History

In 1914 the Glenn Curtiss Company developed a flying boat. The Curtiss H-4 was developed from this aircraft.

The British RNAS officer John Porte had good connections with Curtiss and he did much research in finding the correct hull. The H-4 had difficulties in taking of especially with full load.
Several hulls were tested, often with one aircraft. [this is the reason why several photos exist of aircraft with the same serial equipped with different hulls. In the end the Curtiss H-8 was developed, which was ordered by the RNAS is rather large quantities.
Development of the hull still continued and also at RNAS Station Felixstowe several tests with modified hulls were done, resulting in the Felixstowe F.1

Curtiss had developed the Curtiss H12, with an improved hull. Also the Curtiss H-12 was used for several tests at RNAS station Felixstowe.

See also Felixstowe F-2A

 

Technical information Curtiss H-12
Dimensions:
Length: 14,02 m Wingspan: 28,34 m
Height: 5,09 m Wing area: 102,9 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 2880 kg Max. start weight: 4124 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 149 km/u Rate of climb: - m/min
Range: - km Service ceiling: - m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: Two Rolls Royce Eagle I rated 250 hp each.
Crew: Three men
Armament: Three machine guns

 

Technical information Felixstowe F.2A
Dimensions:
Length: 14,09 m Wingspan: 29,12 m
Height: 5,33 m Wing area: - m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 3424 kg Max. start weight: 4979 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 151 km/u Rate of climb: - m/min
Range: - km Service ceiling: - m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: Two Rolls Royce Eagle VIII rated 345 hp each
Crew: -
Armament: Three machine guns

 


Two aircraft were captured and used by the RNlNAS (MLD), a Felixstowe F-2A, N4551, receiving serial L-1, and a Curtiss H-12, receiving serial L-2
Very little is known about these aircraft in Dutch service. They were withdrawn from use very soon.

 


Serial Construction nr. RFC Serial Date in service Date out of service Notes
L-1   N4551 04-06-1918 12-1918 Felixstowe F-2A. Withdrawn from use in December 1918
L-2   8689 02-10-1918 12-1918 Curtiss H-12; Withdrawn from use in December 1918

 


1/72nd Scale

As far as I know no model of the Curtiss H-12 is released, perhaps it can be converted from an Felixstowe F.2A or Curtiss H.16 model.

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1/48th Scale

Kits

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Hardly any photos are known of these aircraft in RNlNAS service.
The aircraft were rather dark, most probable the standard RNAS paint scheme. This was a black anti-fouling" on the hull.
Other parts were painted with copal-varnish.
From mid 1916 the aircraft of the RNAS were camouflaged, upper surfaces of wings, fuselage, etc. were khaki.

Scheme Colour name FS-nummer BS-nummer Humbrol XtraColor Vallejo Model Color Vallejo Model Air
Standard #1 Underside Fuselage Black - Dark brown ~7038   33   70.950  
Remaining parts of aircraft Khaki or olive green     179        179

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

 

Felixstowe-F2A-small
(Possible) Colour scheme Felixstowe F2A.

 


Literature.

Nederlandse Marinevliegtuigen Thijs Postma & Nico Geldhof Pag. 9 1978 Uitgever Omniboek, 's Gravenhage
Aircraft Archive Aircraft of World War One; Volume 3.   Pag. 22 - 25 1989 Uitgever: Argus Books, Hempsted
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a.   1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)
Windsock datafile 82: Felixstowe F.2A J.M. Bruce   2000 Uitgever AMBooks, Bromley, Kent
Air Enthusiast no.80, The Historical Aviation Journal: Unexpected Windfalls Bart van der klaauw Pag. 54 - 59 1999 Uitgever Key Publishing Plaats: Stamford
85 JAAR Marineluchtvaartdienst in beeld; Van Farman tot NH 90 Helikopter Peter Korbee pag. 21 2002 Uitgever Korbee MLD Promotie, Valkenburg

 

Websites.