled. The propellers and wheels came as some light relief. Still it is a much better kit than the Classic Airframes alternative so onward and upwards More to follow soon . 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 Looking good. I like the engines. Are you going to leave the prop hubs silver? Other than a few pictures of Bisleys with un-painted hubs, all the Blenheim pictures that I have ever seen the hubs are painted black. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted January 7, 2019 Author Share Posted January 7, 2019 Progress of a sort, I still don't feel that I have tamed the glazing but it is what it is. I'll finish the painting the engines later this week and get the Dark Green on the airframe. Ah the joys of being self employed. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Fox Posted January 9, 2019 Author Share Posted January 9, 2019 Dark Green on, masking remove, various touch ups c0mplete and a few small details add. Mojo returning. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
224 Peter Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 (edited) Looking good.. I had the pleasure of seeing the UK based one in flight and on the ground at the Goodwood Revival Meeting a few years ago. As the kit has those markings I'll be building it, even though the "restored" aircraft is more a Bolingbroke airframe with restored Blenheim Mk I nose section with its "stepless cockpit" than Mk 1 Blenheim! Some brilliant photos here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Warbirdapps/photos/?tab=album&album_id=872552412755500 Edited January 9, 2019 by 224 Peter Addition of link 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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