Airfix 1/72 R.A.F. RE.8

AIRFIX 1:72 R.A.F. RE.8

Reviewer: Tim Beales (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 25 November 2003

History:

Reconnaissance was a very necessary job during the stalemate of the trenches, however unsung and unglamorous it was in the public eye. In WW1, there was simply no other way to observe enemy movements or to probe for weak spots. Reconnaissance aircraft had to be stable observation platforms with docile flying characteristics, and these are definitely not desirable properties for fighting machines. A great number of the allied air losses in WW1 (including many of von Richthofen's kills) were of observation machines, of which, the RE8 (Reconnaissance Experimental Number 8) formed a large part of the allied fleet (some 4,000 were built).

It is not that the RE8 was a bad machine, it was quite well armed, but several factors were operating against its crews. It is often overlooked that throughout most of WW1, German aircraft mostly fought behind their own lines, and attacked enemy observation aircraft when at an advantage, i.e., when the allied aircraft were on their way home, with their crews cold and exhausted, and with the aircraft low on fuel and heading against the weather and prevailing winds. The RE8s would also have had to cope with German fighters with fresh crews that were much faster, much more heavily armed, and much more manoeuvrable aircraft.

The typical WW1 reconnaissance aircraft "kill" for both sides was bereft of any of the militaristic romanticism often attributed to the "knights of the air". In reality, the scenario was usually closer to murder, as more often than not, packs of fighters would swoop and attack a single unsuspecting airplane. As surrender was seldom asked for, or given, such tactics meant that the operational lifespan of an RFC observer aircraft was very short indeed.

The Kit:

The RE8 is one of the oldest of Airfix's kits, dating from the 1950s. This version was a reissue from 1987, which was marketed under the "Aircraft of the Aces" series. There are 33 parts cast in the trademark Airfix light grey plastic. The mouldings are of high quality with nice raised wing ribs and good surface detail on the outside of the fuselage. Some mouldings, such as the machine guns, are a little crude by modern standards.

Instructions:

The instruction sheet is a single 30 cm x 30 cm square sheet with the first side taken up with the aircraft's history and specification, and some words about the pilots featured in eight languages. The other side shows the five construction steps and a painting guide using Airfix/Humbrol paint numbers.

Construction:

The first stage of construction is to cement the pilot and observer onto two tabs that protrude from the inner fuselage sides and cement a turning pin into the four-blade airscrew. This locates into a rounded notch cut into the fuselage. The two fuselage halves are then cemented together, taking care, as there are no location pins. No internal detail is provided and the cockpit openings are quite large. The pilot figures somewhat thin and alien looking. Detailers will have to make up some internal structures here, especially if the crew figures are not used.

The single-piece bottom wing fits underneath the fuselage, and the two tail planes and rudder fit into recessed slots in the fuselage. The four centre struts and six main wing struts are individually cemented into locating holes. In the instructions, Airfix give the inter-plane angle as being 66°. I made sure that I obtained this angle by drawing a guideline on the back of a piece of card using a protractor. However, I believe that this angle is too acute, as it takes the wing too far over the engine, and feel that nearer 60° is probably a better angle for the struts provided.

The engine consists of two cylinder banks that are nicely cast, and these glue straight onto ledges on the side of the engine. Two L-shaped exhausts glue on top of the engine cylinders. The undercarriage is a straightforward vee-strut assembly with an axle passing through a hole in the vee-struts, connecting to the two wheels. The moulded on tailskid is crude, and I cut mine off and made up a new one using evergreen strip. I attached the forward Vickers gun and rear Lewis gun and Scarff ring last to prevent them being knocked off during the painting and rigging stages. I also made up two sets of V-shaped cabane struts on the upper wing, and fabricated control horns using Evergreen strip. I then fully rigged the model using Aeroclub stretch thread.

Versions:

The only option provided is for an overall brown "Harry Tate" (as the RE8 was known) with cream undersides and grey engine panels. The Airfix decals are OK, but the red and blue are too light and dark, respectively, for me. In addition, both sets of wing roundels contain an outer white ring, which I think is wrong, as only the dark upper surface had this.

The serials provided are for an RE8 flown by Lts. Armstrong and Mart of No.8 Squadron Royal Australian Air Corps from 18 June 1918, who managed to capture a more capable Halberstadt machine in their RE8, forcing it to land at their HQ. (At such a late stage of the war, perhaps the German crew thought it was their safe ticket out of the madness?).

Accuracy:

The RE8 had dimensions of upper wingspan = 42 ft 7 in and length = 27 ft 10½ in. In 1/72 metric, this scales as 18 cm and 11.8 cm, respectively. The corresponding dimensions of my kit are 18 and 12 cm.

Final Comments:

Once rigged, the model really catches the gawky features of the RE8 for me. A simple kit that one day will be surely be modernised and issued by the likes of Roden or Pegasus. It's a little bit fiddly for the beginner, owing to the lack of locating pins and the individual attachment of the struts. Super detailers will bemoan the lack of detail in the gaping cockpit and the other simplified mouldings, but if you are an OOB or non-AMS modeller, then this is a good build.

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