Popular Post Putty Animal Posted September 25, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted September 25, 2021 (edited) I've always had a thing for the FE2. To an aircraft-obsessed child, it was that "big 2-seater DH-2" that only sometimes appeared in fuzzy photographs and never in the Airfix catalogue. It was elusive and mysterious, and not a little terrifying too. I remember staring in fascinated horror at a watercolour picture which showed the observer, standing up on the edge of his shallow cockpit to fire backwards over the top wing at some shark like V-strutters that were racing in for the kill. I used to wonder at the kind of courage and desperation it would require to do this - miles above France and without safety harness or parachute. I still wonder at it actually. While I was growing up a mainstream kit of the Fee never seemed to materialise. References were always rare and the aircraft seemed almost lost to history. Over the years I fell in love with 1/144 scale. So when the 1/32 WNW kit rolled around it was waaay out of my league. It did however provide a stack of readymade research material that I could use... Eventually one day I decided to have a go. Four years later and I don't know how many hours or hundreds of parts later, it is finished. So here it is. A scratchbuilt FE2b in 1/144 scale. Materials are styrene sheet, acrylic and sterling silver for the most part. Plus a tiny bit of 18ct gold for good measure (I'm a jewellery maker by trade, so why not). Paints are Mr Color and Tamiya lacquers, while the markings are a mix of hand masked and home printed. With the exception of the nacelle roundels, which were donated by the most excellent Ajmm (thank you so much! I think of you every time I see them ). Markings are for a B-Flight machine of 22 Sqn RFC flown by Captain Francis Don, with Lt Herbert Harris as observer. This aircraft was lost on June 5, 1917 when it was shot down by the famous ace, Werner Voss for his 33rd victory. Both pilot and observer were wounded, however they were able to bring the aircraft down safely in a field north of Vaucelles. Voss then strafed them on the ground for good measure before they were taken prisoner. Classy guy. Anyway enough intro. Here's the pics. I hope you like them! Thanks for looking! Here's a link to the WiP thread if you want to see how the sausage was made. Edited September 25, 2021 by Putty Animal 97 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmerboy Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 OMG!!! Stunning model, jaw dropping stuff, gold medal winner all the way. Great job! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestFan Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Oh this is just ridiculously good! I think I’m going to stick to stamp collecting or something after seeing this! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toryu Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 1/144?? This is extraordinary. If I were ever able to achieve such detail I would go for the small scale, too. Must look fabulous in the show case! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jochen Barett Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 1 hour ago, Putty Animal said: +++ I'm a jewellery maker by trade, ++* and it shows! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Cor Blimy as they say in all the best black and white British movies. Thats just, well 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lasermonkey Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 That may well be the most impressive bit of modelling I’ve ever seen. You have managed to attain a level of sharpness and precision that most would struggle to reach in 1/32. I am absolutely blown away here. Cheers, Mark. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
europapete Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Exactly, There are a lot of built WNW models out there that are no where near this well made. Awesome job, well done. And like mentioned earlier, enter it into the contast circuit, Gold Medal winner for sure. Regards, Pete in RI 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Harmsworth Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Wonderful. Just wonderful. Scratch built loveliness. And all in that teeny scale. Gosh. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 I can only echo what the others have said. Amazing work. Scratchbuilt as well. Pick your superlative, brilliant, fantastic.......... Certainly jewel like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 3 hours ago, Putty Animal said: I'm a jewellery maker by trade That explains the detail and precision in this fine jewel! This is in a class ally itself. Stunning. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 1/144 Stunning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairtrigger Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Errrrr... What can I add to what others have said? I'll have a go - miniaturised perfection .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Must pass this on. I showed a careful selection of the photos to family who think the FE2 is a delightfully quirky old aeroplane and they were amazed anyone flew in such things. I then showed them the model in your hand and got “No way” and “That’s insane”. At first look without anything to give away scale they had just seen a real FE Now if Carlsberg did models ……… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epeeman Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 Lost for words other than simply stunning and amazing small scale work ............ Regards Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 What can I add? You must be a jeweller to have achieved such a high degree of precision and accuracy in the braille scale. It could easily be taken for a WNW 1/32 scale model - and a very well made one at that!! P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieW Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 I agree with Stephen, It really looks like Wingnut Wings 1/32 model. I definitely have a new all time favourite model! Richie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horatio Gruntfuttock Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 That is just mind-blowing - your skills are beyond my comprehension and the rigging is gob-smacking ( presumably you spent months training a spider to do all the hard work). This model ranks alongside the equally remarkable 1/600 'Victory' down in the Maritime forum. Thanks for sharing your work, and now I will pop back in my corner and sob gently to myself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2996 Victor Posted September 25, 2021 Share Posted September 25, 2021 This is another Fabergé Egg, PA! Absolutely astonishing workmanship and an utterly beautiful work of art. I'm off to read your WiP now Cheers, Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted September 26, 2021 Share Posted September 26, 2021 Stunning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerndM Posted September 26, 2021 Share Posted September 26, 2021 Amazing work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theskits62 Posted September 26, 2021 Share Posted September 26, 2021 (edited) That is utterly mindblowing !! I can't even begin to imagine how you could do that in such a small scale I can see you also posted this on the ww1aircraftmodels site and lots of people are mentioning a WIP thread somewhere which i can't seem to find. Could you post a link to this please, i'm sure that lots of people who missed this first time around would like to see it now. Edited September 26, 2021 by theskits62 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putty Animal Posted September 26, 2021 Author Share Posted September 26, 2021 Hi I'm so glad you like it! Sorry if the wip link didn't work. You can find the BM thread here: Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted September 26, 2021 Share Posted September 26, 2021 That is really jewel like, so impressive! Congratulations on building such an outstanding model. Edge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veg Posted September 26, 2021 Share Posted September 26, 2021 That is simply outstanding you could mistake it for the real thing were it not for the shilling. fabulous work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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