+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: BRISTOL BLENHEIM

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Contributing Member Gil Boyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Last On
    02-28-2024 @ 11:09 AM
    Location
    Home of The Parachute Regiment & 16 Air Assault Brigade
    Posts
    4,772
    Real Name
    Gil Boyd
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:04 AM

    BRISTOL BLENHEIM

    Another iconic war bird was the Bristol Blenheim which at the start of WW2 was one of the fastest bombers.
    A good friend who was in the upper turret in the last UKicon Blenheim which crashed at an airshow many years ago which nearly cost him his life, hand built this one shown at Duxford on the video.
    In building it from scratch, he managed to salvage the front MK1 cockpit from a man who had converted it into a car............incredible story, and what a lovely aircraft.

    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.
    'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA

  2. The Following 9 Members Say Thank You to Gil Boyd For This Useful Post:


  3. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  4. #2
    Contributing Member Gil Boyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Last On
    02-28-2024 @ 11:09 AM
    Location
    Home of The Parachute Regiment & 16 Air Assault Brigade
    Posts
    4,772
    Real Name
    Gil Boyd
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:04 AM
    Thread Starter
    Heres the converted car built by a former Bristol employee Ralph Nelson, that Smudger Smith (shown) used and built the cockpit on the finished aircraft shown on the video, amazing feat of engineering.
    Luckily, Ralph had left the controls in place when he built his car, otherwise it would all have been guess work as no plans survived the war
    Last edited by Gil Boyd; 02-28-2019 at 07:46 AM.
    'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA

  5. The Following 7 Members Say Thank You to Gil Boyd For This Useful Post:


  6. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  7. #3
    Contributing Member mrclark303's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 01:25 PM
    Location
    The wild west of England
    Posts
    3,401
    Real Name
    Mr Clark
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    10:04 AM
    Nice one Gil, very interesting Indeed...

    I still can't make my mind up re the Fighter nose, re the bomber nose...

  8. #4
    Contributing Member Gil Boyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Last On
    02-28-2024 @ 11:09 AM
    Location
    Home of The Parachute Regiment & 16 Air Assault Brigade
    Posts
    4,772
    Real Name
    Gil Boyd
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:04 AM
    Thread Starter
    Yes the later fighter variant was more ergonimically aeronautical with that large indentation by the pilot.
    'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA

  9. #5
    Legacy Member GeeRam's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Last On
    03-18-2024 @ 03:21 PM
    Location
    Berkshire, UK
    Posts
    853
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:04 AM
    Smudger is a legend, and he and John Romain have built that bloody aeroplane 3 times now after the 2nd one was pranged at Duxford.......

    I think that photo of Smudger was taken at Goodwood Revival when he was holding court on the just reflown Lizzie restoration

  10. Thank You to GeeRam For This Useful Post:


  11. #6
    Contributing Member Flying10uk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Last On
    Yesterday @ 10:53 PM
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    5,075
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:04 AM
    Last edited by Flying10uk; 03-01-2019 at 08:16 PM.

  12. Thank You to Flying10uk For This Useful Post:


  13. #7
    Contributing Member Gil Boyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Last On
    02-28-2024 @ 11:09 AM
    Location
    Home of The Parachute Regiment & 16 Air Assault Brigade
    Posts
    4,772
    Real Name
    Gil Boyd
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:04 AM
    Thread Starter
    GeeRam,
    Absolutely correct about the photo. John and I go back years as we were both Principal Technical Officers in the Police.
    I marvel at his expertise. He has just finished building a Lysander which they recovered from a Canadianicon Prairie.
    I only wish he would write what he does down somewhere, so future generations can marvel at his brilliance. Great bloke, great memories together in the Police!

    I often think as a lad growing up playing on old WW2 aircraft piled up ready for scrapping on various RAF stations around the world, and why such things are so hard to find now. Beverly's/Ansons/Varsitys/ etc
    Last edited by Gil Boyd; 03-02-2019 at 08:20 AM.
    'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA

  14. Thank You to Gil Boyd For This Useful Post:


  15. #8
    Legacy Member GeeRam's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Last On
    03-18-2024 @ 03:21 PM
    Location
    Berkshire, UK
    Posts
    853
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    09:04 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by Gil Boyd View Post
    GeeRam,
    I only wish he would write what he does down somewhere, so future generations can marvel at his brilliance.
    Its being passed on at ARCo. John Romain learnt as an apprentice at deHaviland, and has made a point of creating apprentice positions at ARCo so that his and Smudge's skill sets are passed onto a younger generation.

    Great indepth interview article about John and ARCo here:

    http://vintageaviationecho.com/john-romain/


  16. The Following 2 Members Say Thank You to GeeRam For This Useful Post:


+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. George Gibbs Bristol M1905 Sporter
    By Promo in forum The Ross Rifle Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 11-26-2019, 11:31 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks