My FE2b reproduction..

[John McKenzie]

[John McKenzie]

[John McKenzie]

[LeicesterTiger]

Originally Posted by John McKenzie

Leicester Tiger.....Thanks , ...Nice of you to say all that ...............Leicester T.....It was VERY hot on the day , needed quite a few "orange squashes " to keep cool.....You would have been sweltering in that "RFC mechanics" overall....There were staff from the "arts" ? departement there for the photo shoot , dressed in RFC etc. uniforms , but they didn't look too comfortable in the heat , in collers and ties.......(I was supposed to wear a tie ...Orders from ' er indoors , but I got away with it as it was so hot ! ).........What with everything going on , I didn't get much of a chance to photograph the FE myself , and , anyway , the lighting was a bit dark for GOOD shots .....If you get to take any good ones , I 'd love a copy or two .....as I remember , you'r just around the corner to RAFM ?.....(I hate the traffic , driving up there ! )....Regards..John.

Hi John, I used to live round the corner in the 1917 RFC Officers Mess, but only for a year before moving to Leeds, now i'm based in Leicestershire again and will be commuting down to London for my last year of University. Hoping to visit the RAFM soon though, i'm travelling down to RFC Stow Maries so will go to Hendon on the way back.

For the past two years on the weekend nearest the anniversary of the RAF's formation on 1st April there's been a living history event at the museum - this year we and other RFC guys did 22 Squadron with the Bristol F2b, however if it's on next year i'll be hopefully working the FE2b as our 'backdrop', especially as the night bombing squadrons are of great interest to me (currently working on a book about Handley Page bombers in WW1, hence the interest)

[Nickh]

John,

I've just been able to sit down and read through this thread without kids, Postmen or Tsunami interrupting.

WOW !

I think that the superb quality of your workmanship has already been remarked on . . I'd just like to echo that.

I look forward to the rest of the build.

Best regards,

Nick

[LeicesterTiger]

I was at the Imperial War Museum for research today, and after a few hours I couldn't take any more trying to decipher 91+ year old handwriting in flying log books so went up to the RAFM for the first time in a while, mainly to see the FE2b. All I could think was - wow. I don't think i've ever been more impressed by an aircraft, and the craftmanship you've put into it is beautiful. Hopefully before too long they'll turn the lights up in the Bomber Command hall so you can see it properly, even if they have shoved the tail behind some ironwork

[Turnbuckle]

John, I saw the FE2b for the first time yesterday and it's wonderful. Your craftsmanship and attention to detail shine through despite the RAF Museum placing it in their darkest bit of display space.

Here are some of the photos I took yesterday

[Turnbuckle]

Larger versions of these photos are available in my Flickr account RAF Museum, Hendon 12th August 2009 - a set on Flickr

[tengew]

wow very nice pics it realy shows the plane.

[LeicesterTiger]

Hi Rob, what shutter speed did you use? I'm looking forward to going back to Hendon with my camera - and at a time when the WW1 hangar is actually open