100 Year Bloody April Build: R.E.8 (Kampflieger 1/72nd)

[smithdr]

Hi All,

I decided I couldn't let April 2017 going by without a tribute to those brave recon crews who went up against Jasta 11 and were shot down in droves. The plane that, to me, epitomizes that time is the ol' Harry Tate R.E.8.

So I chose Kampflieger's in 1/72nd. I had such fun with Wayne's 1/72 machines, I hope this one goes as well!



Just a small break from the 109.

Stay tuned...

Dan

[Don Boose]

The Dear Ol' Harry Tate has always been one of my favorite airplanes. That cocked-up fuselage, rather like the Carolina wrens that visit my back garden, and the overall look have always appealed to me. It certainly played a key role in aerial reconnaissance in the final years of the Great War.

I look forward to your build.

Don

[ct ertz]

I have a Kampflieger model of an SE5 in 1/48 scale printed and ready! Now to find the time. I have enjoyed all of Kampflieger models I have built so far, both vehicles and planes!

[Kugelfang]

Hmmm... two of the ugliest planes of the Great War, the R.E.8 and the SE5 (IMHO). Can't argue about their importance to the war, though.

I always enjoy WWI builds and I'll certainly follow this one.

[talls6]

Look forward to seeing this done.

Jeff - I have a fondness for the SE5. It definitely would not have won a beauty contest but it was effective in the right hands.

Don - to me the RE8 looks as if it wants to fold up in the middle at a moments notice.

I read somewhere that the average life expectancy for an RAF pilot for bloody April was 18 hours. Brave lads to climb into those machines mission after mission knowing the odds were not in their favor.
Darren

[Falco]

OMG... I have this kit! I have not gotten around to building it yet so I will most definitely keep an eye on this thread.

[chicharrero]

I fully agree with Jeff. Of course, effectiveness and beauty is not obligatory to go on par with aircraft. The SE 5, in my opinion is a good plane, but aesthetically seemed to have regressed a few years. I like the rounded designs more.

[smithdr]

All,

So far, I got some of the fuselage done and tails on. This guy will look cool when done, but so far is harder to put together than the other 1/72nd projects I've done so far. Few structural formers, lots of edge gluing etc. My lack of experience in the medium is beginning to show! For example, I think I put the interior "box" too far forward and have had to "adjust" as I put on the top pieces. Most obvious is the wonky area around the cockpits. Thank goodness for dark markers... The interior is simple but very effective in my opinion.








Coming along, though. I do think the outline etc. as well as the scale thickness of the wings, tails etc. put the old Airfix kit to shame. But it will still be neat to see them next to each other in a short while.

Cheers to all,
Dan

[MacSongLi]

Great looking fuselage, Dan. Nice start.

Gary

[Don Boose]

Deft craftsmanship! Looks exactly like a Reconnaissance Experimental 8.

Roman's models are beautiful and the parts fit precisely, but I have found them to be challenging since everything has to be cut and fitted together precisely. Of course, that's the key to paper modeling - skills I am still working on!

Incidentally, I just discovered that Fiddlers Green has an R.E.8 at their site, but it is listed as not available. Pretty images, though: RAF RE.8 | Aircraft |

Don