Dave,
They are all very crude, no doubt, but they vary in accuracy. The Pup wings were horrible, as are the SPAD VII wings. However this one is nowhere near that bad, just requiring minor reprofiling/thinning and of course the obligatory removal of the "spare ribs"on the wings (far more easily removed than those of the 2 previously mentioned, which have VERY thin wings even prior to the rib removal.....), a minor alteration on the tail profile and rudder, and removal of the moulded detail for the observer's gun ring. It will also require scratchbuilt undercarriage struts as these are typical early Airfix with the huge "sewer pipe" fittings for the axle! Because I am fitting an after market engine, I had to thin the forward fuselage and correct the moulding on the right side of the engine cowling to enable the engine to sit low enough and fit the exhausts correctly.
The RE8 kit is the epitome of early Airfix awfulness, requiring FAR more work than this one! Having said that, I have another RE8 in the stash with a Choroszy engine and Miniworld Scarff ring and Lewis guns waiting it's turn.....can't wait to get started on that one!
Email Airfix and ask them to reissue these early WWI kits with new tooling - I did, and they said they "always consider customer input" - can't hurt!
Ian