Paul Thompson took these photos in Dec, 2003.
Click here to download a zip file of the full set of Knut's photos. The zip file contains F2b photos from the IWM, the RAFM and Shuttleworth. It is 6.5 MB, but a must for the AMS afflicted !
This is Bristol Fighter E2581 in the Battle of Britain Hangar, Duxford. Not to be confused with the airworthy Fighter Collection Brisfit also at Duxford, this one has a dummy wooden engine, but a real one is displayed in a cradle beside it.
There's a photocd available of this machine from Martin's Photos.
Shane Weier adds: The first photo (brisfit-fuse-center.jpg) shows absolutely beautifully the one feature almost always missed in kits - the flattened side of the cowling in front of the pilot. It shows the curve at the firewall above the front cabane and the straight line at the ammo refill door rear of the black panel. This is so characteristic of the difference between an F.2a and F.2b.
The photos were taken at the Royal Army and Military History Museum (Musée Royal de l'Armée et d'Histoire Militaire / Koninklijk Museum van het Leger en de Krijgsgeschiedenis) in Brussels , Belgium.
This craft is fitted with Hispano-Suiza engine and reconstructed by Skysport in exchange for a Spitfire Mk.IX in 1989.
Mike adds: Like the Soesterburg museum in NL, this is another museum that lets you get pretty close to the airplanes without much trouble. Each time I was there, they were working on the Nieuport and I couldn't photograph it.