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Kit: Pegasus (1:72)
This is Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8, B5773. On March 27th 1918, McLeod and his observer, Lt Arthur Hammond were attacked by the triplanes of Jasta 6. In the ensuing action Hammond shot down four of the triplanes (not reflected in German losses). However their aircraft FK8 B5773 was set aflame and McLeod was forced to climb out of his cockpit and stand on the lower wing after the floor had burnt away. He then side slipped to put direct the flames from Hammond and himself. Hammond, meanwhile was on top of the fuselage, straddling the Scarff mount. Eventually they crashed into a shell crater, with Hammond being knocked unconscious. As it crashed, the machine began to blaze fiercely, and as there were eight heavy bombs and more than a thousand rounds of ammunition still in it. McLeod (himself wounded five places) dragged Hammond towards safety in the nearby trenches. South African troops pulled them into their line and at dusk they were able to be transported to the rear. McLeod was awarded the VC for his action in saving Hammond. Sadly Alan McLeod was to perish in the influenza pandemic that ravaged the globe in late 1918, succumbing on 6 November 1918 - age 19. Alan McLeod's B5773 was an early model FK8 with revised rounded nose, early type radiators and the earlier type of oleo undercarriage. Entire fuselage was painted in PC 10. During the German offensive in Spring 1918 all unit markings on RFC aircraft were changed in an effort to confuse German intelligence. All scout units exchanged markings, while two seaters had their markings removed (typical zig-zag on the rear fuselage was repainted). Model was built with a lot of scratch-built parts and parts from other models - completely new cockpit based on Windsock Datafile, scratch-built rounded nose, eleo type undercarriage details, wooden struts, bomb racks, wind driven pump, windshield and so on. Observer's machineguns and bombs were used from Roden kits. Thanks to J.R. Boye for helpful informations.
Kit: CMR (1:72)
This is Airco D.H.9a, J7340, 27.squadron, India 1927. D.H.9a was born in war, proven on operations and then soldiered on for a further 12 years in frontline service with R.A.F., helping to maintain the uneasy "peace" throughout the British Empire. Model was built mostly out of box with some scratch-built additions: lover wing cut-out, upper wing fuel tank, 230lb bombs and bomb carrier details, bottom of fuselage details. Cockades were used from box, other decals were printed on laser printer. Plane was doped overall aluminium with squadron number on fin and blue doped wheel covers. 27. Squadron shared the Risalpur aerodrome with 60.squadron and they split up the alphabet to mark their respective machines. Letters A-M for 27.sqn and N-Z for 60.sqn, both adapted the same style of white letter in a black square.
This is Airco D.H.4 A7459 with R.A.F. 3a engine, one of two D.H.4s specially modified and camouflaged for the proposed reconnaissance of German naval bases west of the Kiel Canal in June 1917. After abandoned of this project the aircraft was intended to be used in the anti-airship role (Profile 026 - De Havilland DH.4). Model was built with some scratch-built parts - fuselage interior parts, fuel tube, windshields and Scarff-ring details. Special camouflage of matt flown and sky blue was used for this airplane.
Kit: Roden (1:72)
This is Bristol F.2B Fighter C851, flown by Lt E E Turner and H B Barwise, 141.squadron of Home defence, May 1918. On the night 19/20 May they shot down Gotha G.V 979/16 of Bogohl 3. Model was built out of box with opened nose airframe and disassembled engine.
This is Bristol M.1C C4918, C Flight of 72.squadron, Mesopotamia, 1918. Obsolete at this time, M1C's of 72.sqn were used for varied ground-attack work. The airworthy Bristol M.1C C4918 was a reproduction built exactly according to the original production drawings (Windsock Datafile 052 - Bristol M.1). Model was built with PE parts from box and some other scratch-built parts: fuselage interior parts, wind driven generator, windshield, and Aldis gun-sight. Bristol M.1Cs of 72.squadron had a double arrowhead marking and were doped PC12.
Kit: HR model (1:72)
This is Hanriot HD.1 No.6, flown by Willy Coppens, 9me Escadrille de Chasse, Belgium Front, June 1918 (Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces Series #066. Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1). Model was built with a lot of scratch-built parts because of poor quality of original resin parts. Coppens' Hanriot HD.1 No.6 was turquoise blue all over except the interplane struts which were natural colour. On both sides of the fuselage was his white thistle emblem. The wings had the national cockade and rudder stripe in red, chrome yellow and black.
Kit: Eduard (1:72)
This is Nieuport Ni-17 A201, flown by Albert Ball, 11.squadron RFC, Battle of the Somme, 1916. On 14 August 1916 Albert Ball was posted to Number 11 Squadron, flying Nieuports and was allocated a brand-new Nieuport A201. During the last two weeks of August he gained ten victories, all but one being Roland CII's. On 22 August he scored a hat-trick - the first in the Royal Flying Corps - when he downed three Roland CII's within three quarters of an hour. One of them was piloted by Wilhelm Cymera. Crashing into the roof of a house near Vaux, Cymera survived but his observer was killed. Model was built mostly out of box with new scrath-built construction of upper wing. A201 was camouflaged in typical early Nieuport 17's scheme - green/brown on upper surfaces, clear doped lower surfaces. It carried a light (clear doped) outline on its upper surfaces. Picture of Ball's Nieuport A201 can be found in Osprey/Airwar 18 ("British Fighter Units/Western Front 1917/1918"), although captioned as a Nieuport 16, is in fact a 17 with a cut-off cowling.
This is Nieuport Ni-17 A213, flown by Albert Ball, 60.squadron RFC, Battle of the Somme, 1916. Ball had added a further 11 kills in this aeroplane by the end of September and returned to England for a rest. A213 was lost in combat on 6 march of 1917, whilst being flown by CO of 60 Squadron Maj E P Graves, who was coincidentally shot down by Wilhelm Cymera of Jasta 1. Model was built mostly out of box. Camouflage of A213 was based on description in "Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces Series #033 Nieuport Aces of World War 1" in which is stated, that the first Nieuports, that entered RFC service, were finished in French Olive Drab upper surfaces. But more likely, those were finished in typical early Nieuport 17's scheme - green/brown on upper surfaces, clear doped lower surfaces. A213 carried a red cone de penetration and fuselage lettering "A I" split either side of roundel. This was repeated on top decking.
This is Nieuport 17, N2614 from original French supplies, which served in the first months of 1917 in the 70 Squadriglia of the Italian Air Force. It was used as a personal aircraft by Francesco Baracca. On New Year`s day, 1917 Francesco Baracca engaged in a dogfight with Austrian`s naval top ace, Gottfried von Banfield. In several moments of his life, Banfield told the story of this dogfight with the Italian ace, which he claimed ended with a chivalrous mutual salute. The story is amusing and edifying, but it cannot be considered completely reliable because its substance is not supported by contemporary Italian sources, by the letters written by Baracca and even by the contemporary documents signed by the very same Austrian airman. Model was built mostly out of box - profipack version, decals were printed on laser printer. This French built Nieuport was silver-doped overall with Italian tricolour on its rudder and undersides of wings. The "Cavallino" prancing horse symbol appeared for the first time on both sides of fuselage of this Nieuport-17 2614.
Kit: Eastern Express (1:72)
This is Nieuport Ni-11, flown by Lt Paul Tarascon, Escadrille N62, summer 1916. While learning to fly in 1911, Tarascon was seriously injured in a crash, losing his right leg. Despite his handicap, he volunteered for the French Air Service in August 1914. He was accepted and received a Pilot's Brevet in December. During World War I, he became known as "the ace with the wooden leg" (Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces Series #033 Nieuport Aces of WWI, www.theaerodrome.com). Model was built with some parts from Eduard's Ni-17 and some other scratch-built parts. Tarascon's machine was clear doped overall, the cowling was unpainted and left in natural aluminium. His personal emblems were a large rooster and the name "Zigomar" beneath the cockpit. French cocardes were used from the box, other emblems were printed on laser printer.
Kit: Eduard conversion (1:72)
This is Nieuport Triplane, second prototype based on Ni-17 fuselage, unsuccessfully tested in France, 1916/17 (Aircraft in Action n167 - Nieuport Fighters). Model was built from Eduard's Ni-17 non-profipack kit. For bottom wing was used original part from kit, I decreased wingspan and changed its angle. For middle and upper wings were also used original parts from kit, they were cut-off and brushed into required form. Other needed parts were scratch-built. The second Triplane prototype was camouflaged in typical early Nieuport 17's scheme - green/brown on upper surfaces, clear doped lower surfaces. It carried a light (clear doped) outline on its upper surfaces.
This is RAF S.E.5a F5799 of Reginald Hoidge, 1.squadron RAF, October 1918. Posted to 56 Squadron in 1917, he scored 27 victories flying the S.E.5 and S.E.5a. After serving as an instructor for nearly a year, he was posted to 1.squadron as a flight commander and scored one more victory in this plane before the war ended (Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces Series #078. SE5-5a_Aces_of_WWI). Model was built out of box with some minor scratch-built parts. Squadron markings of 1.squadron consisted of small white circle behind the fuselage roundel followed by an individual letter.
Kit: Pegasus/Eduard (1:72)
This early built SPAD XII S382 was test flown by Georges Guynemer in July 1917 and he used it to score his kills on 27 and 28 July as well as a double victory on 17 august. Model was built as combination of Pegasus SPAD XII kit and Eduard's SPAD XIII early kit. It means that only fuselage was used from Pegasus all other parts are from Eduard. Also decals were used from Eduard's SPAD XIII early kit and there was no other choice for me, than to build most famous version of this plane - Gunemer's "Avion magique".
Some pictures of building progress.
This early production Bleriot-built SPAD XIII S2438 was flown by Fulco Ruffo di Calabria, 91a Squadriglia from 11 May to 3 July 1918, when it was returned to the depot for an overhaul (Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces Series #089. Italian Aces of World War 1). Like Baracca's prancing horse insignia, Ruffo's skull and crossbones was also applied over a white background. On this early Bleriot-built aircraft, only the skull's teeth remained in white, with the remaining details darkened by an unknown colour, possibly red. This aircraft displays Bleriot-style camouflage and small cockades on the upper wings. Model was built almost out of box, some decals were used from the box other were printed on laser printer
This is late built SPAD XIII, No 4562 flown by Lt. G.R. Kull, 13th Aero Sqn A.E.F., September 1918. At 0900 hrs on 14 September 1918, Fokker D VIIs of Jasta 18 ambushed SPAD XIIIs of the 13th Aero Sqn over Thiaucourt, resulting in Ltn Hans Muller claiming three aircraft destroyed and single victories being credited to Ltns Gunther von Buren and Heinz Kustner. In this air battle Ltn. Muller shot down Lt. G.R. Kull (KIA) flying SPAD XIII no.11 s/n 4562 south east of Thiaucourt for his 10th victory(Osprey Duel - Spad XIII vs Fokker D VII, www.theaerodrome.com). Model was built almost out of box with addition of Aldis gun-sight, photo access panel on left side of fuselage and machine gun ejection chutes. It is coloured in typical 13th Aero Sqn marking with grim reaper on fuselage, white radiator cowling and white/red strip on the wings. Decals were printed on laser printer.
This is Salmson 2 A2, No 5464 flown by William Portwood Erwin, the USA's highest scoring two seater ace, 1st Observation Squadron A.E.F, late 1918. He and his observers were credited with 8 victories. He and his navigator, Alvin H.Eichwaldt, were lost at sea while searching for two planes, the Golden Eagle and the Miss Doran, that were missing in the Pacific during the Dole Air Race from California to Hawaii in 1927 (www.teheaerodrome.com). It is an early version of CMR's kit without decals, some scratch-built parts were added to original model. National markings were used from Eduard's SPAD XIII, other decals were printed on laser printer.
Kit: Flashback (1:72)
This is Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter A895, C Flight of 70.squadron, Battle of the Somme, 1916. This is one of the first Strutters to reach RFC fitted with the Scarff rotating gun mounting on the rear cockpit; it also had the Scarff-Dybovsky mechanical synchronizing gear for its Vickers gun. This plane was flown by Capt. G. L. Cruikshank, who was shot down and killed on September 15, 1916. His opponent was leading Germany ace Oswald Boelcke, who was flying Fokker D.III 352/16. This dogfight is mistakenly described as the longest dogfight of WWI in some sources (Windsock Datafile 034 - Sopwith 11/2 Strutter, Flight 5 October 1956). Model was built with PE parts from box and some other scratch-built parts: fuselage tail construction, wind driven generator, wooden struts (they are made from real wood), underside of fuselage and so on. I had to scratch built also a scarf ring details and a hole in centroplane, because it was originally bombing variant of Flashback kit.
This is Sopwith 1F.1 Camel B7353, flown by Francis Symondson, 66.squadron RFC, Italian Front, April 1918. This is one of Camels engaged in dogfight with Kurt Gruber and other Phoenix D.Is of Flik 60J on the morning of 4th April 1918. Kurt Gruber still managed to shot down one of Camels (his 11th and last confirmed victory), but then was caught in hail of deadly fire from a Sopwith Camel. His Phoenix D.I 228.24 crashed with broken wings in the Cismon area killing Gruber. (Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces Series #052. Sopwith Camel Aces of World War 1, www.66squadron.co.uk). Model was built out of box. Squadron markings of 66.squadron consisted of a vertical bar in front of cockade, individual flight letter "L" and horizontal bar in centre of fuselage in white, black serial presented on front tail, national markings on rudder. The aeroplane had been flown by Symondson and McEvoy.
Kit: Toko (1:72)
This is Sopwith 7F.1 Snipe E6837, No. 5 Flying Training School, Sealand 1918. During early 1920s it was piloted by flying officer The Earl of Bandon. This particular Silver doped Snipe was reproduction built exactly according to the original production drawings by Richard Day of Colonia, New Jersey in 1982. (Aircraft in Action n110 - Sopwith Fighters, Profile 050 - Sopwith 7F1 Snipe). Model was built with PE cockpit parts from Part and some other scratch-built parts - fuselage tail construction, wooden struts, undercarriage, and so on. Snipes of training units were aluminium doped on upper sides and clear doped on under sides. National markings were used from AGO C.IV model (captured version) and serial numbers were printed on laser printer.
Kit: Revell (1:72)
This is Sopwith Triplane N5376 "Black sheep", flown by Gerald Nash, B Flight of 10 Naval squadron, Western Front, June 1917. It was built as dogfight duo with Albatros D.III and represent combats of "Black flight" with "Richthofen's Circus" during June 1917. On June 25th, Black flight found them selves engaged with Jasta 11 and Gerry Nash became 29th victim of Karl Allmenroeder. There have been claims that on June 27th Collishaw shot down Allmenroeder, but this has been disputed (Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces Series #062. Sopwith Triplane Aces of World War 1, Raymond Collishaw from Wikipedia, www.theaerodrome.com). Model was built with a lot of parts from other models and scratch-built parts: cockpit, fuselage details, wind driven generator, new undercarriage and so on. Triplanes of Black flight had black painted cowlings, wheels covers and bore names starting with the word "Black".
This is Sopwith 5F.1 Dolphin C4017 of Maj. A.D. Carter, 19.squadron RFC, March 1918. He first tasted success with this plane on 15 March and by 8 May he had claimed further nine kills. Carter's next three victories were scored whilst flying C4132, but returning to C4017 on 19 May, he was shot down by Lt. Paul Billik of Jasta 52 (Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces Series 048. Dolphin and Snipe Aces of World War 1). Model was built with some scratch-built cockpit parts and some other parts were used from Roden's kits (Lewis gun and exhaust pipes). Squadron markings of 19.squadron consisted of white dumb-bell immediately behind the fuselage roundel followed by an individual letter, which was repeated on the upper wing close to the cockpit area.