About ten years ago, I read a book about a group in England, doing a restoration of a Bristol Blenheim. I think it was a Mk. IV or Mk. V (it had the assymetrical nose/canopy)? They were able to get it restored and flying again for a short time. It crashed do to pilot error, if I remember correctly? Then they were trying to raise money to restore it again (not sure if it has been?).
I was wondering if a kit was ever made of this type of aircraft? If I could ever find the book (it’s here somewhere), it has a ton of good referance photos. The book title escapes me at the moment.
Any and all help is appreciated!
THONK[:D]
I dont know about any other manufacturers, but Airfix did a 1/72 kit for the Blenheim IV, and Frog did the Mk I. I know there are others too, including the MkV, but I cant remember them.
As for the restoration, the aircraft was a Bristol Bolingbroke, which was the name given to Canadian (?) built Blenheims. Basically it was a Blenheim IV. It was restored, crashed due to pilot error, and was restored again using a new airframe and all the goodies salvaged from the first one. Last year it crashed again, this time due in part to a fuel feed problem, and again due to pilot error. I think they are hoping to have it airworthy again in about a year. There are a number of other airframes in existence too.
There was talk of the aircraft being restored as a Mk I this time due to the damage to the nose, but time will tell on that one.
MPM does a Blenheim V in1/72. Airfix does a Blenheim IV in 1/72. Classic Airframes used to make a 1/48 late mark Blenheim but I don’t remember if it was a IV or V. Also, I believe that a conversion kit from a company called Maintrack exists to turn a 1/72 Blenheim 4 into a Blenheim 5, not sure what kit it’s meant to fit, probably the Airfix.
Just checked Squadron, Classic Airframes 1/48 Blenheim Mk V in stock for about 50 bucks.
Ok, just done a bit of research, and Hannants list the following:
Airfix AX02027 1/72 Mk IV
Classic Airframe CF475 1/48 According to Hannants due soon as a re-issue
Eastern Express EA72262 1/72 Mk I
MPM MPM72089 1/72 Mk IV
MPM72500 1/72 Mk I
MPM72501 1/72 Mk V
There’s also the old Frog 1/72 Mk I if you can get hold of it, which may well have appeared under various East Europen/Russian titles over the years (is this the Eastern Express example perhaps?)
Hope that lot helps.
There is also a resin Blenheim in 1/48. It was produced by Jaguar, and may be an ex-ARBA kit. Great models has them on sale for 1/2 price, around $50. It would require work & good references, as their instruction sheets are poor photocopies of construction photos, with no color references. Their kits (I have their “Irving”) contain white metal & vac parts. The Irving is crisply cast, but all joints are butt-end, and filling is required.
Hope this helps.
For interests’ sake, there is a Bolingbroke being restored to airworthy condition by Canadian Warplane Heritage in Hamilton, Ontario. I had the pleasure of helping to crate four Boly carcasses about 10 years ago to be sent to them from the museum I was associated with at the time. I saw the restoration last year and it is absolutely awesome.
They should be flying in another year or so.
Regards,
Bruce
I know Classic Airframes did a 1/48 Mk I / IF,and they may have released other Mks as well.
Thank you for the info!
Chris, Bolingbroke is the Canadian name, as Bruce has confirmed. I remember that they were in Manitoba looking for salvageable parts. My info on this restoration is quite out of date! Can you point me to anything current? You seem to know alot about this.
Bruce, do you have any pic’s you could post of the restoration? It would be cool to see! I’ll have to see if they have a web site.
I didn’t expect to find very many kits made, let alone any of the Mk. IV with the assymetrical nose/canopy. Thanks again for all info sent in!!!
THONK
here’s one for sale cheap:
http://www.classicwings.com/sales.htm
“needs work” is an understatement, LOL
Just imagine how big the tube of glue is for that!!
THONK
A mere snip at $75.000!!! Funnily enough, I happen to know of a Beaufort which is reputed to be for sale too
Ok, done a spot of research.
http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/bolingbrokegmcd_1.htm has a couple of useful closeup pics.
http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/Eng/Collection/sd012e.htm has a cockpit pic which may be useful.
http://www.filton.flyer.co.uk/bristol/surveylist.htm lists every surviving Bristol aircraft, whether it be airworthy, or just surviving parts. This list lists 5 Blenheim 1’s, 4 Blenheim IV’s, and 39 Bolingbroke IV’s!!!
Those are pretty cool sites! Some interesting pic’s!