Hi Andrew,
I sourced the plans for my Bleriot build from the net, once I found appropriate drawings I downlaoded them then scaled them to 1:32 scale to suit my purpose. As you probably realise there were many different variants of the Bleriot all being a little different to the previous one, also there are replica aircraft which have been build using different engines and fittings. All this adds to a lot of confusion when trying to build a particular model of the channel crossing Bleriot XI. The research I did shows a photo of the aircraft after it had crash landed in Dover, the main undercarriage had collapsed and the propeller was snapped, but it does show the rear fuel tank. I have read where there was a flotation device at the rear of the aircraft but I could not find any evidence of this. The main fuel tank on my model is cylindrical as per the plans I am using, it had rounded blunt ends, the rear fuel tank was also cylindrical but has pointed ends.
My model is probably not 100% accurate in the eyes of the rivet counters but as a representation of the channel crossing Bleriot it is pretty close. If you like I can send you copies of what plans and drawings I have, it may help you somewhat, if you feel you want to do this please send me your mailing (postal) address to my email at
[email protected] I am only too happy to help.
This photo shows the damaged Bleriot with Louis Bleriot standing beside his aircraft, the guy with the flag is obscuring the view of the rear fuel tank but it is just visible to his right under his right arm, the pointed rear end is quite visible, I could not imagine any type of flotation device having pointed ends. The position and shape of the rear tank coincides with the drawings I have. (click the photo for a slighlty larger image)
Des.
