Vickers

Vickers Vimy MK.IV by FROG Models, 1/72 scale injection mold.

On August 16, 1917, the Vickers company was awarded a contract for three new experimental heavy bombers. The plane was designed to accommodate three crewmen and 12 bombs stowed vertically within the fuselage. There was to be a gunner's position in the nose and mid-section. Testing took place in January 1918 with many variations of engines being tried throughout 1918. No Vimy was used operationally in WW1 but it had a long post-war history. Production ceased in 1924.

This model represents H651 which was the standard production version.

The Mark 1 version of the FB19 appeared in August 1916 powered by a 100hp Gnome Monosoupape engine. It had unstaggered wings with a cutout in the center section.

The Mark II had staggered wings to improve the pilot's view. Both Marks were fitted with a Vickers gun which fired through the airscrew arc. The gun mounting was interesting as the gun was fixed in a trough on the port side of the fuselage and the bullets passed through a hole in the cowling.

The FB19 failed to impress the authorities and the plane was never used on the Western Front. Some went to Palestine and Macedonia. Six machines were used in Home Defense squadrons and 12 were sent to training squadrons.

This model depicts A5230 of an RFC Home Defense Squadron, Spring 1917.

This is a very old vacuform. The engine, prop and machine gun are from "Aeroclub", the wheels from the scrap box, as are the decals. The upper surface paint is Model Master Olive Drab and the CDL is Floquil Depot Buff. The cowl is hand painted Model Master Aluminum. Total building time is about 12 hours.

Vickers FB5 'Gun Bus', by Pegasus Models, 1/72nd scale, short run injection mold.

In late 1911, Captain Bertram Dickson, sent a memorandum to the Committee of Imperial Defense, where he stated in part, “This fight for supremacy of the air in future wars will be first and greatest importance.” However, in 1912 the War Office published the conditions of the Military Aeroplane Competition which amounted to no more that a flying observation position.

Vickers Ltd designed an aeroplane capable of carrying a machine gun and had a working prototype displayed at the 1913 Aero Show in Paris. The FB5 (Fighting Biplane) was first flown in 1914 with delivery to the RFC in December 1914 and was operational by Feb 1915. No. 11 Squadron was formed around the FB5 by July 1915 but by November of that year they were hopelessly outclassed. The FB5 was withdrawn from active service in the spring of 1916.

This model depicts a FB5 from an unknown squadron in the summer of 1916. It shows the unusual application of both Roundel and Union Jack identity markings as the Union Jack had usually been replaced by this time.

This was not an easy kit to build. My biggest problem was the attachment of the tail boom. I used the Aeroclub jig for the wings and attached the boom while still in the jig. After I had it all aligned, I knocked the tail off during rigging. The alignment was never right again. Windsock Datafile 56 was used for reference and it was invaluable. The rigging is very complex but gave me the most enjoyment of the construction. I estimate it took close to 30 hours to build this kit, at least half of it in rigging. This is one of the more complicated kits in my collection.