WOW528 Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8

Description

The Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 was a British two-seat general-purpose biplane built by Armstrong Whitworth during WW1. The type served alongside the better known R.E.8 until the end of the war, at which point 694 F.K.8s remained on RAF charge.
The first squadron to take the type to France was 35 Sqn RFC, in January 1917. The type eventually served with several squadrons on operations in France, Nacedonia and Palestine and for home defence, proving more popular in service than its better known contemporary the R.E.8.

The F.K.8 was principally used for corps reconnaissance but was also used for light bombing, being capable of carrying up to six 40 lb (20 kg) phosphorus smoke bombs, up to four 65 lb (29 kg) bombs or two 112 lb (51 kg) bombs on underwing racks.

Our F.K.8 was flown By Canadian Alan Mcleod who was awarded the VC for the following action:
On 27 March 1918 over Albert, France, McLeod, with his observer Lieutenant Arthur Hammond destroyed an enemy triplane and were immediately attacked by eight more, three of which they brought down. During the fight, both McLeod and Hammond were wounded by machine gun bullets, the petrol tank was punctured and the aircraft set on fire. McLeod instantly pushed her over into a very steep side slip, but the flames were scorching him, and so he jumped out of his cockpit on to the left wing and crouched low, with the joystick pulled hard over in his right hand. Then he smashed a hole through the fabric in the fuselage so that he could reach the rudder-wire with his left hand, and so he guided her towards the lines. In this way he kept the flames away from his wounded observer and prevented the aircraft from burning up. When the machine finally crashed in No Man’s Land, the young pilot, not minding his own injuries, dragged his comrade from the burning wreckage and under heavy fire carried him to comparative safety, before collapsing from exhaustion and loss of blood.
McLeod was wounded three times in the side and Hammond was wounded six times. Hammond lost a leg but was awarded a Bar to his MC.
McLeod was recommended for a DSO but received the Victoria Cross. He returned to Canada (Stonewall, Manitoba) to recuperate but died from the Spanish Flu epidemic shortly thereafter. He was only 5 months away from celebrating his 20th birthday.

We only have 3 x F.K.8 available, these are from a new factory who specialize in small production numbers but whose quality is extraordinary. The photos do not do the model justice and whoever owns one of these models is going to be a very lucky chappy.

The price for this 1/30 scale model is $750 plus shipping.