A new elbow rest for the Bristol Blenheim bomber pilot's seat

Suomeksi

The pilot’s seat and rudder pedals of the Finnish Air Force’s Bristol Blenheim Series V aircraft BL-106 have been restored by Aviation Museum Society’s Tuesday Club. However, one task still remained unfinished.

The original leather-upholstered and padded elbow rest, on the right-hand side of the pilot’s seat, was still there but in poor condition. The leather on the top surface of the elbow rest was badly worn and partially torn, revealing the padding material underneath. The leather-upholstered rest has a wooden core. The elbow rest is attached to the seat’s armrest with four bolts.

It was carefully considered whether the original leather-covered elbow rest should be preserved and refastened to the restored seat’s armrest, or whether a new, identical padded replica should be made and fitted to the restored seat’s armrest. A replica of the elbow rest would better suit the fully restored seat. Therefore, we decided to make a new elbow rest, matching the original. The original elbow rest would be preserved and stored. So, on to the task at hand.

The original elbow rest was measured carefully, and a drawing was made of it. Following the drawing, the wooden core of the elbow rest was made from 50 x 50 mm pine. The wooden core was rounded at the ends and corners by sanding. As the elbow rest was attached to the seat’s armrest with four bolts, holes were drilled in the new wooden core for the four mounting bolts.

The original bolts were 4,5 x 40 mm. As such bolts were not available in hardware stores, 5 x 40 mm bolts with locking heads were purchased for the elbow rest. The locking head is important, as it sinks into the surface of the wooden core of the elbow rest. This prevents the bolts from turning when the leather-covered elbow rest is tightened onto the seat’s armrest with four nuts. Once the wooden core was ready, its fit to the seat’s armrest was tested. It fitted well. All that remained was the leather upholstery for the wooden core of the elbow rest.

We took the new wooden core of the elbow rest to be upholstered according to the original model by upholstery master Kaisa Haikola at Verhoomo Koto. The original elbow rest was also brought along as a model.

Photos: Verhoomo Koto

We discussed our objectives with the upholstery master. Consensus was quickly reached. Antique leather, well suited for the purpose, was chosen for the upholstery. Pieces were cut from the leather according to the prepared patterns to upholster the top and bottom surfaces as well as the sides of the elbow rest. First, the leather pieces for the top surface and the side were machine-stitched together, using a piping seam matching the original. For this, the sewing machine was fitted with a piping presser foot. The piping core, as in the original elbow rest, was made from linen thread.

Photos: Verhoomo Koto

Under the leather on the top surface of the elbow rest, recycled grey wadding was placed as padding to replicate the original. The original elbow rest’s upholstery was also followed by placing the glued seam of the leather pieces on the sides in the same position as on the original. Bison Tix contact adhesive was used for gluing the leather pieces. As the final step, holes for the four mounting bolts in the base of the elbow rest were made using a hole punch.

Photo: Verhoomo Koto

Photo: Antti Hyvärinen

Thus, the replica of the pilot’s elbow rest for the Bristol Blenheim V series BL-106 bomber was completed. The replica elbow rest was attached to the restored pilot’s seat armrest. It was found that the new elbow rest looked splendid with its surfaces in the fully restored pilot’s seat.

Photos: Lassi karivalo, unless otherwise mentioned

Translation to English: Erja Reinikainen