Rhino
Super Moderator
I wanted an S.E.5a for a long time. I stopped turning pages on a out-of-date aviation calendar when this British RFC fighter came up. Everything I do to the USCG 1/350 Island class WPB Master turns out OOK-LEE! So...........
Break time!!
Box 17 yielded the wished for kit.
I took a look at the pudgy RFC pilot figure, and chose to go another way. A rudimentary cockpit interior progresses. It is imprecise, but when you look into the cockpit, I tried to add interesting details that might be visible.
I remembered to womp up the box for the extra Lewis gun magazine. Instruments are 1/700 life rings. I haven't added the engine primer pump yet.
Levers for the the throttle and radiator shutters, coming right up! Both props are drilled for .032 copper shafts and brass tube bosses for the engine fronts. I cain't decide between the Hispano or Wolseley Viper powerplants. I LOVE how an S.E.5a looks with a 4-bladed prop, but the more muscular, reliable Viper engine option is attractive as well. The ventilation holes in the underside of the nose will need a bit more attention. I made the seat out of a spare lower mast platform from the CSS Florida model kit and 1/144 brass grating sheet from White Ensign Models. The rudder bar will be invisible, but like Ragu, "It's (will be) in there!"
You can almost make out the cool rudder bar! The wicker seat was wrong for the SE, so I'll save it for a Camel or Pup.
The stamp inside the fuselage said "Revell 1981" even though the original tooling was made in 1963. The fit of the old, simple kit isn't terrible. Just a bit of sanding shinies. I went with the 200 hp Viper engine, but she may still carry a 4-bladed fan, because I like the look of it. I'll keep the 2-bladed version for accurate contest depiction. The rudimentary scratch-built interior went together without too much fuss.
I'll add the control stick and headrest pad after overall painting is done.
I got this far today. A little more work on the gear leg attachment points is needed. I drilled the struts for rigging lines with a .2mm carbide drill bit. 5 of them snapped. I believe it is a technique problem.
I plugged the cockpit with part of an ear plug and painted the rudder white.
Thanks for playing along during my "Break Time."
Break time!!
Box 17 yielded the wished for kit.
I took a look at the pudgy RFC pilot figure, and chose to go another way. A rudimentary cockpit interior progresses. It is imprecise, but when you look into the cockpit, I tried to add interesting details that might be visible.
I remembered to womp up the box for the extra Lewis gun magazine. Instruments are 1/700 life rings. I haven't added the engine primer pump yet.
Levers for the the throttle and radiator shutters, coming right up! Both props are drilled for .032 copper shafts and brass tube bosses for the engine fronts. I cain't decide between the Hispano or Wolseley Viper powerplants. I LOVE how an S.E.5a looks with a 4-bladed prop, but the more muscular, reliable Viper engine option is attractive as well. The ventilation holes in the underside of the nose will need a bit more attention. I made the seat out of a spare lower mast platform from the CSS Florida model kit and 1/144 brass grating sheet from White Ensign Models. The rudder bar will be invisible, but like Ragu, "It's (will be) in there!"
You can almost make out the cool rudder bar! The wicker seat was wrong for the SE, so I'll save it for a Camel or Pup.
The stamp inside the fuselage said "Revell 1981" even though the original tooling was made in 1963. The fit of the old, simple kit isn't terrible. Just a bit of sanding shinies. I went with the 200 hp Viper engine, but she may still carry a 4-bladed fan, because I like the look of it. I'll keep the 2-bladed version for accurate contest depiction. The rudimentary scratch-built interior went together without too much fuss.
I'll add the control stick and headrest pad after overall painting is done.
I got this far today. A little more work on the gear leg attachment points is needed. I drilled the struts for rigging lines with a .2mm carbide drill bit. 5 of them snapped. I believe it is a technique problem.
I plugged the cockpit with part of an ear plug and painted the rudder white.
Thanks for playing along during my "Break Time."
