R.A.F. B.E.2e (various scales)

The Royal Aircraft Factory's B.E. series were fine observation planes for the needs of 1914:  stable, slow, and forgiving.  But those same qualities became liabilities in later warfare when speed and maneuverability were important.   Self-defense was problematic because the BEs stuck with the pre-war arrangement of having the pilot in the rear seat, leaving the observer -- if he had a gun at all -- in the difficult position of trying to fire at an angle past the propeller or over the pilot's head against rear attack.  By the rise of the Albatros fighters in late 1916 and early 1917, the B.E.'s were helpless and fell in large numbers, a frequent target during "Bloody April".

The B.E.2e featured unequal single-bay wings with the large overhung top wings braced from king-posts.  It had dual controls, an enlarged fin, and the 90hp RAF 1a V-8 engine.  The observer has a Lewis gun in the forward-angle fire position; he could also move that gun to the rail between himself and the pilot.

This product comes in both 1:144 and 1:285/6mm/1:288 scales. The 1:285 product features two aeoplanes. They are joined by disposable links to keep the price down, since single-part models are more affordable.  You can break the links with nail clippers, wire cutters, or similar.

For more details and gaming information, see https://linen.miraheze.org/wiki/R.A.F._B.E.2e.