TOW goes in both directions!

ndicki

ndicki

Charter Member 2016
This is perhaps the best-known of all night-fighter Blenheims...





Flown by Wg Cdr Max Aitken during 1941.
 
Nice! Was this one radar equipped? I've never seen one way or another if the MK IV fighters ever had it or been able to confirm if it was actually used in that role. I guess this answers the second question though. What's the history on it?
 
Never mind, just saw the upload and read the description. Very interesting. Was the antenna set up basically in the same configuration and position as when fitted to the Mk I? We've got a set of antenna pylons around somewhere that could possibly be added as a loadout. I can modify the position by making an invisible pylon to put them where they need to go.
 
I haven't found a photo of a radar equipped Blenheim IV to actually see the configuration. Everything I've seen for the MK I has an AI Mk.III set up, which is the same as the Blenheim IVF had. The antenna I have available (built for a Mossie NF.II conversion I think) are an AI Mk.IV. I can fit these to it in a pseudo Mk.III configuration, unless someone could whip up a set of AI Mk.III antenna.:jump: (I don't mind going through the mess of getting them to stick to the right spots on the plane if someone does the models).

EDIT: There are some diagrams that might be useful in the threads James posted.
 
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Though I do wonder if it's actually worth your trouble. There were remarkably few MkIVF night-fighters. Most were MkIFs, and we do have one of those anyway.
 
gecko said:
I haven't found a photo of a radar equipped Blenheim IV to actually see the configuration. Everything I've seen for the MK I has an AI Mk.III set up, which is the same as the Blenheim IVF had. The antenna I have available (built for a Mossie NF.II conversion I think) are an AI Mk.IV. I can fit these to it in a pseudo Mk.III configuration, unless someone could whip up a set of AI Mk.III antenna.:jump: (I don't mind going through the mess of getting them to stick to the right spots on the plane if someone does the models).

EDIT: There are some diagrams that might be useful in the threads James posted.
Click to expand...



Ted??? :wavey:
 
ndicki said:
Though I do wonder if it's actually worth your trouble. There were remarkably few MkIVF night-fighters. Most were MkIFs, and we do have one of those anyway.
Click to expand...

Always worth the trouble. You painted it, and I think it deserves some antenna. I went ahead and did what I could with the Mk IV antenna - the nose antenna isn't too bad, not quite the right shape though, but the one on the left wing is nothing like a Mk III array. Still it's something until something more fitting is made. If nobody wants to build one I can upload what I've done, but I'll wait a bit just in case.
 
This would be a interesting addition to a TOW Night fighter,Bomber mission set.
Thanks For this Bird..
Like all the Blenheim aircraft of late..
:applause:
Like the antenna idea too..
Hobbits are that way ya know..:dizzy:
 
This shows a Mk IV on a Beaufighter

http://600squadronassociation.com/u..._AIR_INTERCEPT_RADAR_AND_THE_BRITISH_Pt_1.pdf

This is info re 68 Sqdn where Aitken was in '41 http://www.rafcommands.com/Ross/Fighter/68F.html

Note :
"Mk IVF
As with the Mk I, there was a fighter variant of the Mk IV, created by placed a gun pack, carrying four .303in machine guns, in the bomb bay. This variant served as a night fighter with Fighter Command, and with Coastal Command."


Although supposedly there were MIVF's there I can find no direct reference to them elsewhere so no idea about whether used MkIII or IV(as Beaufighter) radar
 
Well, here's what I came up with. As I said above, it isn't correct, but better than nothing IMO.
Screenshot6513.jpg
 
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