Bristol Blenheim Mk. I - 83th Anniversary of IJA invasion of Malaya.

Started by capt. R · 90 · 9 minutes ago
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    capt. R said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    I was very close to throw this kit in to basket, because of imossibility to make airframe. Clear parts of canopy was broken because too tight fit, and overall imperfections of kit. With an almost superhuman modeling effort, I have brought the project to this stage and the amount of sweat, tears, anger, putty and CA glue is indescribable. It's the first time I'll say it. I do not recommend the mk.I version! the set in the mk.IV version seems to be more well-thought-out, and the absurd idea of ​​dividing the glazed nose into three elements that have to be connected together and squeezed into the too tight fuselage is wrong. I found few photos that show Blenheim with few pieces of canopy blanked - that rescue my project because I can glue canopy in directly that places that was broken and hide under primer and paint. I have also real problems to glue front section to the rest of fuselage. A lot of putty and CA glue was used. Few photos that ilustrated my work:

    15 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Carl Smoot said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    I remember building the Classic Air Frames version of this aircraft and having a similar fit problem. Maybe it's just the nature of this particular design.

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    capt. R said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    @clipper Did You also broken canopy?

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    Carl Smoot said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    No, it wasn't broken Bernard (@lis), but the quality of the kit was atrocious!.. Regardless, you've done a good job getting that together so far.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    Pity the canopy did not ant to cooperate, my friend @lis 🙁
    Looks good now, though.

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    Felix said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    Aah, this kit! Hang in there, @lis! Apart from the canopy it’s great. Oddly enough the 1/48 version does not have this issue.
    The Mk.1 is much nicer than the ugly Mk.IV, so please hang in there 🙂

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    A pity this kit is not cooperating, Bernard @lis
    You are doing some great work so far.
    I'm glad you are still putting all this effort in it because the Mk.I is the best looking Blenheim.

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    capt. R said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    @clipper

    @fiveten

    @fxrob

    @johnb

    After all night work. I do my best to make smooth the place where the bow section connects with the rest of the fuselage. It was second nightmare. In the bomb bay nothing fits togearher. Glue don’t want to glue et cetera et cetera….fuselage walls on seam line was puttting several times with sanding event. This fact was connected with more than normal thickness of primer between wings and fuselage (thank you Mr Color for send levelling thinner that hide few imperfections), but all big imperfections was hide.but effect of this work was that I need to rescribe few panel lines (I think they don’t look perfect after being rescribed). Second place was place between upper section of fuselage and walls of the fuselage. First time I use CA glue near clear parts to hide gaps! Nothing other Works! I hope You like my work because I have two times idea to throw Blenheim to basket.

    3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    Seems like this kit is fighting you a lot, Bernard @lis
    However, from the pictures I would say that all seems to get together quite nicely.
    Keep on going like this and it will be a beautiful Blenheim.

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    capt. R said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    @clipper

    @fiveten

    @fxrob

    @johnb

    as the Afrikaans say. do not cover the parakeets in ashes. and Poles: you will sleep well after death. Engines- putty required.

    PS. Rescribed panel lines looks acceptable?

    3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Felix said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    I understand your frustration, @lis. I had an almost identical experience with this kit. Like John @johnb says it's a great looking plane and i want to like this kit so much but it is quite a frustrating one.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    Don't throw it in the basket as it looks great so far, my friend @lis! Keep building it and you will be rewarded with an excellent Blenheim in the end!

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    capt. R said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    @fxrob Did You finally build this mark I version from Airfix? I found Special Hobby kit of Blenheim and I want try to build it also!
    PS. Small bits. I’m surprised that load of bombs was only 1000lbs.

    2 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    The panel lines do look much better than acceptable, Bernard @lis
    You're progressing quite nicely.

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    Felix said 1 week, 3 days ago:

    @lis yes, i did: https://imodeler.com/2023/02/airfix-blenheim-mk-i-1-72/
    I have another one in my stash and xtra-decals for a desert scheme, so i will join your pain and inspiring build soon 🙂