Bristol Blenheim Mk II

[zenrat]

Bristol Blenheim Mk II

Bristol Blenheim Mk 1 - 11 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Bristol Blenheim is a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company (Bristol) which was used extensively in the first two years and in some cases throughout the Second World War. The aircraft was developed as Type 142, a civil airliner, in response to a challenge from Lord Rothermere to produce the fastest commercial aircraft in Europe. The Type 142 first flew in April 1935, and the Air Ministry, impressed by its performance, ordered a modified design as the Type 142M for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a bomber. Deliveries of the newly named Blenheim to RAF squadrons commenced on 10 March 1937.

Bristol Blenheim Mk 1 - 22 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

A development of the Type 142M was the Type 149 which Bristol named the Bolingbroke, retrospectively changed by the Air Ministry to Blenheim Mk IV and the Type 142M to the Blenheim Mk I. Fairchild Canada built the Type 149 under licence as the Bolingbroke. Blenheims Mk I and the Mk IV were adapted as fighters by the addition of a gun pack of four Browning .303 machine guns in the bomb bay. The Mk IV was used as a long range fighter and as a maritime patrol aircraft; both aircraft were also used as bomber/gunnery trainers.
The Blenheim was one of the first British aircraft with an all-metal stressed-skin construction, retractable landing gear, flaps, a powered gun turret and variable-pitch propellers. The Mk I was faster than most fighters in the late 1930s but the advance in development of monoplane fighters made all bombers more vulnerable particularly if flown in daylight, though it proved successful as a night fighter. The Blenheim was effective as a bomber but many were shot down. Both Blenheim types were used by overseas operators, being licence built in Yugoslavia and Finland.

Bristol Blenheim Mk 1 - 15 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Formal work on an extended-range reconnaissance version started as the Blenheim Mk II, which increased tankage from 278 to 468 imp gal (1,260 to 2,130 l; 334 to 562 US gal). Only one Blenheim Mk II was completed, as flight tests revealed the increase in speed to be marginal and not warranting further development.  Following the abandonment of this development the lone Mk II was, in an attempt to increase the Blenheim's meagre self defence capability, fitted with a Bouton Paul powered turret carrying four .303 machine guns.
The four gun Mk II was deemed to be unsuccessful because the additional weight of the turret required an equivalent reduction in payload.  It was however decided to carry out extended service trials to see if the concept had legs.  The sole Mk II was then assigned to RAF 62 squadron in the Far East where it became the personal aircraft of Squadron Leader Arthur Scarf.
On 9 December 1941 in Malaya, near the Thailand border, all available aircraft had been ordered to make a daylight raid on Singora (where the Imperial Japanese Army was invading). Squadron Leader Scarf, as leader of the raid, had just taken off from the base at RAF Butterworth when enemy aircraft swept in destroying or disabling all the rest of the machines. Scarf decided nevertheless to fly alone to Singora.  The additional firepower of the four gun Blenheim enabled the crew to fight off roving fighters and they completed their bombing run successfully destroying their target and making it back to base unscathed.

Bristol Blenheim Mk 1 - 30 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The Model
Airfix Blenheim Mk I.
Turret from Airfix Boulton Paul Defiant.

Bristol Blenheim Mk 1 - 31 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[PR19_Kit]

That's very smart Fred, and good melding work with the Defiant turret too. 

Is that colour scheme an 'area specific' one or is it a totally Whiffed scheme?

[kitbasher]

Very nice work 

I've had a similar 'Blenheim II' idea rattling inside my head for a while - more guns but no turret.  Will it ever get built?  Probably not!

[Flyer]

Nice! 

[Rick Lowe]

Cool 

[Pellson]

Subtle and beautiful! 

[comrade harps]

Neat-O 

[NARSES2]

Looks good Fred 

[Old Wombat]

Excellent job, Fred!

Almost didn't notice the turret first time I saw this. Excellent!

[chrisonord]

Very  nice Fred

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.
Kit - it's the standard paintjob as shown in the Airfix instructions.  Done with Vallejo acrylics.

[PR19_Kit]

Kit - it's the standard paintjob as shown in the Airfix instructions.  Done with Vallejo acrylics.

OK, thanks. Something about it looks 'different' for some reason, but I can't figure out what. 

[Glenn Gilbertson]

Good one!

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice and subtle. 

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.