My newest subject is the SE.5a. I plan to build one of two examples which came to Poland for testing together with two RRFalcon powered Bristol Fighters in early 1920. After the presentation, when one was lost due to an accident, the other one remained disassembled until summer 1920 when facing the dramatic outcome of the Polish-Soviet war every aircraft counted. So Poland bought the second SE.5a from Handley Page who was its rigthful owner and immediately dispatched it to 7. Kościuszko Squadron. Unfortunately this aircraft was lost in its first mission with pilot Cpt. Ciecierski captured (he later escaped). The aircraft was photographed in Hołoby just before that fatal mission.
There are some question marks related to it. A serious one regards its engine. The propeller suggests the direct drive. And I tend to see the Viper style radiator over there, but it is by no means certain. Anyway, I decided to build a WNW model with the Viper engine. I was lucky to swap WNW radiator, propeller, engine and cowlings for Roden Viper counterparts - thanks to you, Rysiu!
I may still regret this move, but this is my final decision. The first problem occured when test fitting the radiator to the chin cowl - Roden part is too broad by over 1 mm. So I cut it into three parts, sanded the sides of middle slice and glued them back together. Now the breadth is fine to fit WNW fuselage.
Building this kit is quite an experience and a proof of WNW progress during the years for someone like me, more accustomed to newer WNW kits. The cockpit bits require much more amendments than usually to make the build better resembling what is presented in the photos in the WNW instruction.
I have shaved the raised imitation of fuel switch on the instrument panel and made mine from bits of plastic and wire. Also the side panel with two switches was cut off, the switches made from plastic and PE bits and it will be reattached to the side board in the correct place, more to the front. Finally, the completely forgotten magneto starter was built from plastic bits and will be added just at the pilot's right elbow on the side board.
Another photo in the WNW instruction shows a quite evident radiator shutter lever on the port side of the top cockpit cowl - this fogotten element was built from a few bits of plastic and the cables will be added later.
Some holes were drilled under the pilot seat for all the control cables from the stick and the bar. Also the horn for aileron control has some holes drilled.
My SE.5a had no Lewis gun on the Foster mount, so surely the spare drum boxes were empty. WNW provides a choice for the one mounted on the instrument panel, but the second one on the cockpit floor comes only with the drum moulded together. So I had to build an empty box - faces from the WNW element and a few pieces of a plastic profile were used.
Finally, I have shaved all the simplified imitation of internal bracing, drilled the holes for eyelets and will redo the rigging after the interior is airbrushed.
TBC...
