Tweener Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 I've just come across this photo of a Bolingbroke - And immediately, 2 questions came to mind. First, is the color of the blank patches white or yellow? I'm inclined to say white given the similarity to the white of the roundels and flash, but as this is a training aircraft I would think yellow makes more sense. Second, am I the only one that sees an unusual lump atop the right engine nacelle? What could this be for? Any input / answers would be greatly appreciated as I may soon build this one. Thanks, Tweener 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 (edited) Hi most likely yellow as per the ansons in the link http://thefilmexperience.net/blog/2017/2/20/the-furniture-a-canadian-air-show-in-captains-of-the-clouds.html got this bit wrong see the post by carlV in the thread below engine nacelle bulge is a dinghy compartment cheers jerry Edited November 30, 2022 by brewerjerry wrong info 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
europapete Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 Hiya, if you look at the light patch on the fuselage below the turret, extending from the wing root, it is the light colour in the shadow of the fuselage as is the roundel. The light colour to looks to me to be much closer to the yellow ring than the white ring. The patch on top of the fuselage is in bright sunlight so will look closer to the white anyway. Also some training aircraft did have large area yellow markings. So, my vote is yellow. Regards, Pete in RI. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobmig Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 It would be yellow. This is a typical Canadian BCATP scheme of yellow wing and fuselage panels over the camouflage finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl V Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 In the attached photo, the bulge on the starboard engine nacelle is not for a dinghy but for the large new oil tank. All Bolingbrokes (except for the IVW's) had the rear engine nacelle extended backwards giving an asymmetrical appearance to the aircraft – this is one of the fairly large number of external differences between the Blenheim and the Bolingbroke. When the IV went into production, it was found that the port oil tank could be accommodated in the dinghy compartment as well as the dinghy. However, as the starboard nacelle was not extended and did not have a dinghy compartment, the upper bulge to accommodate the oil tank was added. The light panels are yellow. This was the standard RCAF pattern for camouflaged aircraft in the training role. A few examples are Ansons, Oxfords, Harvards, Battles and Seamews. I have been interested in the Bolingbroke for more than four decades and have over 300 photos plus four completed laid out chapters of a book which will undoubtedly never be published. If you or anybody else out there would like any of that stuff, just let me know. Carl 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix44 Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 What are the raised black items on the leading edges of the wings and horizontal stabs? De-icer boots? Are they unique to the Bolingbroke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 3 hours ago, Phoenix44 said: What are the raised black items on the leading edges of the wings and horizontal stabs? De-icer boots? Are they unique to the Bolingbroke? Possibly applicable to Canadian ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweener Posted November 30, 2022 Author Share Posted November 30, 2022 7 hours ago, Carl V said: In the attached photo, the bulge on the starboard engine nacelle is not for a dinghy but for the large new oil tank. All Bolingbrokes (except for the IVW's) had the rear engine nacelle extended backwards giving an asymmetrical appearance to the aircraft – this is one of the fairly large number of external differences between the Blenheim and the Bolingbroke. When the IV went into production, it was found that the port oil tank could be accommodated in the dinghy compartment as well as the dinghy. However, as the starboard nacelle was not extended and did not have a dinghy compartment, the upper bulge to accommodate the oil tank was added. The light panels are yellow. This was the standard RCAF pattern for camouflaged aircraft in the training role. A few examples are Ansons, Oxfords, Harvards, Battles and Seamews. I have been interested in the Bolingbroke for more than four decades and have over 300 photos plus four completed laid out chapters of a book which will undoubtedly never be published. If you or anybody else out there would like any of that stuff, just let me know. Carl I would absolutely be interested, and most grateful. I've been meaning to start a book of my own and it wouldn't be complete without a proper section on the Bolingbroke, but I haven't been able to find more than cursory notes or diagrams on the type. Should I PM you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted November 30, 2022 Share Posted November 30, 2022 Info from @Carl V: Photo 1. This rear aspect of a Bolingbroke I gives a good view of the extended rear port engine nacelle with the dinghy hatch clearly outlined. It also gives a good impression of the asymmetrical appearance of the nacelles. Photo 2. This is a zoom showing the rear port nacelle on a Bolingbroke IV. Not only is the outline of the dinghy hatch clearly defined but also visible is the lanyard extending from the rear of the nacelle down to the trailing edge and then led inboard along it to the fuselage. When it was needed to deploy the dinghy, when the lanyard was pulled the dinghy would inflate and, hopefully, push open the dinghy hatch. Also the lanyard would tether the dinghy and allow it to be pulled into the aircraft. While this might seem unduly contrived, it had to be far better than that of the Blenheim where the dinghy valise had to be manhandled from inside the fuselage of the ditched aircraft out through a hatch before the dinghy could be deployed. Photo 3. This Bolingbroke IV undergoing salvage gives a good view of the tank of the revised oil system which necessitated the bulge in the starboard upper nacelle. The photo also gives a good view of the small circular wireless operators window on the starboard fuselage which is often omitted by modellers who are unfamiliar with the Bolingbroke. It is easy to forget that the Bolingbroke was a four-place maritime reconnaissance aircraft and not three-place as the Blenheim bomber. Chris, for Carl 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted December 1, 2022 Share Posted December 1, 2022 Hi Please thank Carl, excellent info & photos any info on the a/c i/d in photo 3 ? Sqn & serial no ? cheers jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted December 1, 2022 Share Posted December 1, 2022 1 hour ago, brewerjerry said: Hi Please thank Carl, excellent info & photos any info on the a/c i/d in photo 3 ? Sqn & serial no ? cheers jerry He'll see it. He visits here quite regularly. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl V Posted December 1, 2022 Share Posted December 1, 2022 1. A response to the interest in the Bolingbroke de-icer boots. All operational Bolingbrokes i.e. Bolingbroke I's, IV's and IVW's had de-icer boots installed and retained them when assigned to other tasks. The great majority, if not all of the IVT's did not have them 2. Yes, Tweener, please PM me your email address so I can send stuff to you. Carl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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