Miscellaneous British

Austin-Ball A.F.B. 1 by Scaleplanes. 1/72nd scale resin and white metal

First conceived in April 1916 by the Austin car manufacturer and with input from Albert Ball, the Austin-Ball A.F.B.1 made its maiden flight in July 1917. It used the 200 hp Hispano-Suiza engine. The pilot sat with his eyes level with the top wing and had an excellent view both forward and upwards. The plane carried two Lewis machine guns. One was mounted on the top wing and the other fired through a hollow propeller shaft with its breech just below the instrument panel.

When the plane was completed in July 1917, it was easy to fly, as fast as a S.E.5a with a better rate of climb. However, the plane used the 200 hp Hispano-Suiza engine that was used in the S.E.5a and it was not considered wise to interfere with the construction program. Had the plane appeared a few months earlier it would have probably been manufactured in quantity.

This kit was the first and as far as I know, the only resin and white metal kit by the vacuform company Scaleplanes. It was released in late 1990 and was built soon after that. In March 2008, I brought the model home to correct a severe sag in the wings. All wings were removed and straightened, the wheels were repainted from black to gray and the Lewis gun was replaced as it turned up missing in action. It has been far too long to guess how long it took to build or what colors were used. The two page instruction sheet has a three view drawing with true length struts and undercarriage templates and a five step exploded view construction page.

Felixstowe F.2A by Roden. 1/72nd scale injection mold.

The history of the F.2A starts with the name of Lt. Commander John Porte, RN. Before the beginning of WW1, Commander Porte worked with Glenn Curtiss to improve flying boats for military service. Upon Commander Porte's return to England, persuaded the military to buy the Curtiss H-4 flying boat. When the H-4 proved to be unfit for military service, Porte set out to design a flying boat that could serve military objectives. The F.1, his first attempt did not meet the necessary requirements. His second attempt, the F.2A, was fitted with Rolls Royce engines and a re-designed hull.

The F.2A was of great strategic importance, patrolling the North Sea in search of German submarines. The planes were heavily armed and with the exception of the late war Hansa Brandenburg, the plane proved to be a tough opponent.

At the end of the war, no was no further need of flying boats and most of the F.2A's were retired with some of them being transferred to Canada and Chile.

This kit depicts N4251, probably based at Felixstowe, autumn 1918.

For a complete build article, see Internet Modeler, February, 2004.