Scale Aviation Modeller International — November 2017

ACK

Big

Copper State Models 1/48 Armstrong

Whitworth F.K.8 (Mid Production) Premium

Edition by Huw Morgan

T

he 2-seater F.K.8 was

one of the first true

multi-role (“general-

purpose”, in the terminology

of the day) aircraft, although

the concept was not fully

recognised at the time. Built

by Armstrong Whitworth

during the Great War, the

F.K.8, nicknamed “Big

Ack”, served alongside more

famous names like the R.E.8.

Despite being relegated to

the chorus line, the F.K.8

was strong, reliable, and

well-liked by its crews. Over

1200 were built, with 649

remaining on charge with the

RFC at the end of the war.

Originally intended as a

replacement for the Royal

Aircraft Factory B.E.2c,

the F.K 8 was designed by

Dutch aircraft manufacturer

Frederick Koolhoven as a

reliable reconnaissance

platform and light bomber.

Powered by the 160 hp

Beardmore straight-six

water-cooled engine (itself

a development of an Austro-

Daimler design), it was sturdy

and easy to fly. The distinctive

tall vee-shaped radiators

were modified several times

during the life of the airframe,

and the nose cowling had a

number of different shapes.

With sliding pillar oleo

struts, the F.K.8 pioneered

the idea of independently

sprung landing gear. However,

these proved unreliable,

and were later replaced

with the then-conventional

triangular strut undercarriage

from Bristol F2 Fighters.

Apart from its use by

the RFC, the F.K.8 was

operated by Paraguay and

the Kingdom of Hejaz (now

part of Saudi Arabia)

COPPER STATE’S KIT

Copper State have produced

highly detailed 1/48 scale kits of

early-, mid-, and late-production

versions of the F.K.8, which were

reviewed by Associate Editor

Tim Upson-Smith in Volume 23,

Issue 7 of SAMi. The plastic is

nicely produced, and the standard

version of the kit includes all

the bits necessary to make a

well-detailed model, including

a full engine. The plastic parts

have a few knockout marks,

but these will become virtually

invisible as the build progresses.

The Premium edition built

here includes some extras: a

13-part resin replacement for the

Beardmore straight-six engine,

a fantastic metal exhaust stack

by O.Semyaniv (reminiscent of

the now-defunct Moskit brand),

and three photo-etch frets. The

main fret, the one with most

of the detailed parts, is rather

difficult to use, as it is produced

in what appears to be nickel steel.

This material is reluctant to hold

any paint (despite roughening

of the surface and priming),

and is so stiff that some of the

complex bending required is

hard to achieve successfully;

smooth curves for the cowling

are particularly difficult.

Perhaps in recognition of

this, Copper State have included

a second brass fret of “spare

parts” with two copies of the

complex cowling front, and

a copy of the rolled gun blast

tube. The third fret appears

to be made of a copper alloy,

significantly thicker than the

others, which includes the control

horns and the AW badges.

Although plain, the wing

and tail surface tape detail

is rather heavy handed and

over emphasised, and will

need sanding. Colour call-

outs are for generic colours

only, and the decals look to

be very nicely printed.

SOME JOINERY

The build begins with the

construction of several sub-

assemblies to fit inside the

fuselage; the forward bulkhead

gets the engine bearers, gun, PE

ammunition box, and control

stick. The main fuel tank is

assembled from two halves, and

the observer’s position gets a

floor, seat, and some very nice

multi-part etched racks for the

spare Lewis gun magazines.

Moving through this sequence,

I started having some doubts

about the presentation of the

instructions; the use of colour

to show new parts added at

each stage is neat, but I found

F.K.8 (MID PRODUCTION)

34 • NOVEMBER 2017 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL

034-41-FEAT-FK8-1117.indd 34 16/10/2017 15:37