This impressive 1:48 scale Aviation Archive model replicates a night-fighter variant of the Bristol F2B Fighter with an incredible First World War home-front story. It features a rotating propeller and a display stand. We’ve only made 900 of these limited-edition Bristol F-2B Fighter die-cast models.History

One of the most important British aircraft of the Great War era, the Bristol F2B Fighter was an exceptional fighting aeroplane. Once pilots realised this large machine was strong enough to be flown like a scout, many Luftstreitkräfte aircraft fell to its guns.

The Bristol was a multi-role aircraft of interest to the Home Defence units attempting to stem the nightly tide of German Zeppelin and biplane bomber raiders over southern England. The First World War model aircraft replicated here served with RAF No.39 Squadron during the summer of 1918, and on the night of 19th/20th May, was flown by 19-year-old Lieutenant Anthony Arkell on just his 11th home defence sortie.

Intercepting a mighty Gotha G.V bomber at 10,000ft over the Hainault Forest, Arkell skilfully positioned his aircraft under the bomber, and fired drum after drum of ammunition into its belly. Seemingly having little effect, he remained in position for around fifteen minutes, firing 700 rounds of ammunition into the belly of the beast, which finally burst into flames with the pair now just 1,500ft above the ground.

The aircraft crashed in East Ham, becoming the first and only No.39 Squadron victory over a Gotha night-raider, and earning Lt. Arkell a Military Cross. His aircraft, which was named ‘Devil in the Dusk’, sported muted markings developed specifically for night-fighter operations.