New Shapeways FK8 from Colinwe

[Zoe Brain]

http://www.shapeways.com/model/387223/aw_fk_8_big_ack_1_144th_scale_oleo_landing_gear.htm

http://www.shapeways.com/openfile/387223/387223.v0.s17.convert.large.jpg

[jbmacek]

Very nice. I can't wait to see some of these in person!

[kduke42]

It is nice.

Here are a couple nice paint schemes and a good story.

http://www.cbrnp.com/profiles/quarter1/fk8.htm

Not sure if anyone has posted it elsewhere, but Colin recently finished a Be2c also-- two important planes we did not have access to.

And Kampflieger has recently posted a Nieuport 28 and Caudron IV--- life is good!

[Boney10]

Cheers Colin, I see an Xmas Shapeways order, which will include the "Big Ack " :)

[Burt]

Aagh! all these lovely planes, I just can't keep up.
Will have to put another order in pronto.

[Niek_vD]

The model arrived the day before yesterday, and it looks good!

Unfortunately it is now in the hands of Santa Claus, but we are celebrating that on december 6th, so the wait is not too long.

[Zoe Brain]

A new version is now available, with the Bristol landing gear

http://www.shapeways.com/model/403762/aw_fk_8_big_ack_1_144th_bristol_v_landing_gear.html

http://www.shapeways.com/openfile/403762/403762.v0.s17.convert.large.jpg

Some possible paint schemes - two that have already been mentioned plus others. The last has the Bristol landing gear.

http://www.cbrnp.com/profiles/quarter1/fk8/fk8_a2702.jpg

http://www.cbrnp.com/profiles/quarter1/fk8/fk8-b5782.jpg

http://img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/545/pics/9_2.jpg

http://img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/545/pics/9_1.jpg

Some pictures:

http://www.koolhoven.com/history/airplanes/aw/aw-fk8.jpg

http://wpbradley.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/armstrong_fk8.jpg

And a story of how a VC was won...


On March 27, 1918, McLeod and his observer A.W.Hammond went out on a routine bombing mission, attacking German troop concentrations near Albert France. After getting lost due to bad weather, which forced hi to land and refuel, Mcleod took off again to resume his mission. Just before reaching the target, McLeod and Hammond were jumped by a group of German Fokker triplanes. Islander writer Ed Cosgrove describes the ensuing fight


as they neared their target area, a German Fokker triplane broke through the clouds at a range of 200 yards.

This machine promised real trouble for the Big-Ack, [Armstrong-Whitworth] since it carried the colours of von Richtofen’s Flying Circus.

Three short bursts from Hammond’s gun sent the German plane into a spin and they watched it crash. But there was little time for self-congratulation, for just then the skies suddenly cleared and seven more triplanes dove at the slowly moving Allied plane.

McLeod’s skilful handling of the plane soon gave Hammond and opening, and with one burst at a range of a few yards he chopped a triplane in half just behind the pilots cockpit. The wreckage burst into flames and plunged to the ground.

“But at the same time another triplane dove under the British machine and raked it with bullets. One struck the gas tank, and a sheet of flame burst into McLeod’s face.”

The ground was 2,000 feet below them and the German planes were pouring bullets into the blazing Armstrong-Whitworth.

McLeod climbed out of the cockpit and, standing on the lower wing, put the plane into a steep sideslip to carry the flames clear of himself and the observer.

Meanwhile, Hammond continued to engage the circling Germans. The fire burned through the floor of the plane and, when the seat dropped away, the observer cooly climbed up on the rim of his cockpit. By this time he had been hit several times and one arm as smashed and useless.

Two German planes followed the burning machine down. One got close and Hammond sent it to the ground in flames. The remaining German opened fire, and at this critical moment Hammond’s gun jammed.

Hammond was now almost unconscious from six bullet wounds while McLeod, with five wounds, was in little better shape.

Miraculously, McLeod was able to crash land the burning aircraft in no-man’s-land. On impact, both men were thrown clear of the plane, which still posed a threat as it was still loaded with its high explosive bombs. While machine gun rounds cooked off in the burning plane, McLeod dragged his now unconscious observer away from the flaming wreck. Just after they reached the relative safety of a shell hole, the bombs all exploded.

After receiving a sixth wound when he attempted to continue towards the allied trenches, McLeod was finally rescued by a group of South-African soldiers.

[gully_raker]

:salute:
Great Story, Zoe.
Makes one feel should do a Big Ack to celebrate those 2 brave young men.:thumbsup:

[Burt]

New Shapeways FK8 from Colinwe this now has the Bristol V landing gear

http://www.shapeways.com/model/403762/aw_fk_8_big_ack_1_144th_bristol_v_landing_gear.html?gid=sg91179

and for those of you who like the small stuff he does the same plane in 1/350

http://www.shapeways.com/model/403789/aw_fk_8_big_ack_1_350th_bristol_v_landing_gear.html?gid=ug91179

[Boney10]

Aye this is the one i been waiting for :)