Any FE2 experts out there?

[Russell Smith]

I need to know if the tail booms were wood poles or metal tubing. also, would they have been painted?

thanks
Russ

[Ronny Bar]

Hi Russell...

Lance Krieg, from the World War I Modeling Page Mail List says they were made of bamboo... (Yes, bamboo..!) But I still have my doubts... I guess steel tubes are more likely...

Ronny

[Russell Smith]

Bamboo??? Yeah, that seems like it would be too flexible and fragile. Lets get a second opinion on that.

Thanks though.
Russ

[Breguet]

Hi Russ,

I haven't got the reference with me but IIRC they were steel painted grey.

[Jim D]

I have the book "Fighter Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War" by Lamberton and Cheesman. On Page 44(speaking on the FE2b) it states, "...The wooden tail-booms were wire-braced;"

Also in a datafile it states that the tail booms were clear varnished and very rarely overpainted.

New painting of an FE? Can't wait to see it, one of my favorites.

[Russell Smith]

Hmmm...steel painted grey or wooden tail booms?? I know the struts were wooden. i wonder if that is what the reference is, and that the booms might have been steel. that would account for both answers.

Jim - I'm working on the big brother of this one:
And another new one...

It will be another month or so before its finished.

russ

[Dan_San_Abbott]

russell:
The tail booms on the F.E.2b,c and d, were wood, probably sprruce. They were spindled out on the inside and square sectioned at the strut locations and a circular section from about six inches from and between the strut location. The booms were served with heavy kite cord about every 12 inches along their length. I refer you to F.E.2b RAF Drawing No. A5998.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

[Russell Smith]

Very good. Thanks so much, Dan.

Russ

[Breguet]

Apparently I didn't recall correctly!