British Aircraft Model Images
by Lance Krieg

RAF FE.2b

Kit: Aeroclub (1:48)

The FE2b is Aeroclub's kit, much modified to represent the 22 Squadron machine forced down by Werner Voss on June 5, 1917. The engine was scratchbuilt from the crankcase up, as was the engine bearer assembly and all interior detail. The undercarriage and tail skid were replaced with brass rod, and the Lewis guns with photo-etched items from Fotocut. In total, the project lasted four months and consumed 267 hours...I keep track, so I KNOW I'll never finish all the kits in the closet!

Felixstowe F2A

Kit: Lone Star (1:48)

I've attached three shots of my current (read never-ending) project, the Lone Star Felixstowe.

I'll be putting the roof on soon, and all of this work will become invisible; maybe you'd like to add it to my page?

I had to re-skin the entire hull to both widen and deepen it to conform to the plans. Here are the steps going onto the hull bottom, just like the original.
The interior is visible from the numerous doors and MG sites, so the the wing mounting needs to be very similar to the prototype - post and beams in the middle of the boat. Most of the interior details are fitted here, but control leads and cross bracing need to wait until the rib spars are in permanently. I'll take some decent photos when that is done, but I don't want to have those spar stubs poking out for me to snag my sleeve on until the hull exterior is at least detailed.
Details of the fuel system; much simplified, since it is tucked way into a dark corner. Red bands for petrol...
One method of strut manufacture, using 1/32 basswood with 1/64 music wire cores. The process, from left to right:
  1. Scrape a shallow trench for the wire, using a straight edge and scribing tool.
  2. Slice off a plank with the centered groove for the wire.
  3. Unite two planks, CAing the wire into the center.
  4. Carve/sand to shape.
  5. Jig to make SURE the struts are identical length, as well as to help align the tape bindings so they are consistent. Strut has been stained.
  6. Completed strut with taped reinforcement - only 15 more to go, and I can begin the tail struts!
This is stolen shamelessly from Tom Morgan (and certain other noted modelers, like George Lee and John Alcorn). One can create wing surface details by "lacing" the wing to a piece of plastic with holes drilled at every rib or riblet location. I use any fine thread, Tom Morgan uses surgical silk (he probably pilfers it from his employer).
Once stretched snugly over the surface, it is soaked with CA to adhere it to the wing. Overspray with a sandable primer, sanding lightly every few coats to build up a fine ridge.
Adapted to a turtledeck, this technique will sure solve any molding errors or soft detail left after the fuselage joint is eradicated. Contemplating this approach for a Felixstowe wing, it looms before the modeler like a prison sentence... but I botched the Harry Woodman scribed detail, and couldn't face starting over.

And to prove I finished, a couple of photos!

Booker's Sopwith Triplane

Kit: Koster (1:48)

The Sopwith Triplane is the mount of CSD Booker of Naval 8. It is NOT Eduard's kit but the Koster vacuform. The distinctive decor is a combination of paint and decals, and was a LOT of work rendered superflous when the Eduard kit was released.

The aluminum work is handled by carefully handpainting small white sworls on a black base, and overcoating all with a light coat of SNJ spray. Most details of engine, gun, and interior were scratchbuilt.

Anyone figured out a good way to rig these tripes with monofilament?

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