Marcel Bloch MB-200 bomber 1:72 by Popeye the Sailor - finished

[popeye the sailor]

during the mid thirties,  the Czechoslovakian air force was having a hard time modernizing.  they wanted a heavy bomber,  but really didn't have the knowledge for the construction of such an aircraft.   this made it hard for the domestic aircraft factories to come up with a suitable airframe.  they turned to the French Government for aide,  but at that time,  even the French were dealing with the same issues.  faced with limited choices and ideas,  they finally arrived with the construction of a high wing heavy bomber.   it would come to be called the Marcel Bloch Aero MB200 En-4.   the contract to build them was given to Henry Potez and the Aero factory in Prague.  the initial order was for 75 planes {one was set aside for testing}.........as they progressed,  they did experience problems,  and changes were made along the way.  the Twin engine bomber was powered with 588 Kw Walter K-14-I radial engines with Letov Hd-43 airscrews.  the port engine revolved clockwise,  while the starboard engine revolved counter clockwise.   this made it almost impossible for the plane to fly on one engine,  if one was damaged or had a problem.  armament consisted of five 7.92 MG's Strakonice VZ 30 machine gins and could carry 1,400 bomb weight.  they were released pneumatically......the crew consisted of 4 - 6 airmen.  at the time of the Munich crisis,  the Czech air force shared around 54 bombers,  between the several squadrons,  which made up the two main air force regiments.  during the German occupation,  the air force was stripped and the MB's were sent to Bulgaria and Roumania,  serving alongside the Verdun MB - 210 bombers,  which had been moved from the French air force.  by the end of the Thirties,  they became obsolete.

   the construction was all metal with stretched skin,  quite an accomplishment from their earlier form of construction......metal fuselage with wooden wings.  the cost for each bomber was 300 thousand Fr........if the plane was equipped with long range fuel tanks,  of course the cost was a bit higher.

 

this model was produced by KP models in Czechoslovakia in 1984

what interested me was the domestic airliner / military feel the plane has.  during this time period,  this was somewhat of a common practice.......the germans even modified plane for reconnicence or military service.  I took these pictures when I first got the kit.  

 

the decals are a bit yellowed.......I put 'em in the sun for a while.   the model a bit jumbled......some manipulation  is apparent.  the instructions are thin.......like newspaper.

 

this is the only way to select the parts needed for each step.......they are numbered,  although some shown in the diagrams are not.

 

the diagrams appear to be hand drawn........very little text is available.  should be fun  

  

[popeye the sailor]

getting more into the kit,  I did a breakdown to give a better sense of the parts involved.   the parts do have a certain amount of flash.

 

 

😄  I don't recall a model where I had to assemble the fuselage like this........should be fun.   there is some fairly good molded detail,  in spite of the flash.  there are some spots that are indented for the fuselage......these are points that need to be bent or shaped to form the fuselage.   I do like the boxy style of plane.......also an indication of the period it was in service.  the starting point is to assemble a few of the sub assemblies.

[popeye the sailor]

I started to assemble the fuselage.  there isn't a whole lot of detail....or parts for that matter,  the edges needed to be squared for a clean assembly.

the bulkheads were added.........then the cockpit decks.

the engine narceles were assembled at this time.........again,  sanding and squaring edges,   so the fit would be good.

the wings were assembled next.  when they were dry enough,  the narceles were fitted in place.    the mating surfaces on the narceles were sanded for a good fit.

[Jack12477]

Looks like I got here before Lou.  Taking front row center seat.

[Old Collingwood]

Another interesting build  - loving the variety on here at the moment.

 

OC.

[popeye the sailor]

the engines consisted of four parts....later the two cowls and props will be added.  I did goof by cementing the wrong narcele on the wrong wing...noticed by the notch for the main landing gear strut.  I got out of it by cutting the same notch in the proper place on the inside facing the wing root.   the notch on the outside was filled in with cement to make it less noticeable.  the interior of the fuselage was painted gray........the port side fuselage half was then added,  later to be painted as well.

the wing root tabs were added after that.   then the seats........two for the cockpit,  three for other places in the fuselage.   the fuselage top at the nose was added.    

 

the top aft section of the fuselage was added....

every step involved fitting parts....the windows at the nose had to be 'tooled' as well.   this was also the case for the stabilizers.........the butt end of the fuselage,  and drilling out the hole for the pin on the vertical stabilizer {rudder}.

there was a little stabilizer root protrusion that needed to be trimmed flush for the proper placement of the rudder.  two struts brace the rudder.

the wings were dry fitted in place.   the mating surfaces need to be sanded flat for a better fit

 

more as I go.........

[Egilman]

Moving quickly there denis.... The first act is over before I even get here....

 

I'm in, squeezing a seat in somewhere......

[popeye the sailor]

just do'in my part OC    welcome!

 

hello Jack.....welcome to the log as well  

[popeye the sailor]

hi Egilman......welcome as well!    rushed.....repair man is coming!  

[Canute]

Pulling up a seat. This is a very different build, Denis. This kit was made in Czechoslovakia, before the breakup of the Iron Curtain.  Fit doesn't seem too bad. Very blocky appearance (very bad pun intended).

[Jack12477]

Ummmmm, Denis ! How big is this work shop of yours ? The size of a B52 hanger, maybe ?  I count at least 8 concurrent active builds going on in your shop right now ! 😁😁😁😁😁  I have difficulty just keeping track of just one build let alone 8 ! What's your secret ? 😀😀😀😀  🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔  

[Edwardkenway]

Pulling up me chair for another feature from  Popeye Productions 😁 

Looks  like I missed the start, interesting subject Denis. 

[Tigerdvr]

Very interesting project and informative job on the log. Maybe I misinterpreted an item in your opening. You refer to not being able to fly this plane on one

engine because of the counter rotating props. If they shut down the damaged engine which they probably would, the plane should be able to fly unless single

engine flight was not possible due to insufficient power. Many planes of that era had little, if any, excess power.

Thanks for the info.

 

Harley

[popeye the sailor]

thanks Ken....welcome to the log.  the fit is so-so........I've had to shape some of the parts.

 

no real secret Jack........I wake up in the morning.......grab a cup of coffee........then it depends on what part I pick up first.   of course,  I've got this dream of lining the spare room with one continuous table....all around the room    I'd be all set then       ohhhhhh.....and retirement would be a nice touch too   

 

welcome Ed........there not a whole lot of parts to this model.........that and it seems smaller for a 1:72 scale model.  paint will be relatively easy........two,  perhaps three basic colors.

 

welcome Harley....that's the basic information I have here.  I tend to think the plane is a bit unstable.......it's service life was a little over ten years,  but in those ten years it went through about 185 different modifications!  I agree that it was likely a power issue that limited her ability to stay in the air when crippled.   

 

there is one option for this model.......it can be built with or without wheel fenders.  I'm going to try and build it with the fenders.  after drilling out the tires because the existing hole was too small a diameter for the axles,  the inner fender halves were cemented on the struts.  any protrusion of the axle / spindle was trimmed to accept the wheel,  being a tight fit for the wheel inside.   I did a dry fit to find this out.

as for the fuselage,  I managed to fit the nose turret platform in place.   other than paint a few parts,  I've done nothing else.    errands and keeping Gibbs at bat for the refrigerator repairman took up most of my time.  it's been a strange three days off.  I had my physical on thursday..........I'm as healthy as a horse in spite of my eating habits.  he still wants to do that inspection of my 'lower' G.I. {I keep refusing referring to it as 'holy grounds'.

   the only thing I had there was a boot........and that was from my father many.....many years ago     he also wants to do a cancer screen.......sure....I'll let him win this one     by now he must know my love for doctors, 'cuz he kept asking me if he was going to see me again 

[Canute]

Do the tests, Denis. The alternatives are painful and final. 

 

That plane looks like a flying corrugated fence. I suspect the thing was just grossly under-powered; the P-38 had counter rotating props and it didn't crash with losing 1 engine. Probably took a lot of rudder to counteract the dead engine/side.

[Jack12477]

10 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

that inspection of my 'lower' G.I.    .........  he also wants to do a cancer screen...

COLAGUARD is a good alternative, less invasive.  Ask him about that. 

[Egilman]

43 minutes ago, Jack12477 said:

COLAGUARD is a good alternative, less invasive.  Ask him about that. 

That's the ticket. 

My doc, (a very fine younger lady btw, well, younger than me) suggested it after recieveing my firm NO when suggesting that they like to have that procedure ran at my age...... (and she suggested it with an understanding sweet smile) and it only has to be done once every couple of years instead of the annual probing of the other test.....

[Jack12477]

8 minutes ago, Egilman said:

My doc, (a very fine younger lady btw, well, younger than me) suggested it after recieveing my firm NO

As did mine after I said NO and pointed out to him that the risk to a person over 75 of a perforation is far greater than the benefit of finding cancer early.  Even my Oncology Epidemiologist daughter agreed with me and recommended Colaguard.   

 

I also pointed out to him that a close family friend who had survived pancreatic cancer and was cancer free for 8 years was coerced into having one at age 65 and died - never woke up from the procedure, was on a ventilator for 2 weeks before dieing.  He stopped dead in his tracks and suggested colaguard instead.  

[Jack12477]

13 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

no real secret Jack........I wake up in the morning.......grab a cup of coffee........then it depends on what part I pick up first.   of course,  I've got this dream of lining the spare room with one continuous table....all around the

Do you also ride a unicycle and juggle bowling pins at the same time ?  😁😁😁😁

[maaaslo]

ah, brings back memories. i built this beast when i was about 12... that time i didnt hear about airbrush, no putty, no squaring edges, no drywash and other hocus-pocus...

i built it, painted it with 3 shades of green i had and hanged it in my bedroom. done.

saying this, i always liked it for its retro look. there was also a paper model in making, being done by a papermodeler.sk member HlavaXXII in slightly larger scale and a lot more detail. if this was ever completed project i have no idea...

[Egilman]

45 minutes ago, Jack12477 said:

Do you also ride a unicycle and juggle bowling pins at the same time ?  😁😁😁😁

Don't we all?

[lmagna]

On 6/5/2020 at 9:37 AM, Jack12477 said:

Looks like I got here before Lou.

That's because you get up before I do Jack

[Jack12477]

34 minutes ago, lmagna said:

That's because you get up before I do Jack

Ah ! But it was 9:30 AM on your coast when I posted, Lou.  😴😴😴😴😴

[Landlubber Mike]

Love the lines on this one Popeye - I’m pulling up a chair for this one!

 

[lmagna]

Since they shut the schools down and I no longer have to get up at 6am. 9:30 is about the time I am sitting in my beddy by looking at the morning horror stories on TV and drinking my second cup of coffee to get my heart started for the coming day. 

[Jack12477]

Wow! By that time I've been up for at least 3 hrs, had full breakfast, coffee, watched the morning horror show and mowed the lawn! 😎😎😎😎 And I'm retired !!!! And an empty nester !!!!    <yawn>

[lmagna]

Other than the mowing the lawn part, (I haven't done that since I broke my ankle) and the empty nester, that was the way it was for me as well. Plus I was taking my wife's morning coffee up to her each morning, getting the two kids fed and off to school and walking the dog, (Uphill both ways) and getting my shower in before doing the morning dishes. All before 9 when my wife would come down. Now days I have been making her bring ME coffee in bed and I don't have to get the kids up until 9:30-10:00 But then I have to "assist" them with their school work as if I was a teacher or something, and try to make sense of all the educational stupidity. THE most HATED part of my day.

 

I used to think I was RETIRED, but now I think I am just re-tired. Hopefully by the time I get to my third tired I will be able to get some rest.

[Egilman]

1 hour ago, lmagna said:

I used to think I was RETIRED, but now I think I am just re-tired. Hopefully by the time I get to my third tired I will be able to get some rest.

I'm here to tell ya, I'm on my fourth tired, and staring the fifth in the eye... There is no light work at the end brother...

 

There is no rest for the weary, and the wicked only take what is left....

[Jack12477]

I retired 4 times before I made it permanent in January 2008........   Enough already !  Don't miss it a bit. 

[popeye the sailor]

I'm just trying to get to my first one......got two and a half years still.  I like toying with the idea.......gives me something to look forward to   

 

there's really not a lot of parts to the model.......bet this would make a neat paper model.

 

thanks for the suggestions...I'll check it out.      and thanks for the kind comments and likes.   gotta hit the rack.......work tomorrow