<< Previous Topic | Next Topic >>Return to Index  

Thanks for your amazing help in my Blenheim search

May 9 2012 at 4:10 AM

  (Login roysutherl)
HyperScale Forums
from IP address 24.6.25.23

In particular Walter and Fernando.

You guys made my day with an absolute treasure trove of Blenheim-y goodness.

Also thanks to my friend Vladimir Yakubov, who took a crapload of photos of the Blenheim IV at the Pima Museum. While useless for interior information as the canopies are painted light blue, its a tour de force of exterior detailing, including some awesome coverage of the gearbays and maingear. You can find this gallery at SVSM.org in the gallery section.

The Blenheim IV is a fascinating design. The total lack of symmetry in the forward fuselage is stunning. It's everywhere, not just the scalloped nose glazing!

Happy Modelling! Roy
Visit my blog at:
http://barracudacals.blogspot.com

"What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger; Which is why they make straight jackets out of such sturdy material" Roy S.


    
This message has been edited by roysutherl from IP address 24.6.25.23 on May 9, 2012 4:10 AM


 
 Respond to this message   
AuthorReply

(Login fjdsouza94c)
HyperScale Forums
200.233.12.11

Always glad to help! ( nt )

May 9 2012, 11:14 AM 

nt

 
 Respond to this message   

(Login Aviaeology)
HyperScale Forums
76.64.41.80

The Pima aircraft is not a Blenheim IV

May 9 2012, 2:48 PM 

Hi Gents,
Not trying to nit-pick here, but since the "Hyper" of the site's name is often emphasized ,8o)...

The Pima restoration, although painted up and displayed as a Blenheim IV is actually a Fairchild Canada built Bolingbroke IVT. This appears to be the case with most "Blenheim" restorations worldwide (the Finnish Blenheim I seems to be an exception). I note that Pima's own website carries the often-repeated myth that the Bolingbroke was a version of the Blenheim IV. However they were both developed along independent lines.
From a distance they look very similar due to the distinctive nose design but differences between the Blenheim IV and the Bolingbroke family (incl. I, III, IV, IVC, IVW, IVT and IVTT) become apparent once you know where to look. This is especially true in the crew areas (both fore and aft), the various heating and de-icing systems, and the main gear nacelle structures.
The most visible Boly-unique features are described and illustrated in our book AviaDossier I: Canadian Aircraft of WWII (shameless plug - we still have some copies available on our site 8o) ).
Roy, I may be able to help if you need some specifics for a Blenheim IV project and want to avoid making it too Bolingbroke-like. Please feel free to email me off board.
Cheers for now,

Terry @ SkyGid Studio / Aviaeology Publishing /CAHS Journal
http://www.aviaeology.com
http://www.cahs.ca

 
 Respond to this message   


(Login roysutherl)
HyperScale Forums
24.6.25.23

Hi Terry, thanks for your reply.

May 9 2012, 5:17 PM 

Yes, there are a number of oddities on this airframe that made me pretty sure it is a Bolingbroke.

The extra bulbous upper nacelle fairings, and the extremely odd double bulged upper nacelle fairing behind the stbd engine.

The odd contour of the scalloped cutaway portion of the nose glazing, the differences in the engine cowlings, even the mainwheel hubs look slightly different.

The gearlegs seem to be slightly more complex. True?

I'd love to learn more about the differences. Despite being Canadian, I am looking to build a model of an actual Blenheim Mk. IV.

Thanks. Roy

Happy Modelling! Roy
Visit my blog at:
http://barracudacals.blogspot.com

"What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger; Which is why they make straight jackets out of such sturdy material" Roy S.

 
 Respond to this message   

(Login Aviaeology)
HyperScale Forums
76.64.41.80

No problem Roy,

May 10 2012, 2:47 AM 

I just had a look at the photos in the link you or the other gentleman supplied and suspect that we may end up comparing three different things here the Blenheim IV, the Bolingbroke IVT, and the Pima static display using a Bolingbroke IVT with additions to make it look like a Blenheim. Please understand that I'm not trashing the job they did... more an explanation of detail differences than anything else.

I'll attempt to tackle your points in the order in which you presented them, and throw in a few more bits and bobs.

The extra bulbous starboard nacelle fairing was a feature that differentiated the Bolingbroke IV (and derivative IVT and IVTT subtypes) from the Bolingbroke I which was, in turn similar to the Blenheim IV in this area. Basically it was one of the results of a revised oil system, designed after operational evaluation of that on Mk.I aircraft determined that a system more suited to the range and climate environment typical of Bolingbroke (a maritime aircraft as first employed by the wartime RCAF) operations.

The port nacelle upper fairing does not feature this bulge, though it may be more "humped" than that on UK-produced Blenheims. The port nacelle fairing on the Bolingbroke IV is longer than it is on the Blenheim IV or Bolingbroke I. It was redesigned at Fairchild Canada to accomodate a larger, faster-deploying dinghy than the "valise type" dinghy stowed in the cabin of the Blenheim IV and, IIRC, the first Bolingbroke I's. This dinghy has external (handle recessed into the port wing fillet trailing edge to fuselage joint) and fore/aft cabin internal manual Bowden cable releases, as well as an immersion / impact switch release circuit. Though I don't recall seeing it in the documentation, I believe that another reason for the external stowage was the rear cabin being redesigned to accommodate two of the Bolingbroke's four man crew vice the three-place Blenheim's single rear cabin occupant. The maritime GR mission also increased the volume of radio gear carried back there.

The odd scalloping in the forward cell of the port-side nose glazing appears to be an artifact of this particular restoration and not present on operational aircraft. I'm pretty sure this area was identical on the Blenheim IV and Bolingbrokes of all marques.


Engine cowls were the same for the most part as I recall (though, while I think of it, the maintenance latches may have been different), but there were detail differences adjacent to it. For example, as part of the extensively revised heating system, Bolingbrokes had intensifier pipe intakes ahead of the exhaust outlet pipe take-offs where the Blenheims did not. Later production Bolingbrokes had additional bell-shaped intakes (4 IIRC) added to the inside of the upper lip of the exhaust ring. This appears to be a feature of the power eggs used in the Pima restoration. It came to the Fairchild line very late (perhaps only on T and TT aircraft).

With the revised heated carbs came new Fairchild designed intakes below the cowls simple sheet metal shapes vice the streamlined ones on the UK produced aircraft.

Not so sure about mainwheel differences. I can look but memory tells me the specs were the same.

The Bolingbroke main gear structures were almost identical to the modified Bristol gear that went into production in late 1939 on Blenheim IVs (sorry, not sure when) where the Blenheim Is had a more simplified gear. I say "almost" identical because the Bolingbroke had several additional safety features to prevent "kneeling" at higher operational weights. From a scale modelling (modeling? maudlin?) point of view they're hardly noticeable, comprising a locking plunger and a slight over-extension of the radius arms at their folding knuckles. Not sure how these would show in a comparison though. I'll have to have a look at pics and manuals later on to discover if these show up physically and get back to you on it.

There were minor changes in glazing and associated framing over the evolution of the type. Especially around and above the pilot. With the possible exception of an additional crossbar on the sliding roof panel over the pilot's cockpit, I believe the Pima a/c, based on a Bolingbroke IVT as it is, is similar to non-maritime Blenheims with flat side panels. Maritime Blenheims, should your subject be one, may have had the same teardrop observation blister endowed side panels as the Bolingbroke IV, IVC, and IVW.

Further back on the fuselage spine between the roof hatches, the maritime Bolingbrokes had fittings for a DF loop football and the aerial mast. the grab handle arrangement and rear cabin hatch fittings may have been different here as well. The Pima pics show a 100 percent authentic Bolingbroke IVT arrangement here, with the possible exception of the anti-collision light, for ref purposes. The air dam ahead of the turret was a late-production (starting during IVT porduction IIRC) Bolingbroke feature.

The turret on both Bolingbrokes and Blenheims advanced through at least three models both on the production lines and in the field. External difs were mainly in guns but internally the drive and ammo handling mechs were modified substantially. The shape on the Pima example appears to be the simplified affair used on Bolingbroke TT conversions and not an actual "shooting hardwared" turret.

Under the rear cabin, the Bolingbroke had a hatch offset to starboard adjacent to the wing root t/e. I'll have to compare in manuals later to see if this may have also been a Blenheim feature. Maritime-tasked Bolingbrokes had a flat circular vertical camera window in this hatch. This was changed to incorporate a drogue launch chute on TT conversions. The trailing aerial fairlead was moved from its Blenheim position to the rear / port of the gunner's position to one nearly under the radio operator's (the new crewman) station just over the aforementioned hatch. The radio operator had a small "porthole" window in the fuselage looking over the starboard wing root. This is often touted as being the main difference between a Boly and a Blennie.

If you have reference cockpit photos / drawings, make sure they are Blenheim ones if this is important to you. There are a number of differences stepping through the various marques of Bolingbroke, but besides the instruments (which also led to a change in pitot head type, BTW) the most extreme difference you'll see between most "Blenheim restorations" and actual Blenheims is in the engine / throttle / prop control yoke: to the pilot's left on Blenheims vice to the pilot's right on Bolingbrokes. I believe this was done for quick-conversion dual control trainer purposes.

Any riveting / fastener artifacts along the wing and tail leading edges should also be considered with caution if using photos of museum restorations as references. The Bolingbroke had an extensive pneumatic boot de-icer system. It was installed on all maritime ops examples, but not on all T / TT examples. However, the fittings and/or structural provisions may have still been in place. I believe this is minimal (vertical tail only) on the Pima example as it was usually cleaned up on late-service T and TT Bolingbrokes.

I'm sure I've forgotten some stuff w/o the material here in front of me. Don't hesitate to poke and prod as your project develops and the wants and needs pop up.

Hey, if you're bent on a Blenheim IV and feeling particularly Canadian-esque about it, you might look at a 404 Squadron IVF. 8o)
I've a slow-cooker decal project in the works to cover the squadron's Blenheims. Might add some other Coastal Blenheims as well... depending on how it fills out.
HTH,
Cheers from the Great White North!

Terry @ SkyGid Studio / Aviaeology Publishing /CAHS Journal
http://www.aviaeology.com
http://www.cahs.ca

 
 Respond to this message   
Kari Lumppio
(Login kari_lumppio)
HyperScale Forums
130.233.66.86

Hatch underside & tailplane size Blenheim I vs IV

May 10 2012, 4:53 AM 

Hello!

There was hatch on the rear fuselage underside starboard side in all Finnish Blenheims AFAIK. IIRC there was some size and window aperture differences between the series. Some of them were Blenheim I and IV with RAF specs and equipment received during the Winter War. Other series were with Finnish specified equipment and excluding the initial "I-sarja" also manufactured in Finland. Lots of sub-assemblies like fuselages etc. from Jugoslavian Ikarus factory were used for "V" and "VI-sarja" and repairs for individual airframes. Those assemblies and raw material were bought from Germans who had taken them as war booty.

Terry, do you have anything like drawings and/or dimensions about the tailplane size difference between Blenheim I and IV? According Finnish technical data they had different surface area (don't remember which one was bigger). There are remains of a short-nose Blenheim tail in Finland, but the BL-180 was of "V-sarja" which may have the Blenheim IV tailplanes (elevators missing and deformed somewhat, too IIRC). So comparison with the BL-200 necessarily doesn't bring conclusive data.

Cheers,
Kari

 
 Respond to this message   

(Login Aviaeology)
HyperScale Forums
76.64.41.80

Blenheim I and IV details

May 10 2012, 10:55 AM 

Hi Kari,
Thank you for the details on the Finnish aircraft. I had not known about the window aperture size difference previously. In fact, until now I had only speculated on the possibility of this being a UK production feature as well. I have some Blenheim IV maintenance material but had not looked through it for this particular detail.

We have factory drawings for the Bolingbroke... mostly Fairchild design mods - some one-off explorations and some full blown "change order" type stuff - while the type was on its way from Bolingbroke Mk.I to Bolingbroke Mk.IV. I will have a look at this later in the week or early next to see if the Bolingbroke Mk.I's tail might have been more like the Blenheim I unit you describe. I remember learning of this Blenheim I variation before, but don't every recall it relating to the Bolingbroke Mk.I. I suspect not though, as the Bolingbroke Mk.I featured the long nose from the outset.

I haven't done much digging on Blenheim's before the Mk.IV since my research has been focused on the Bolingbroke and then it's technical relationship to the Blenheim Mk.IV.

Can you tell me if the Finnish service aircraft ever received any climate/environment related modifications. On the Bolingbroke there were three distinct avenues of modification vis-a-vis the Blenheim, one of which was to optimize the aircraft for cold climate operations. Of the others the most involved centered around the change in role from what was primarily a light bomber to that of a short range (relatively speaking) maritime general recce platform. The third was making the pilot's cockpit more easily convertible to dual control. All were eventually achieved and the type was eventually subject to other changes as the supply and role picture changed here in Canada.

Sorry to hijack your thread Roy. I hope you find the deviation at least interesting.
Cheers all 'round,

Terry @ SkyGid Studio / Aviaeology Publishing /CAHS Journal
http://www.aviaeology.com
http://www.cahs.ca

 
 Respond to this message   

(Login Aviaeology)
HyperScale Forums
76.64.41.80

Hi again Roy, check your in-box

May 10 2012, 5:51 PM 

Blenheim IV manual bits inbound.
Cheers!

Terry @ SkyGid Studio / Aviaeology Publishing /CAHS Journal
http://www.aviaeology.com
http://www.cahs.ca

 
 Respond to this message   
Current Topic - Thanks for your amazing help in my Blenheim search
  << Previous Topic | Next Topic >>Return to Index  

Posting or replying to messages on Plane Talking requires visitors to register:

  1. First you will need to register with Network 54, the Forum provider. Click here to register with Network 54. (If you already have a Network 54 Login you can go straight to the next step)
  2. Then, while signed in to Network 54, you can sign up for HyperScale's forums. Click here to sign up for HyperScale's forums.

Your user name and password will give you full posting privileges to all of HyperScale Forums.

Please note the following conditions of posting:

All contributions are welcome but please refrain from political or abusive comments, racially or religiously offensive remarks, swearing (including the thin disguising of swear words with asterisks and other characters), insulting language and crude metaphors. Please do not use Plane Talking as a public platform to complain about retailers or manufacturers (about issues such as broken or missing parts) before you have followed all normal channels to resolve any greivance. Plane Talking is not the place to conduct personal feuds or for posting personal attacks. Please do not post in capital letters only, as this is considered to be shouting and therefore impolite. Also, please do not post in 'texting message' word format. Any posts breaching these guidelines will promptly be removed from the server and the offender may be excluded from further posting to the HyperScale Forums. Off-topic posts may also be removed from the server.

In addition, Plane Talking is not a forum for the public criticism of the models that appear as Galleries or Articles. Please make any suggestions for improvements or criticism direct to the author via the email link at the bottom of the Article.

Finally, please note that this Discussion Group is privately operated and that I reserve the right to delete any post or cancel any registration for any reason whatsoever.

free counters