Airfix Bristol Blenheim Mk.I 1:48 Airfix (A09190)

[Julien]

Bristol Blenheim Mk.I

1:48 Airfix (A09190)

 

At the time of its first flight in April 1935, the Bristol Blenheim was one of the most advanced aircraft of its type. It's fully metal, stressed skin construction, powered flaps, retractable landing gear and variable pitch propellers all helped it stand out from the biplanes then in service with the RAF. Powered by two Bristol Mercury radial engines, the Type 142 as it was originally know, was a very fast aircraft for its time. Such was the pace of aeronautical development in the 1930s though, that by the time war broke out in 1939, the Blenheim was dangerously outclassed by the modern fighters of the Luftwaffe.

During the early stages of the War, Blenheims were used for some of the first raids on Germany and they continued to be deployed in raids on German occupied airfields during the Battle of Britain. Some notable successes were achieved, although arguably more a result of the heroism of the pilots than the capabilities of the aircraft; losses were unacceptably high. The Blenheim was outmatched as a fighter too, but as with many similar aircraft, it enjoyed more success when adapted for night fighting, at least until the more heavily armed Beaufighter entered service. The Blenheim saw action in the Far East as well, and a number of aircraft were exported to Finland before the outbreak of war.
 

The Kit

This is a new tool from Airfix which follows their 2018 Mk,1F. The kit arrives on six main sprues along with a clear sprue. The quality of the parts is excellent throughout. For a kit with large clear parts these are very well done and perfectly clear.

 

Disappointingly for fans of modelling clichés, construction begins not with the cockpit but with the bomb bay behind it, this also incorporates the spars for the wings. The doors can be open or closed for this, but if you want them closed you will have to cut the door off to reposition them. Once this is made up then we can get to work on the cockpit starting with the pilots seat and its supporting framework. These parts are highly detailed and replicate the real thing, the control column goes in front of the seat. The seat attaches to the front of the bomb bay and the whole structure is slid into the left fuselage half. Details for the bomb aimers position then go in the nose with hs fold away seat going next to the pilots seat; to finish off here the main instrument panel is fitted. Continuing on in the left fuselage half at the rear the support for the tail wheel is added, then continuing forward the boards under the upper turret are added. Holes must be drilled for the rear mounted bomb racks. To the right fuselage half the the rear mounted radios are added and at the front another fold down seat in the nose. The fuselage halves can then be joined and the top insert added along with the upper escape hatch. 

 

With the fuselage buttoned up, attention turns to the wings. The inserts for the landing lights are added into the wing leading edge. Next up on the lower wings the lower engine nacelles go on. Into these fits the landing gear. Here like all of their models Airfix provide different parts for the gear up or down. More simplified parts being provided for the raised option. If doing the gear down then internal bulkheads need to be added in followed by construction of the complicated landing gear.  This seems to accurately depict the complex gear in both its looks and multipart construction. The gear fits between the rear part which represent s the main spar and the front engine firewall. Once the gear is securely in each lower wing the rear part for the flap bay is added. Now the upper and lower wings can be assembled, and the wings added to the fuselage.  Small inserts between the trailing edge and the fuselage finish this part of the build. Next up its time to look at the flying control surfaces. The tailplanes are built up. The fixed parts are split upper & lower and these trap in the single part control surface when they go together. Once built they can be added to the fuselage followed by the rudder. 

 

 

We can now move to the construction of the engines. Again these are quite detailed. While not a full engine it will appear so when viewed from the front. The front cylinder bank goes onto the main backing plate with additional engine parts and the hub going on the front. The exhausts then go onto the engine. Collector stubs are attached to the front single part of the collector ring which then mounts to the front of the engine. The structure behind this is then built up with one main lower part and left/right upper parts. A choice of open or closed cowl flaps is then provided for the rear. once the intakes are added the completed engines can be mounted to the wings. Now the flaps can be added to the main wings. These can be open or closed, however if the modeller wants to close them up they will have to remove some of the moulded in structure to enable them to close. Outboard of the flaps the single part ailerons are added, this finishes off the wings.

 

 

The next major part to be constructed is the upper turret. Again this is quite a complicated structure like the real thing. To aid construction Airfix have proved a jig to get everything aligned correctly. The vertical assembly is at this point constructed horizontally, care will be needed with the instructions here to understand how it all fits. Once the structure is together and solid it can be removed from the jig and the glazing added. The complete assembly then slides down into the fuselage. We are now on the home straight. The wheels and front doors to the landing gear are added, followed by the tail wheel. A single part cover is provided if the bomb bay is to be closed up. If not then the outer doors are added followed by the bomb load.  Additional smaller bombs and their racks are added to the rear fuselage (hopefully you opened up those holes at the beginning!) . Before fitting the cockpit glazing a pilot figure is provided if you want to use him. There are four parts of the large glazed area; left & right main parts, with two top parts. The last one can be placed in the closed position, or slid back into the open position. To finally finish off the landing lights area added along with the propellers, aerial mast and pitot tube. 

 

 

Decals

The sheet is by Cartograf which guarantees quality with no issues.  Two marking options are provided.

 

No. 211 Sqn RAF, Menidi, Greece 1941 (As seen on the box art)

No. 90 Sqn RAF, RAF Bicester, Autumn 1938.

 

 

 

Conclusion
This kit continues Airfix's rich vein of form. It is a beautifully made, high quality kit which is packed with detail and options. The accurate shape and fine surface detail makes this kit a real winner, with the slightly complex breakdown of parts the only real challenge. Highly recommended for fans of pre/early-war British aircraft.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

 

[Welkin]

Does this kit have the parts for the gun pack on the 1F?

I can't see them on the sprues (I might be missing them)!

[treker_ed]

The gun pack is a separate sprue (F) in the original MK If boxing, not included in the Mk I boxing (I've just checked my own kits of these to double check.)

 

[Welkin]

Thanks; I thought that must be the case.

I will have to find one of the original boxings if I can.

[Selwyn]

On 11/5/2022 at 4:55 PM, treker_ed said:

The gun pack is a separate sprue (F) in the original MK If boxing, not included in the Mk I boxing (I've just checked my own kits of these to double check.)

 

Take care on getting one of these.  The Mk1 Gunpack was different to the Mk IV pack being shallower and having a blast plate fitted below the cockpit. The Respective airfix fighter  kits have examples of both IIRC.

 

Selwyn

[Dave Swindell]

9 hours ago, Selwyn said:

Take care on getting one of these.  The Mk1 Gunpack was different to the Mk IV pack being shallower and having a blast plate fitted below the cockpit. The Respective airfix fighter  kits have examples of both IIRC.

 

Selwyn

The 1/48 MkIF kit only has the MkIF parts, the 1/72 fighter kits have both MkIF and MkIVF  parts on the same sprue.