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Carl_Brisgamer
05-22-2013, 20:22
My WGS Project #15 for 2013 is a flight of three 1/200 Helmet Historical Aircraft Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV bombers of No.139 Squadron RAF. This squadron sent to France on 2 September 1939 as part of the RAF's Advanced Air Striking Force. Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV N6215 of 139 Sqn piloted Flying Officer A McPherson flew the first RAF sortie of WW2 when he crossed the German frontier to reconnoitre and photograph the German Fleet on 3rd September 1939. The Blenheim was designed in the early 1930's as a 'fast bomber', relying on speed to avoid interception. That was fine in 1935, but by 1939 the poorly protected aircraft was too slow to escape the latest generation of monoplane fighters, of which the Luftwaffe had one of the best examples in the Messerschmitt Bf 109E.

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On the early morning of 12 May 1940 nine unescorted Blenheim IVs of No 139 squadron attacked German troops moving into Belgium coming from the direction of the Maastricht bridges. The planes approached from medium altitude, in order to evade the German light FLAK present in large numbers. The mission ended in disaster however, with the Blenheims attacked by large numbers of JG27 Messerschmitt Bf 109s as they approached the target shooting down seven of the RAF bombers.

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The three aircraft I have represented are 'XD-B', 'XD-E' and 'XD-I'. 'B' and 'I' were shot down by 109s during the Maastricht Raid on 12 May 1940. 'E' survived the 1940 subsequent campaigns to be scrapped in 1944.

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The upper surfaces are standard RAF green/brown and the undersides are light sea green (later duck egg green), metallic brown around the cowls of the Bristol Mercury engines. Canopies are metallic blue with a dash of white. Decals are from Shed, 48" wing roundels and 42" fuselage roundels.

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My unofficial statistics for the Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV are as follows:

Manouver Deck: XB
Damage Points: 24
Firepower: Short A/A, Long A/A. The Blenheim's front armament consisted of one .303in machine gun in the left wing. The dorsal turret was equipped with one or two .303in machine guns, but it did not have 360 degree traverse, only covering to the rear about 95 degrees either side of the centreline of the aircraft).
Climb Rate: 7 (6.6m/s)
Top Altitude: 11 (9600m)

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A few of my RAF AASF aircraft - two Hurricanes from 73 Sqn, three Battles of 12 Sqn and three Blenheims of 139 Sqn.

Naharaht
05-22-2013, 20:34
Congratulations Carl. You have researched your planes and painted them well.

Flying Officer Kyte
05-23-2013, 00:56
As I mentioned in the other thread. Flights looking great Carl.
With escorts they look even better.
Rob.

Rabbit 3
05-23-2013, 02:56
Just a thought but do we have some generally agreed on stats for the Blenheim?
Judging by the number of models of this plane that people have been posting recently we could probably do with some cards.
Carl`s stats seem reasonable enough but are there any other opinions?

Carl_Brisgamer
05-23-2013, 05:26
Just a thought but do we have some generally agreed on stats for the Blenheim?
Judging by the number of models of this plane that people have been posting recently we could probably do with some cards.
Carl`s stats seem reasonable enough but are there any other opinions?

Thanks Robert.

By way of explanation the climb rate, ceiling and firepower are self evident. Just remember the limited traverse of the turret (95 degrees either side).

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Regarding damage points, I am taking 30 as a standard for sturdy medium bombers (He 111, B-25) equipped with crew armour and self-sealing tanks. For lighter bombers such as the Blenheim I start at 26 points, then subtract points for light construction or inadequate protection. I have given the Blenheim 24 damage points because the aircraft had very little cockpit armour and no self sealing tanks. The RAF belatedly fitted a rubber bladder around the fuel tanks, but this was only marginally effective regarding rifle calibre rounds and completely inadequate against 20mm cannon shells. I chose the XB manouver deck because the top speed of the Blenheim is 430kmh, a little faster than the early model He 111H and almost as fast as the B-25C.

Rabbit 3
05-23-2013, 12:35
Looks good enough.
For a Blenheim 1 probably a further reduction in the damage would be in order and for a later upgunned IV the `2` gun position could change to B/A and an additional rearward firing yellow `A` arc added.

FrankJamison
05-23-2013, 17:29
Great work as always. :thumbsup:

Carl_Brisgamer
05-24-2013, 07:36
Looks good enough.
For a Blenheim 1 probably a further reduction in the damage would be in order and for a later upgunned IV the `2` gun position could change to B/A and an additional rearward firing yellow `A` arc added.

Unfortunately for aircraft like the Blenheim WGS rules that 1 or 2 rifle calibre MG's are single A chits at short and long range, so no increase in firepower for the twin MG turrets.

The remote ventral turrets on the Blenheim IV weren't great - very limited arc and difficult to aim. Still A/A.

Some Blenheims 'fighters' also had ventral 'gunpacks' - 4 x .303in forward firing machine guns. Front arc could therefore be AB/B.

Doug
10-11-2013, 13:01
Thanks for the stats Carl, they certainly add up for me, also also your standard of painting is very good.