Well I am now in the process of building a Sopwith Baby Seaplane. This is an early Eduard kit in 1/48 scale and although it contains lots of etched brass and a metal engine, the plastic leaves a lot to be desired.
It is very basic but hopefully I will be able to produce something that looks like it should.
These seaplanes were flown from Hornsea Mere.
hence a bit of local interest.
The Royal Naval Air Service Hornsea Mere.
This was originally an off shoot of the RNAS station at Killngholme on the Lincolnshire shore of the Humber estuary.
Hornsea had been used since July 1915 but became more important in July 1918 when the base at Killingholme was handed over to an American naval flying boat squadron.
Hornsea Mere was an enclosed stretch of water near the coast, approx. 1.5miles long x 1 mile wide and had a depth of between 4 ft. and 6.6 ft. The Mere provided a good base for the take-off and landing of seaplanes (floatplanes).
The RNAS base was on Kirkholme Point, a finger of land that had access to the town and launching access on the Mere.
The site had a number of buildings and two Bessoneau Hangars. Most of the staff was billeted in the town but there was a hut provided for the men. There was a workshop and technical store as well as a power house that did not have any machinery installed. Other buildings provided the usual accommodation. Motor transport shed, boat house, guard house, pigeon loft, magazine, detonator store, first aid hut and a compass platform.
The establishment in 1918 was
28 Officers
9 Corporals
80 other ranks
21 women
This is a total of 141 personnel.
The base had 12 seaplanes, the Sopwith Baby and the Short 184.
Transport was a light tender, a heavy tender, 1 motorcycle, 1 sidecar and a workshop trailer.
