Tuesday 22 January 2013

Battered Blenheim - better?

Having mended this monstrosity as far as I could it now has paint and markings.  The limiting factor in terms of the choice of nationality was the fact that the kit had been built as a Mk.IVF.  This ruled out jollies like Finnish and Romanian.  Yugoslav and French (the original kit included Free French markings) were also out.  More internet research offered a solution. 
Apparently a couple of Fs were interned by Portugal - and I just happened to have a set of Portuguese markings (from an incomplete Spitfire kit) in the decal box.
The markings are sufficiently unfamiliar as to require a second glance to identify the aircraft!
The underside - showing the 4-gun pack.  Sadly it also reveals the mangled undercart and missing exhausts....

19 comments:

Arthur said...

Very nice, if battered...

But here's the thing, I am racking my peanut to remember who Portugal fought against, using that aircraft.

But again, being the heretic you are, that is no obstacle.

Ah yes, enjoy.

Regards

Paul said...

A most impressive refurb Tim. Portugal, never would have guessed that!

Tim Gow said...

Arthur
Save your brain - they were neutral in WW2 and I can't see the Blenheims lasting much beyond it. I'll think of something!

Tim Gow said...

Paul
What else was I going to do with the markings?

Arthur said...

What about after ww2, like in the colonies for example?

Regards

Mr Grant said...

I think it's come out very nicely. Well done!

Don M said...

It did come out quite well. I would never have guessed Portugal!

Milgeek said...

From what I read Portugal and Spain had a very busy war, despite their neutrality. ;)

Very nicely done I have to say.

Peter Douglas said...

Tim

Love the markings - very Vasco da Gama! I'm sure that a creative (warped?) mind like yours can find a use for these.

Maybe as unknown bogies in a Fletcher Pratt game?

Cheers
PD

Pete. said...

Like the way that has turned out. Just work it into a game now I guess....

Cheers,

Pete

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Not many people will have one of those ;)

The Dancing Cake Tin said...

I said Greece. I have failed.

Portuguese Blenheims! Whoodathunkit?

Tim Gow said...

Nick Grant
It certainly looks better than when I started with it!

Tim Gow said...

Don M
Always expect the unexpected....

Tim Gow said...

Stephen Beat
I think quite a few of the neutrals were pretty busy. The Blenheim IVFs the Portuguese had were interned, so presumably force landed or even forced down if they'd strayed into the wrong airspace.

Tim Gow said...

Peter Douglas
So you think you can 'out weird' us Brits eh? In your dreams....

Tim Gow said...

Pete
I'll think of something. Eventually....

Tim Gow said...

Geordie
True, but then who else is daft enough?

Tim Gow said...

Dancing Cake Tin
I think we can agree that it was a forgivable oversight on your behalf!