Given that the RE8 is one of the next releases from WNW, due imminently, I thought these photos might be useful for modellers. It is a reproduction RE8 made by The Vintage Aviator Ltd (another of Peter Jackson's subsidiary companies) and displayed at the Aviation Heritage Centre, Omaka, Blenheim, New Zealand.

Here is a link to the TVAL website which has some great photos of the reproduction being built (exactly to the original 1916 specifications).

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/image-galleries/re8-construction

The diorama was created by folk from Weta Workshops another company associated with Peter Jackson. The weathering, particularly around the nose, is rather extreme in my view.

Since I took these photos I understand the RE8 display has been replaced by a Breguet 14A2 on a temporary basis. The museum is fairly dark and my camera's flash struggled a bit with the distance to the subject.









There are a few more photos in the album over here:

http://s1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Omaka%20RE8/

Happy Modelling
James

Not one of my favorite aircraft , but it does have an appealing appearance to it .
Looks like the engine had a massive oil leak . Makes a great ref photo though on how the stainning would be over time . What are the unit markings ?

Great pic's Jamo ! They will be very useful ( right click and save )

Thanks for sharing them

You're welcome Terri! There are no squadron markings on the aircraft so it must have been post-March 1918 after squadron markings were withdrawn. A quick Google search shows A4397 was an Aussie machine belonging to No. 3 Squadron AFC, flown mainly by Captain R. G. Francis. It was an early RE8 with a small fin and a Kewpie doll was painted inside the 'D' on the fuselage at some point. This aircraft flew a record number of hours (440 hours, 147 flights) for Flying Corps units on the Western Front. A4397 was later shipped to Australia where it was displayed (minus its fabric covering) in the Aircraft Exhibition held in Melbourne in June 1920. Its ultimate fate is apparently unknown.

This photo was taken by Dave Homewood and shows the individual markings.



A very weathered appearance would seem to be absolutely justified in this case!







http://www.southsearepublic.org/article/1763/read/the_re8_in_australian_service/australian_flying_corps/

Interesting. I have seen several post war Fokker D.VII a/c have the same doll insignia.