Knights of the Sky (1 Viewer)

[BHogan]

While we wait for new models from Jenkins, thought I'd post some pics of the "Billy Bishop Nieuport," aka ACE-02. It was one of the first model airplanes to emerge from JJD and it's a dandy:

Hangar, figures, backdrop and mat sold separately. :wink2:

-Moe

Great looking aircraft! Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Brendan

 

[ivanmoe]

Great looking aircraft! Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Brendan

Hi Brendan,

Glad you like the model and pics. "Sold Out" or not, I'd be surprised if ACE-02 and ACE-02(P) can't still be had at the original retail prices. The Bishop Nieuport is a great place to start a KotS collection.

-Moe

 

[ivanmoe]

The Bishop Nieuport was my first JJD aircraft, if my memory serves me correctly. I was just having a look at JJD's existing stock from his website and most of the plane and pilot combos are now Sold Out. Of the 18 aircraft JJD has issued, only 4 are still in stock, all listed as Low in Inventory. They are Ace06, the Ball Nieuport; Ace10, the Brown Camel; Ace14, the Barker Camel; Ace 21, the Steinhauser tripe. Of the 18 pilots that go with the planes, only 4 of those are left, as well. They are Ace10P, Roy Brown; Ace 16P, Rickenbacker; Ace19P, Weiss; Ace21P, Steinhauser. Brown and Rickenbacker are listed as Low Inventory while Weiss and Steinhauser are relatively new. Many of these SO units are probably still available in the dealer system, but many are not. JJD's air force is in need of reinforcement as it is now 13-14 months since the last aircraft release. -- Al

Hi Al,

While I had the camera out today, I took some pics just for you:

Thanks for being such a terrific ambassador for KotS!

-Moe

 

[lancer]

Hi Al,

While I had the camera out today, I took some pics just for you:

Thanks for being such a terrific ambassador for KotS!

-Moe

Many thanks for the pictures, Moe. It is my sentimental favorite, both plane and pilot. Nothing says WW1 aviation like the iconic red triplane of the war's leading ace and most recognizable name, Manfred von Richthofen. And yes, I know that might be a debatable statement, but certainly not entirely inaccurate, especially if applied to aviation. As for being an ambassador, I blame my father for introducing me to the First Air War with stories from his childhood of G-8 and his Battle Aces, as well as his love of Aurora's WW1 plastic kits, which he transferred to me. And a hearty salute to Quentin Reynolds and his book, They Fought for the Skies. I thank John Jenkins for bringing my love for the first air war back to me in model form and in such outstanding fashion. I find it hard to contain my enthusiasm for the subject.:wink2: -- Al

 

[BHogan]

Hi Brendan,

Glad you like the model and pics. "Sold Out" or not, I'd be surprised if ACE-02 and ACE-02(P) can't still be had at the original retail prices. The Bishop Nieuport is a great place to start a KotS collection.

-Moe

You can't ever go wrong with Canadian aviators like Billy Bishop!
Cheers,
Brendan

 

[lancer]

You can't ever go wrong with Canadian aviators like Billy Bishop!
Cheers,
Brendan

John has a whole Canadian ace theme going. Along with Bishop (72 victories), he has done Donald MacLaren (54 victories), William Barker (50 victories), and Roy Brown (10 victories). Quite an impressive list of Camel Drivers to follow in Bishop's footsteps. -- Al

 

[Jack]

But as we all know, you are not a serious collector of WW1 aviation unless you have one of these!{sm4}

 

[lancer]

Hi Al,

While I had the camera out today, I took some pics just for you:

Thanks for being such a terrific ambassador for KotS!

-Moe

Been studying the excellent photos, Moe. Superb shots of the model, figures, and hanger. Really like the nose on shots that show the underside of the lower wings. It shows the extent that John went to in order to ensure accuracy as the underwing crosses show the 'unfinished' aspect of the changeover from the Maltese to the Greek style cross. The evidence of the earlier curved crosses shows through the white fields. An outstanding bit of research on John's part. Thanks again for the wonderful photos. -- Al

 

[lancer]

But as we all know, you are not a serious collector of WW1 aviation unless you have one of these!{sm4}

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Gotta love the Gotha. Beautiful model. -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

But as we all know, you are not a serious collector of WW1 aviation unless you have one of these!{sm4}

View attachment 165733

Okay, Martin you've been holding out on us! Those are the best pics that you've ever posted of that bad-boy. Don't be so parsimonious with the graphics in the future. There are a million eyes on the treefrog forum and they require care and feeding!:wink2:

-Moe

 

[Jack]

Dad has a few wingnuts aircraft waiting to get started - the Bristol fighter, a Snipe, and a Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 When he clears the decks they have released a Felixstowe F.2a which has a bigger wingspan than the Gotha. He makes me laugh when he talks about the expense. Has he seen the price of toy soldiers?

 

[lancer]

Dad has a few wingnuts aircraft waiting to get started - the Bristol fighter, a Snipe, and a Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 When he clears the decks they have released a Felixstowe F.2a which has a bigger wingspan than the Gotha. He makes me laugh when he talks about the expense. Has he seen the price of toy soldiers?

View attachment 165735

The Felixstowe is a beast. Like to see what your father could do with it. Would you have to build a new wing on the old abode to house it?:wink2:^&grin -- Al

 

[Jack]

The Felixstowe is a beast. Like to see what your father could do with it. Would you have to build a new wing on the old abode to house it?:wink2:^&grin -- Al

Two people in a two storey house ... I can find room for anything if I want to!

 

[Jack]

Okay, Martin you've been holding out on us! Those are the best pics that you've ever posted of that bad-boy. Don't be so parsimonious with the graphics in the future. There are a million eyes on the treefrog forum and they require care and feeding!:wink2:

-Moe

Dad is also building a 1/72nd Handley Page but has become sidetracked by a Kingfisher. 'Inter war naval aviation' - just by saying it Al is sensing a disturbance in the Force!

 

[lancer]

Dad is also building a 1/72nd Handley Page but has become sidetracked by a Kingfisher. 'Inter war naval aviation' - just by saying it Al is sensing a disturbance in the Force!

Ha! I did have a dream about yellow wings last night. What does it all mean? The OS2U shall have yellow wings, be of pre-war nature, and all shall be right in the universe. Would like to see pictures, when finished, please. ^&cool -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

It means you're about to get stung by a bee {eek3}

 

[jazzeum]

Having just watched the Nova program Air Wars, here's my "push" for a Pusher :wink2: C'mon John!

The Push is on ^&cool

 

[lancer]

Having just watched the Nova program Air Wars, here's my "push" for a Pusher :wink2: C'mon John!

The Push is on ^&cool

An excellent idea. Realistically there is a limited number of aircraft that would fall into the category that could be done. The common early war French pusher aircraft were the Voisins and the Farmans. These were very large aircraft in terms of wingspan and are probably very impractical for JJD. Move over to the British aircraft and you would probably have to eliminate the FE 2 series and the Vickers FB5 because of overall size, also. This leaves, for simplicity sake, the DH-2 and the FE-8. These are the same general size as an Albatros, in terms of wingspan and length. Both the DH-2 and FE-8 also have the advantage of being single-seat fighters, whereas all the others mentioned are 2-seaters. My vote would be for the DH-2, which is by far the more famous of the 2 fighters, and was more widespread in use, as well as being partly responsible, along with the French Nieuport 11, for ending what was known as the Fokker Scourge. Throw in the fact that the DH-2 was flown by such famous British airmen as Hawker, Andrews, and McCudden, amongst others, and I believe the DH-2 is the way to go. JMO. -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

Were JJD to develop a D.H.2 to its own standards, I'm concerned that the manufacturing costs might place the model WAY out of the price range that we're accustomed to. I suggest this because the aircraft is drastically different from Jenkins' previous models in its bracing requirements:

We're all acquainted with the cabling that held the wings of Great War aircraft together. However, above we see something much more elaborate in terms of cabling. There is no fuselage. Rather, there's a gondola that houses the pilot's compartment and the engine. Aft of there, there's a frame held together with yet more wire. Also, the control cables are mostly external to the gondola, meaning yet more "wire" to run.

I'm just as juiced on the D.H.2 as the other posters. However, I suspect that Jenkins' factory partner might be rather less enthusiastic than collectors! If a practical antagonist to the Eindecker is desired, My vote is for the Nieuport 11.

-Moe

 

[jazzeum]

You two, Al and Moe, are the experts in my book. In the Nova show, they flew a FE 2B. The one below is from the greatwarflyingmachine.com, which is a museum in Brampton, Canada. This one was flown by Captain D Grinnel-Milne, No. 25 Sqn RFC, May 1916.

Is this a plane capable of being made or would it be too difficult?