[WWI] Fairey IIID

[Hugh Beyts]

Having recently returned from holiday and deleted all irrelevant e-mails
about size, watches etc then sorted through work related ones I tried to
get to grips with the digest but life's too short. Suffice to say I
noticed a bit about the Fairey IIID in Lisbon and a query about
originality: (I cannot find the relevant digest now). Lovely to see a
bit of time creep. It is displayed along side a stunning flying boat of
FBA origins with wood veneer fuselage and a Grumman Widgeon and multiple
royal/ceremonial barges.
 
The airframe in the Maritime Museum is original and has a very
interesting history.
 
A metal full size replica is sited on the waterfront near the original
seaplane slip.
 
I'm unclear if another full size replica exists in the Air force Museum.
 
I scratch built a 1:48th model about 5 years ago  (but FAA and Napier
powered) after a visit to Lisbon. Since it is the 'wrong' period I
haven't submitted a pic to the gallery. There used to be some pics on
the IPMS UK FAA SIG site www.faasig.netfirms.com
<http://www.faasig.netfirms.com>  but the model pics page is not
currently accessible.
 
I wrote an article for Scale Aircraft Modelling at Neil Robinson's
request but then the editorship changed and current editor is sitting on
it despite my plea for return of original photos and lovely painting by
Les Vowles. (my sketches need redraughting by an expert)
 
Sadly 1919-1939 is underrepresented in the media compared with WWI &
WW2. Those fun loving politicians have succeeded in banning that part of
history successfully! Who was it said "Wars start when politicians fail"
or something in that vain.