New FE2b at Hendon

[stenoyab]

Was at Hendon today, they were just taking the sheets off the new FE2b to work on it, so thought you may like a peek. The tail was still partly covered.

[Gregvan]

Wow! Truly impressive and thrilling! My congratulations to everyone involved in this project.

Thanks for sharing the photos, stenoyab!

Greg

[J.R.]

Where is it on display? Is it in the main museum or in the G-W hangar?

J.R.

[TeamStewart]

Its brown!

(ducks for cover)

[Gregvan]

Dear TeamStewart,

Actually, I believe it's BLACK - even the undersides. This machine is painted and restored as one of the FE2b night bombers, if I'm not mistaken. The serial number on the black rudder/tail has been masked off to be painted, but apparently is unfinished.

Yes, it does look kind of brownish in one or two of the photos - which just re-emphasizes my point that neutral colors can give off all kinds of impressions, under various lighting, etc.

[TeamStewart]

Originally Posted by Gregvan

Dear TeamStewart,

Actually, I believe it's BLACK - even the undersides. This machine is painted and restored as one of the FE2b night bombers, if I'm not mistaken. The serial number on the black rudder/tail has been masked off to be painted, but apparently is unfinished.

Yes, it does look kind of brownish in one or two of the photos - which just re-emphasizes my point that neutral colors can give off all kinds of impressions, under various lighting, etc.

I see that now! It is black.

Thanks for that information. I had no idea that there were black painted night bombers.


Why weren't the HD night fighters painted black, then, as they were in the second war?

[sheppo]

Oct 1917
From official dyed fabric test reports it can be found that black dyed cloth perfomed equally well in terms of retaining its properties compared to raftite and 2 coats of PC10.

“it has already been adopted for night flying machines built at the RAF”

It is indeed very possible that it was black originally also.

Chris

[stenoyab]

Its in the Bomber Hall.

It is indeed Black. They don't have correct lighting on it yet.

[John McKenzie]

Incorporating only a very bare nacelle and Beardmore...(but thats another story.)......With regard to this machine,..Beneath the painted fabric (which was contracted out by RAFM,along with bracing wires and assembly).....Virtualy all of this reconstruction (ie,95%), is the work of ONE man,...Working ENTIRELY ALONE , and without ANY help.....over a period of 18 years.......in a small 30 X 8 ft "home workshop"............The description of the manufacture of all these parts will appear soon on the "replica" aircraft pages......"My FE2b Recreation"...by John Mckenzie.....for those who might be interested in and how it was made.......(see also "My BE2b Reproduction"). Regards....John .

[Southside Bucky]

Mr McKenzie,...Truly, you are an artisan of the first order!

I'd like to thank you very much for your incredible dedication and effort in producing yet another much needed (and beautiful) aeroplane.

All the very best to you.

Bucky.

PS.
The DH2's conspicuous by its absence at Hendon, don't y'think?