BE2E TYPE HISTORY Tony OK 28/4/10 13:27 Page 2

TYPE HISTORY with photos from Harry Woodman

B.E.2e he history of the B.E.2e really hostilities on the Western Front.

2

T begins in 1911 when Geoffrey de

Havilland and F. M. Green designed
the B.E. I, a two-seater tractor
biplane powered by a 60 h.p.
Wolseley engine. Later the B.E.I was much
improved and engined by a 70 h.p. Renault
and known as the B.E.2. In this form, its capa-
Further modifications were the sub-
stitution of a Vee undercarriage in
place of the twin skid type and the
installation of the 90 h.p. R.A.F. Ia
engine in place of the 70 h.p. Renault.
The B.E.2e, in principle an improved
B.E.2c, was produced for the Battle of
bilities were quickly recognised and many the Somme, 1916, but only one
notable flights were made in the two years machine was in the field in time to
before the Great War. participate in the opening stages of
Subsequent developments, the provision of the battle. This aeroplane was on the
ailerons on staggered mainplanes in place of strength of No. 21 Squadron at Fienvillers. Home Defence squadrons of the R.F.C. (as
the old warping wings, a fixed fin, and a Thereafter B.E.2es were used in increasing well as many units on the Western Front and
redesigned fuselage of improved aerodynam- numbers until the close of hostilities. elsewhere). Like the B.E.2c, the 2e often car-
ic form gave the Royal Flying Corps an aero- More B.E.2es were built than any other ried a single Lewis gun in the front cockpit,
plane which became immortal (or maybe variant in the B.E. series. From production for which assorted mountings were available.
notorious) as the B.E.2c, the standard recon- totalling 1,320 aircraft (plus some B.E.2c and An alternative armament tried by some of the
naissance machine in the first two years of 2d conversions), B.E.2es were issued to 11 Home Defence aircraft for anti-Zeppelin
1: BE2e serial A1329, one of a group built by Napier & Miller Ltd. of Old Kilpatrick, the entire group was transferred to the RNAS. 2: Among the several tasks allo-
cated to the BE2e was that of Home Defence. The aircraft could hardly match a Zeppelin’s speed, rate of climb or altitude. This sample carries swivelling brack-
ets for two Lewis guns, two carriers for 100/112lb bombs and a pair of rocket tubes mounted on the interplane struts. 3: An unidentified BE2e fitted with a sin-
gle Lewis on a Strange mounting. In service many BE2es flew without the underwing gravity fuel tank. 4: One of the most unlikely aircraft to be used as a night
bomber some BE2es were employed in this capacity in France. No. 5844 was built by Bristol and after several makeovers, is seen here with No. 100 Squadron.
Painted black or dark grey it carries a single 2301b RFC pattern bomb under the fuselage, a pair of Michelin flares to the rear and another pair of T.W.R. flares
under the wings. To complete the set, Holt flare brackets are fitted as well as navigation lamps to wingtips and tail. 5: An unfortunate landing for a pair of train-
ing BE2es most probably belonging to one of the Schools of Aerial Fighting in 1918. Note the aluminium skinning fitted to the centre section to provide a firm
base for the Lewis gun mounts (or fire hazard) and the shortened exhaust pipes. 6: One of the problems with the entire BE2 series was the difficulty of defend-
ing itself due to the arrangement of cockpits. Everything was done by the pilot in the rear seat whilst his gunner had little room for manoeuvre. In this case the
single Lewis is mounted on a Strange mount and demonstrates the only area in which he had a moderately unhindered field of fire. 7: A BE2e of No. 47
Squadron in Macedonia illustrates the cluttered assembly of the equipment carried on an operational BE2e. Apart from the top Lewis on the Strange mounting,
another Lewis is fixed to the fuselage arranged to fire at an angle to clear the propeller. Within reach of the pilot are two bomb release levers and a framework
to hold a camera. 8: After the war vast amounts of aviation stores and aircraft were scrapped or sold. Among the miscellany of aircraft were a few BE2es which
went to Russia. In this alien environment was this BE2e photographed with its well insulated crew at the Red Air Fleet base at Sarapul in 1920.

30 Flying Scale Models

BE2E TYPE HISTORY Tony OK 28/4/10 13:27 Page 3

3 4

5 6

patrols comprised a quartet of Le Prieur rock- lapse if the aeroplane was held at the top of a bomb the demoralised Turks. B.E.2es were
ets, the launching rails for which were loop. Many rumours circulated about the also employed on Home Defence duties, at
attached to the interplane struts, two each B.E.2e’s extensions. Unless properly rigged the training schools and a number were used
side and angled upwards. Little success was they would flap alarmingly and it was said by the Royal Naval Air Service. At least one
achieved by the B.E.2e as a fighter, its per- that if they did so in earnest, the aeroplane Zeppelin was intercepted by a B.E.2e.
formance being inadequate for aerial combat became an ornithopter, invested with miracu- Construction of the B.E.2e was quite ortho-
by 1916, and heavy losses were suffered by lous lifting powers! dox and consisted of mainplanes of two
the R.F.C. squadrons flying the type in France. Attempts were made to produce a single- spruce mainspars and ribs braced with wire.
Retroactively, the designations B.E.2f and seater scout using a standard B.E.2e airframe. The fuselage was a rectangular wooden
B.E.2g were applied to distinguish, respective- The 12-cylinder 150 h.p. R.A.F. 4A was fitted structure with four main wooden longerons
ly, between those B.E.2es converted from 2cs in place of the 90 h.p. eight-cylinder engine and intermediate struts, wire braced with a
and those built as 2es or converted from 2ds, and a fixed synchronised Vickers gun was semicircular turtle deck, stringered aft of the
as their fuel systems and capacities were sig- mounted on the port side of the fuselage. pilot’s cockpit and ply covered forward. Main
nificantly different. This version was known as the B.E.12Ae. fuel tanks were in the fuselage and a gravity
In design, the B.E.2e differed from the Even in this form the aeroplane was far too feed reserve tank was provided under the
B.E.2c in the construction of the mainplanes. unwieldy to prove of any real use as a fight- port upper wing. The engine was carried on
The ‘2c had two-bay wings, while those of the ing machine and it was quickly relegated to tubular steel bearers which were extensions
2e were of the single bay type. Upper wings bombing. of the upper longerons. The undercarriage
were of much greater span than the lower Apart from action in France, the B.E.2e saw struts and centre section struts were also of
and braced by a system of kingposts and service in the Middle East and in India. During tubular steel, faired with wood bound with
wires. The higher aspect ratio and simpler the attack on Jerusalem in General Allenby’s fabric tape. The empennage was wood, wire
layout of the new mainplanes bestowed only Palestinian campaign, the aerodrome of No. braced, and the ash tail skid was mounted on
a meagre increase in performance, while the 14 Squadron became waterlogged, but by a tubular steel pylon. Shock absorbtion of
huge extensions of the upper wings were not manhandling the B.E.2es to the top of a small main landing wheels and tailskid was with
suited to aerobatics and were prone to col- steep hill, it was found possible to take off to elastic cord. ■

Dimensions
Wing span: 40 ft. 8 in. 8
Length: 27 ft. 3 in.
Height: 12 ft.
Wing chord: 5 ft. 6 in.
Wing area: 360 sq. ft.

Performance
82 m.p.h. at 6,500 ft.
75 m.p.h. at 10,000 ft.
Climb rates: 24 minutes to 6,500 ft;
53 minutes to 10,000 ft.
Service ceiling: 11,000 ft.
Endurance: 3.1/4 hours.

Weights:
Gross 2,100 lb. Empty 1,431 lb. Fuel and
oil 239 lb.
Military load and crew 430 lb.

Flying Scale Models 31

BE2E SCALE DRAWING Tony OK 28/4/10 13:22 Page 2

ROYAL AIRCRAFT
FACTORY

BE2e
Scale 1:40
BE2E SCALE DRAWING Tony OK 28/4/10 13:22 Page 3

1: PILOTS SEAT
2: OBSERVERS SEAT
3: CONTROL
COLUMNS
4: LEATHER PADDING
5: PETROL TANKS
6: OIL TANK
7: LOCKER
8: INSTRUMENT PAN-
ELS
9: ALTERNATIVE
EXHAUST MAINFOLD
10: RUDDER BARS
11: FILLER CAP
12: LEWIS GUN
BETWEEN REAR C/S
STRUTS

COLOUR
WING AND TAIL
UNDERSIDES: CLEAR
DOPED.

REMAINDER: BROWN-
ISH - KHAKI.

METAL COWLS: MID

GREY OR UNPAINTED.

U/C STRUTS/GRAVITY
TANK: MID GREY.
OTHER

STRUTS/AIRSCREW:
VARNISHED WOOD
BE2E MODEL Tony OK 28/4/10 13:15 Page 2
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CONSTRUCTION FEATURE

BE2E
the Model
Roy Scott’s 1/6th scale masterpiece
for .60 size engines
oy Scott was one of lower wing - one for the ailerons

R those exceptional scale

modellers - the kind with
an enormous capacity
for scale model con-
struction, at a pace that few of us
can ever hope to match.
His talent for scale modelling
and one for the bomb-release if
you’re going for this animation
option. Go on, give it a try! As an
alternative to one centre-mounted
aileron servo, two super-slim types
could be used, for port and star-
board controls, but if you go that
blossomed during the late 1960s to route, be sure to select servos that
early ‘70s, when 10cc (.60 cu. in.) will deliver the drive power neces-
engines were all that were allowed sary to reliably move the ailerons
(legally, anyway - or at least, with- on both upper and lower wings
out special insurance). Yet Roy, as which are linked by adjustable
a professional model-maker DID drive struts.
make some very big models to Dihedral on the upper wing is
order, at a time before the arrival set by the plywood dihedral
of the LMA and before so many of braces, while for the lower wing, 8
the aids to modelling that, nowa- s.w.g. piano wire braces are epoxy
days, we take entirely for granted. glued to the spars. These are not
One of Roy’s most successful man enough to withstand in-flight
creations for his own personal pur- loads on their own and it is vital to
poses was his B.E.2e of which he remember that this model is
was rightly proud. This one was designed so that the rigging wires
built down to the confines of the take the strain - they’re not just
power available from a ‘normal’ there for the scale effect!
.60-size two-stroke - the ubiquitous The plan shows the wing tips in
O.S.60 (there were few nicer 3/16” balsa sheet, cambered to fol-
engines of that period). low the centre-line of the aerofoil
The B.E.2e here is to a nicely section. To get that curvature, it
manageable 1/6th scale. It spans might be a good idea to make the
79.75” (2025 mm) and with an wing tips in three laminations of
overall length of 54.5” will fit com- 1/16” sheet.
fortably into an average size car
for the journey to the flying field. Fuselage
The ‘character’ of this rather
Construction quaint looking aeroplane lies in
To kick off the construction, it’s the fuselage with its twin open
never a bad idea to start with the cockpits, big engine cowl and
tailplane. Quite apart from giving external elevator control wire run-
the impression of being ‘one-third ning along the sides of the fuse-
done’, it gets you into the swing of lage. The undercarriage, particular-
the thing. Roy’s plan shows an ly the tailskid, also adds to that
open structure tailplane with defin- ‘character’.
itive trailing edge, but an alterna- As a preliminary to fuselage con-
tive would be the much-copied struction, it is a good idea to pre-
‘Eric Coates’ technique of a flat- pare and bend to shape the com-
plate core, with aerofoil ribbed bined piano wire main-undercar-
structure built up around it. That riage-cum-cabane-strut assembly.
way, you get a sharper trailing Given the boxy lines of the fuse-
edge that more closely replicates lage, it’s no surprise that fuselage
the full-size. construction starts with the basic
Wings can be built next, so it’s box based on spruce longerons,
out with the scalpel for a serious but with balsa spacers and cross
wing rib cutting session - or you pieces, plus 1/4” sheet balsa sides
can take advantage of our laser-cut back as far as the rear cockpit and
parts set. There are two servos 1/16” ply doublers. Beyond that, it
shown in the centre-section of the is a matter of adding the top deck

Flying Scale Models 35
BE2E MODEL Tony OK 28/4/10 13:16 Page 4

NB: Laser-cut components shown here are only representative examples

of the work - not specific to the BE2E offered.

PLANS ’N’ PARTS

For the

B.E.2e formers and 1mm ply deck- ing wires are not there just
FULL-SIZE COPIES of the two-sheet plan set for the B.E.2e are avail- ing to achieve a complete for decoration. They do the
able from Flying Scale Models Plans Service, Model Activity Press
basic fuselage. work, as per the full-size, in
Ltd., Unit 5, Chiltern Business Centre, 63-65 Woodside Road,
Amersham, Bucks, HP6 6AA, Great Britain. Once the airframe is com- preventing the wings from
Price £19.50 plus post & packing - UK £5.00; Europe £5.95; Rest of plete, and the radio and clapping hands above the
world £9.00. engine installation done, it cockpit! So be sure that all
is time to face the task of all wire terminations as fully
those rigging wires. The secure - and adjustable!
BE READY TO START BUILDING AS SOON AS plan shows the full layout Covering? Well Solartex,
YOU UNFOLD THE PLANS! and anchor points. Just or maybe Koverall are the
remember what has already standard for an open frame-
ALSO AVAILABLE is a set of laser-cut airframe components that
include wing ribs and leading edge riblets, fuselage formers, fuselage been said ... that the brac- work type like this. ■
sides and doublers, engine bulkhead, tailplane, fin & rudder centre
cores; tailplane/fin & rudder ribs and scalloped ply trailing edge strips.
Alltogether, a set of parts that eliminates much of the initial cutting
work so that the building task can commence immediately.

Prices £130.00 plus £9.50 UK postage.

(Overseas customers: postage charged on individual country basis -
please enquire).

36 Flying Scale Models

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Flying Scale Models 37

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BE2 RESTORATION Tony OK 28/4/10 12:56 Page 3

DETAIL STUDY with photos by Paul Butler

B.E.2f Resoration
Not quite a B.E.2e, but externally, the ‘f’ version is near enough for Paul Butler’s
collection of detail photos presented here, to be a good source of surface detail
he B.E. 2f is very similar to the It was believed to be part of a batch of had been made for it in the UK (not

T B.E.2e, and is basically a B.E.2c

with ‘E’ wings, although there
are some other less apparent
carry-overs from the ‘C’. The
world’s only airworthy and genuine
example of the type flew again in New
Zealand in April last year after a very
delivered to Norway by the RFC in 1917.
How it made its way back to UK is not
know, but It was eventually donated to
the Mosquito Museum in the UK (the
type being an early De Havilland design),
and after several years, it found its way
into private ownership - and was put up
entirely accurately, as it turned out), and
it arrived in New Zealand with an original
RAF 1a engine in very poor condition.
April 2nd 2009 was a landmark day for
this painstaking restoration, when the air-
craft took to the air again. Since the ‘F’ is
so similar to the ‘E’ version, this collec-
lengthy 25-year restoration that spanned for sale. tion of close-up detail pictures taken by
the world, the project having previously It was acquired by the NZ-based 1914- Australian Paul Butler provide an excel-
been worked on by several different 18 Aviation Heritage Trust over ten years lent basis for piling on the detail to Roy
organisations both in the UK and in New ago. The fuselage was in great condition, Scott’s 1/6th scale model feature in this
Zealand. Initially this project was thought with a lot of original timber in airworthy issue. ■
to be a B.E.2e. standard. A set of reproduction wings

Flying Scale Models 39
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40 Flying Scale Models

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Flying Scale Models 41

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42 Flying Scale Models