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Has anyone attempted any conversions from the lovely little Airfix 1/72 BE2c kit? I was thinking of: BE2e (using extra Airfix top wing to extend span) BE12a (as above but maybe with the addition of RE8 engine parts?) RE8 (Airfix kit tarted up with as many bits as possible from BE2c kit?) Generally I'd like to tap into the experience of others but in particular I don't have a copy of the ancient RE8 kit and wouldn't want to buy one if it won't facilitate a decent BE12a or RE8.

This one has been a must-do project for a while, having built it twice previously: once as a kid, with no additions, alterations, rigging, or anything else not supplied in the box, and once about 5 years ago when I got back into the hobby. That time I added some basic detail such as interior, rigging, and a little engine detail, but when I looked at it later on I realised it was nowhere near what it should be...Once I got hold of a Choroszy engine and Miniworld guns the project was all set to go! So, what was needed? Here's what went into this transformation: Choroszy resin engine Miniworld brass guns and Scarff ring Barracuda resin pilot's seat PE stitching, control horns, and seatbelts Aeroclub prop and wheels. Everything else was either scratchbuilt or corrected from the kit parts. The fuselage had the tip of the nose removed to bring it back about 1mm and I removed all hints of the "engine" and cooling air scoop. It was cut through the middle of the pilot's cockpit to shorten it, and again just aft of the gunner's cockpit, to both shorten it a little more and to raise the rear decking to the correct height. The underside was then sanded to give a straight line from the bottom of the tail to the rear wing spar (the kit fuselage slopes from the tail to about 1cm aft of the rear spar) - I had to add some plastic inside the fuselage just below the gunner's position to provide enough plastic for the change in the profile. These corrections gave me the straight line I needed for the upper longeron, all the way from the top of the tail to the nose, just below the front cabane strut - the upper line of stitching follows this longeron. The gunner's cockpit was then moved forward by about 2mm. The wings were thinned considerably, the span and tip shapes corrected, and the rib detail added with 0.5mm Jammy Dog masking tape - I won't use that method again as I feel it is still a little over done. especially towards the rear of the wing where it should be very subtle, if not invisible. The lower wing was cut into 5 sections: the centre section was attached to the fuselage once that had been completed, and blended in to be a part of the fuselage. The inner stub wings were drilled out and corrected for their shape, then added to the fuselage with brass pins for strength. The main wings were also pinned with brass rod. Wing struts are kit items, thinned, reshaped, and with brass pins added for secure fitting to the wings. The undercarriage is scratchbuilt from brass rod, with plastic card CA'd on for the fairings. All tail surfaces are from plastic card, including the little vertical fin on the underside. Rigging is 1.5lb test Gamakatsu monofilament fishing line of 0.06mm run across a silver paint pen to give it some colour. I'm not quite sure why I omitted to add any panel detail on the nose, it should certainly have some. It looks a little bare, but I'm not going to do it now! That, in a nutshell, is it....I hope you like her! Here are some comparison pics with the unaltered one I did a few years back.... Thanks for all the support and good wishes during this build! Ian

This is my first time posting so I hope everything works ok and I am posting in the right place! I'm currently working on the very old Airfix RE8 which I received for Secret Santa at Christmas. The mould is from 1958 and interior detail is entirely non-existent so I thought it might be fun to see what I could do to add a bit more detail. Looking at the Windsock plans it is clear that the kit is too long and too flat. Normally I wouldn't bother doing anything but as I was particularly put off by the distance between the pilot and observer, I took a chunk out it inbetween the two cockpits and just before gluing them together I improved the angle a little bit. It's not spot on but it's better and I still need to shorten the front cowling. Before.... And after. Also the original shape of the pilot's cockpit opening is far too deep and the wrong shape so I fixed that a bit with some plastic card. As you can see the opening is a bit wide though. I might fix it but it does give a nice view inside so I might leave it.

Was at Old Warden for the Shuttleworth Pageant Air Display. A really enjoyable day out, with a nice relaxed atmosphere. The show saw the debut at an airshow of the replica RE8 and Albatros D.V. from the Vintage Aviator Team. I believe both are ultimately destined for the RAF Museum. Seems a shame as I think they belong in the air. RE8 Albatros D.V And finally a couple of Hawkers finest, who put on great display. Inspiration for the Interwar GB.