Duxford's Blenheim – Still in Bits

Dare I ask,what P-39 issues?Can’t wait for Legends & the photos some of you are willing to post.Thanks in advance,Pete.

Only Joking

Send it to Oz maybe they can do it quicker :dev2:
REF another thread

Quicker is better??
I think not. The team doing this job have “previous” They have done it twice before SAD BUT TRUE[U] Got the contacts the tools & the Knowhow. Sorry to the colonies but U all Got “previous” for not Quiet Rite! -“P51C-LA9-P39” All testiment to “There are no laybays up there” This is a personal Observation & Subject to change by example of Any one who can do better”

Thanks for the detailed report KIGAS. I am glad to hear things are moving on a-pace.

DS

Send it to Oz maybe they can do it quicker :dev2:
REF another thread

Finnished already……..

Pics please?

Thanks for the update Kigas. Any chance of some current pics being posted?

It would be good to see a Blenheim update site with photos posted as landmarks in the rebuild are achieved. It could also give details of how money can be donated to the project. Would this be possible?

Send it to Oz maybe they can do it quicker :dev2:
REF another thread

With regard to whats happening with the repairs, to date both wings are complete and the centre section is in building 66. The bottom spars have required dismantling for inspection and some repairs are required to the spar web and this is well advanced. Only one skin requires replacement. Both undercarriage bay frames are complete and ready for fitting and one set of oleos are complete with the other awaiting paint before assembly. Work on rescuing engine spares is ongoing.
With regard to fitting the MkI nose the main flying controls are the same as the MkIV as they transmit via the pilots seat frame which is in the same position as the MkIV, hydraulic controls are completly different and will require replumbing.The throttle quandrant is located on the port side and will require shortening and lengthening of torque tubes. One of the main problems is the placing of the pitch, carb cutouts, carb heat and other ancillary controls which are behind the pilots left shoulder this is patently dangerous and would require rethinking and along with the different types of instruments, used for engine management, is one of the main problem areas, of course the main flying control panel is the same as all British aircraft.
The MkI nose was built by AVRO and the the aircraft served as a night fighter throughout the BoB being struck off charge in December 1940 so it is an interesting piece of aeroplane.
As with all major repairs it is the cost that dictates the pace but be assured there is something always being done to the aircraft and the Blenheim will fly again

That sounds awfully like a large warbird current affairs related joke to me, alas, I would not be surprised if this were the case.

I’m a firm fan of the Mk.IV but if it means keeping the bird in the air where she belongs then so be it. It will also be a good chance to honour all those unfortunate aircrew who perished and served in Blenheim Mk.1’s duing the early days of the war.

Agreed, and it would be nice to get some pics of a Mk1 configuration machine in flight. I think I have just about enough of the MKIV configuration. Will still love her whichever she returns as.

I am led to believe that the “new” insurance rules put the old style nose configuration for this a/c into another insurance catagory (because of weight difference) and thus not financially viable

i understand the early nose is going to be fitted so it can remain in the lower catagory.

That sounds awfully like a large warbird current affairs related joke to me, alas, I would not be surprised if this were the case.

I’m a firm fan of the Mk.IV but if it means keeping the bird in the air where she belongs then so be it. It will also be a good chance to honour all those unfortunate aircrew who perished and served in Blenheim Mk.1’s duing the early days of the war.

I am led to believe that the “new” insurance rules put the old style nose configuration for this a/c into another insurance catagory (because of weight difference) and thus not financially viable

i understand the early nose is going to be fitted so it can remain in the lower catagory.

It’s not quite as simple as that, I’m afraid. Control runs, etc have to be custon-fitted to the nose, so they are not interchangable without a LOT of work.

Put so much more elegantly than I did!

DS

Hope not, i prefer the Mk IV! Although, it would be very interesting if they could exchange the cockpits, for example at a flying display one day have it as Mk I, and next the Mk IV!

IIRC this was proposed on an earlier thread, but the cockpits are very different in their ‘plumbing’ so it’s one or the other!

My person favourite is the long-nose version. But that’s me all over 😉

DS

Hope not, i prefer the Mk IV! Although, it would be very interesting if they could exchange the cockpits, for example at a flying display one day have it as Mk I, and next the Mk IV!

Has it been announced whether the early-style cockpit (sat in the foreground in the picture) is to be used, there appears to be some rivet-related developments…..

…starting to daydream about Blenheim colour schemes, a nice ‘Spirit of Britain First’ all over silver would look interesting… 🙂

Thanks guys – I had visions of it remaining as a full scale Airfix kit forever!

For anyone with a hour or so to kill, here’s how to build one from scratch!

DS

From the looks of the one photo it looks like the repairs to the rear fuselage are coming along nicely