I have been eager to start a build for this really cool group (Thanks Felix @fxrob), but I wanted to complete my previous build and get my workbench cleaned off. Model done, bench clean, ready to go. I have had this kit for a while now, and have heard some great things about it, so now I can finally jump in. Having been a college history instructor for 20 years, I like to research the history of my model, so let's start there:
The Blenheim started as the Type 142 design for a civilian airliner. The RAF saw its potential as a light bomber, so Bristol redesigned the plane and the twin-engine Blenheim was born. Deliveries of the Mark I to the RAF began in March 1937. A fighter version of the Blenheim, called the Mark If, was also created by adding a gun pack to the belly of the plane. Although the RAF considered the Blenheim to be their most modern, most effective light bomber, it was quickly overshadowed by fighter advancements in Germany. By the start of the war, the Blenheim was essentially obsolete. During the Phoney War period, the RAF suffered very high loss rates on missions. During 1940, the loss rate on missions sometimes was near 100%. The long-nosed Mark IV version of the Blenheim was introduced at the end of Phoney War period, but fared only slightly better than the Mark I.
The Model:
I wanted to do some research to see if I could find some interesting markings that would fit in the Phoney War time period. The Phoney War period started in September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland and Britain declared war on Hitler. It lasted until May 1940 when the Germans began their invasion of the Low Countries and France. Contrary to what the name implies, it was not a period without battles. During this period, the RAF flew many missions against the German military and infrastructure. Most people suspected that Germany would eventually continue their occupation of the rest of Europe, so this was a period of anticipation. The British called this period the Phoney War, the Germans called it the Sitzkreig (sitting war), while the French called it the Drole de Guerre (Bore War). The RAF sent 6 Blenheim squadrons to France in preparation for the wider war to come. Two were part of the AASF (Advanced Air Striker Force) and 4 squadrons were attached to the British Expeditionary Force. The markings on the planes went through some dramatic changes during this period. The pre-war markings on the Blenheim were fairly bright by later standards, but were quite subdued by the time the wider war started in May 1940. I want to build a model that represents one of the planes from one the 6 squadrons deployed to France with the later, subdued markings, but I have had limited luck finding a specific set of decals. If I can't find a specific set of decals that will work, I want to try to rob my spare decals to create an accurate set of markings.
Well, that's it for the history, so I hope to get started either tomorrow or Monday. Cheers everyone.
8 attached images. Click to enlarge.
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1. Early markings. Bright roundels. This is the squadron number, which would appear on every squadron aircraft.
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1. Early markings. The "B" is the identifier for the plane within the squadron. This plane is from 90 Squadron.
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1. After Poland, the markings were toned down. The yellow surrounds on the roundels were paint over and the white portion removed.
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1. Sadly, this is how a lot of the wartime missions ended for the Blenheim
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