Bristol Blenheim Mk I Trench- Art Model

The iconic fighter bomber of the early years of WWII and quite a scarce subject for a trench art model. Clearly period and hand made the brass has a lovely bronzy patina to it. We stand to be corrected by the Blenheim aficionados but we believe this to be an early Mk I and features the classic stubby nose characteristic of the type. Built by Bristol Aeroplane Company as a light bomber and was used extensively in the first two years of WWII including the battle of Britain, where it took heavy casualties.

The Type first flew in April 1935 and delivery to RAF squadrons commenced in1937. The Blenheim was one of the first British aircraft with an all-metal stressed-skin construction, retractable landing gear, flaps, a powered gun turret and variable-pitch propellers and The Mk I was faster than most fighters in the late 1930's. Development in fighters however lead to significant losses in the daylight role and it was decided that the Mk IF would be relegated to night fighter duties where it had better success. Our model is mounted on an unusually squat brass stand and it has never had propellers fitted and thus gives a convincing impression of the machine flying low and fast showing off the Bristol Mercury VIII radial piston engines to their best advantage. Wingspan measures 9" (22.5 cm) and it stands 2" high (5 cm) measured to the top of the tail fin