Roden

1/72 Felixstowe F.2A model kit

Product # Ro 014 from LuckyModel.com Hobby shop

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Sept 8 2003

 

 

 

The Felixstowe F.2A was a very effective flying boat.  In the middle of 1917 the German sub fleet posed a serious threat to England, so the Felixstowe was put into the hunt of German submarines and doing patrol duty.  They would fly 60 mile octagons as they searched for German submarines.  Due to their many machine gun, the Felixstowe was also effective against German patrol planes as well as German Zeppelins.

It was only in 1918 with the appearance of the German Hansa Brandenburg that the Felixstowe faced a serious threat.  Over 100 Felixstowe were manufactured and after the war they became redundant as there was no need to patrol the coastlines.  Most were retired and the remainder were transferred to Canada and Chile. 

The kit

This kit is comprised of 10 sprues of off white styrene and one sprue of clear parts (not shown in photo below).  The molding is very well done with very little flash and plenty of delicate detail that shows up very well.   

The parts break down is logical and assembly looks like it won't be too difficult, but this is a more involved kit due to the fact it has twin engines and many many struts between it's upper and lower wings.  Wing rigging is shown on the instruction sheets to some degree and the boxart also has an excellent view of the rigging.  The cockpit consists of a 2 seats with very decent detail and two control wheels for the open cockpit directly behind the nose gunner with his side by side pair of machine guns.  Cockpit side wall detail consists of a few frame pieces molded to the inside of the fuselage sides.  

The two engines are little kits in their own right.  Each one is comprised of over 30 parts.  These engines have no cowlings on them, so their complex detailing will really add to the detail level of the finished model.  

Click on images below to see larger images

general view of parts

Radiator and engine covers

There are 6 machine guns on this flying boat.....a pair by the nose facing forward, a pair facing rear and one on each side of the fuselage.  Detail on these guns is very nice and will look good with some drybrushing of the details.  

Click on images below to see larger images

It is difficult to capture the wing detail in these photos, but you can almost feel the cloth over the wing spars....simply lovely and good to see such well done detail....especially in 1/72.  

The 12 page instruction booklet includes....Felixstowe history, parts breakdown of the sprues, 9 pages of assembly and decal instructions.  The line drawings for the assembly instructions are well done and very easy to follow.   Painting instructions include Humbrol paints.
Decal options are for 3 different Felixstowes including
  1. Felixstowe F.2A N4465 based in Killingholme in mid 1918.  This plane appears to be in World War 1 camo.
  2. Felixstowe F.2A (ex N4567) renamed "Guardiamarina Zanartu" and was a gift to the Chilean Government after the war.  Markings included the white Chilean star. 
  3. Felixstowe F.2A serial unknown based probably in Great Yarmouth in summer-autumn of 1918.  This plane appears on the boxart and is very striking with it's blue and white stripes.

This is a great kit and is quite big for a WW1 bi-plane.  I highly recommend it and Roden kits in general to anyone wanting to build some WW1 aircraft. 

Special thanks to LuckyModel.com Hobby Shop for sending me this review sample.   I've ordered kits from them and their service was excellent.

Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford