WGF 1914-17 - 1/144 Skytrex BE.2, Royal Flying Corps
Burned the midnight oil and finished off another 1/144 Skytrex (Red Eagle) miniature - a two seat BE.2 in the colours of the Royal Flying Corps. In front-line service from the very start of the First World War, the Bleriot Experimental 2 (so-called because it had a tractor arrangement like other Bleriot types) was used as a reconnaissance aircraft and light bomber. It was exceedingly stable in flight, which was a benefit in training, reconnaissance and artillery direction work, but made it something of a sitting duck in air to air combat. This BE.2 is intended as a generic example able to be slotted in to any squadron.
Once the Fokker E.III became operational the BE.2 was known as 'Fokker Fodder'. To matters worse, as was often the case with these early aircraft, the pilot sat in the rear cockpit and the observer in the front seat. Even when they were armed with a machine gun mounted behind the observer, he had to shoot around the pilot limiting his field of fire already restricted by struts and wings. The BE.2 soldiered on in several variants, the type even shooting down five German airships flying home defense duties in late 1916.
Thoroughly obselete by 1917, the final blow to the BE.2 came during 'Bloody April' when 60 of these aircraft were shot down over the Western Front. Withdrawn from the Western Front, the BE.2 continued to prove useful for training and other second line roles until the end of the war.
The Official 'Unofficial' Stats Committee have given the BE.2c version the following WGF statistics - manouver deck XC, armament -/B, 10 damage points, top altitude 8, climb rate 6.
Rudder flashes are hand painted, roundels are 'Shed Decals', 30" on the fuselage and 84" on the wings. I'm looking forward to getting the BE.2 out on the table on the near future.
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Originally Posted by 144sram
So begins another 
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