MPM 1/72 Blenheim Mk1/1F

[stillp]

Thought I'd try this next. Bought at the Brampton IPMS show at St Ives. Box was a bit squashed but the parts were in a sealed plastic bag.


The wings weren't on a frame but were loose in the bag. There's a bit of flash...

Decal look decent, and there's some Eduard PE included.

A choice of two schemes, one RAF, one Finnish.


And a whole page of instructions.
Wish me luck!
Pete

[stillp]

I'm confused already. They provide etch detail for the fuse sides, but the part for the port side (F18) doesn't match the drawing in the instructions, and doesn't fit the fuselage!

Should I cut away that vertical plastic rib at the front of the pit?

I couldn't find a date for this kit, nor find it on Scalemates, but I did find this:

The USSR ceased to exist in 1991.
Pete

[yak face]

The photo etch cockpit side left on the fret matches the one on the drawing pete , theyve probably got the numbers mixed up. Looks like a rehashing of the old frog kit maybe ?

[stillp]

You mean F18 and F19 Tony? I don't think they're the wrong way round, F18 has a control panel in the middle, which you can see in the instructions, F19 is just framing. I think that I need to cut away the ribs that are provided to glue the plastic cockpit floor onto if you don't use the etch. Otherwise F18 and F19 won't sit on the fuselage sides. If I do that though I'm not sure what the etch floor F20 can be glued to, other than its edge on to F18/19, but it's very thin etch so there's not much chance of gluing the edge to anything.

I don't know about the Frog kit - it might be a copy. I don't know anything about MPM, or Cooperativa, the name on the instructions.

They provide two layers of etch for the IP, and a small piece of film with some instrument detail - one piece goes behind F15, the main IP, and one behind F16. They don't look as if they line up, but actually do quite well.

I'll do some painting before gluing those though.
Pete

[Guest]

I can see why you’re confused! That etch panel isn’t the same as the drawing and there are no clues about how to fit it.

[Guest]

Did mocking it up assembled give any fitting clues or an idea of what needs to be done?

[stillp]

Thanks for the hint Tony, this seems to be the kit: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/frog...r-mk1f--147661
That explains the "F190" moulded on the sprues. Scalemates have the instructions for the Frog kit, but that doesn't have the etch. I'll see if the Eduard website has anything on the etch.
Pete

[stillp]

Did mocking it up assembled give any fitting clues or an idea of what needs to be done?

Can't get anywhere near a dry assembly without carving off those ribs in the fuselage.
Pete

[stillp]

Nope, Eduard have a different etch set, which is for the Airfix Blenheim and is completely different, so their instructions aren't much use. There's a date on the etch fret of 1994, so it's not as old as I thought.
Pete

[stillp]

Did mocking it up assembled give any fitting clues or an idea of what needs to be done?

Did you mean like this Chris?

That seemed to measure 16mm across at the widest point. The fuse sides are 8mm deep at the position I think the seat should go, so that seems OK, except that there's a vertical rib provided to glue the plastic IP to if you're not using the etch,

They don't tell you to remove it, but it's in the way, so

And here it is, gone

The etch can now fit - sort of. It shouldn't overlap the top edge of the cockpit though, so maybe I need to scrape some off the top of that horizontal rib as well, and also cut a lot off that bulge for the wing root.

There's certainly plenty of room for the wing spar!

That slot is more than twice the width of the tab (wing spar) that goes into it, and the tab on the other wing doesn't reach right across the fuselage.
Pete

[Guest]

That is what I meant. A process of elimination of sorts. Put together what you know is right to see what’s wrong.

I think you did the right thing. At least that’s what I would have done!

[colin m]

As the kit detail is a bit lacking, I think you're right, chop it away and force the PE in there, somehow. It will be an improvement.

[stillp]

Yes, I have to make it fit somehow!

Almost there. The inner end of the wing will cover that hole at the back end of the etch, but will need to be cut back a bit, which means I'll have to fir the wings before finishing the cockpit.
Pete

[Steven000]

Nicely done Peter, looks like a very frustrating part of the build but looks good so far :thumb2:
Steven

[stillp]

The wings are fitted to the fuselage halves, and the forward parts of the bulges for the wing roots have been trimmed back to make room for the PE. I'm trying to work out the best sequence for assemble, since the etch floor and seat can be added through the canopy opening, but the cockpit side framing will have to be glued in place before I join the fuse halves.

I've fitted the control column, and the IP is drying. The turret needs fitting too.
Pete