Author: Richard Franks
Price: £16.95 GBP plus P&P
128 pages, softback, high quality art paper
Review by Geoff Coughlin (November 2014)
Our thanks to Mark at Valiant Wings Publishing for supplying our review sample…
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Airframe Album No.5: The Bristol Blenheim – A Detailed Guide to The RAF’s famous twin-engined WWII bomber by Richard A. Franks.
This is the fifth title in the Airframe Album series and covers the Bristol Blenheim, providing an excellent contrast to the previous releases:
- The Heinkel He 219
- Hawker Sea Fury and
- CAC Boomerang
- Westland Whirlwind
The Bristol Blenheim has proved elusive to scale modellers over the years with few kits available in any of the major scales. Sure, some have been available, mainly in 1:72 but it was only the release of the Classic Airframes 1:48 scale kit that rectified this situation. Of course, now of course 1:72 modellers are delighted because Airfix has released an all-new-tool kit that’s had good reviews. This title is cleverly designed to be released with the Airfix kit and that’s an exciting combination. Release of the new kit and this new title makes the Westland Whirlwind a serious project choice that many will take up.
There is very little scale modelling reference material readily available for modellers and that’s why I am so pleased to see this title become available.
This new title contents include:
- A wealth of historical and modern photographs
- Detailed study of the structure, equipment and armament used
- Isometric views by Maciej Noszczak of all prototype and production airframes
- Colour profiles and camouflage detail by Richard J. Caruana
- At least 128 pages in total
- Lists of all Blenheim kits, accessories and decals produced in all scales.
What do we think?
A very good publication and an impressive addition to what is a very useful series of reference books for scale modellers. The quality of production is high; images are comprehensive too covering the internal and external features of the type. These are supplemented with period manual images and photographs.
One of the best sections in the title is the one covering all the differences between the various pre and production examples of the Bristol Blenheim and there are many.
The colour profiles towards the back of the book are good and there are now upper and lower colour profiles for the camouflage pattern diagrams showing the schemes clearly.
The end of the book identifies and shows just about all the model kits and accessories available now or previously for the Blenheim and will be helpful when considering what to buy, whatever your chosen scale or kit.
Highly Recommended
Geoff C.
Where can I get it?
Airframe Album No 5- The Bristol Blenheim – A Detailed Guide to the RAF’s first twin-engined monoplane bomber by Richard A. Franks retails at only £16.95 per copy + postage and packing, and is available from all good hobby stores, specialist bookshops and ADH Books.
Orders can also be made via the Valiant Wings website, www.valiant-wings.co.uk , by ‘phone on 01234 273434 (+44 1234 273434 if calling from outside the UK) or by writing to:
Valiant Wings Publishing 8 West Grove, Bedford MK40 4BT