Wingnut Wings RAF SE.5a Lt. Arthur Rhys Davids

[KiwiZac]

She's finally starting to look like an "SE".

I dunno about the rest of you but that's looking darned good to me:
dsc06869_35680438235_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr
dsc06886_35680430915_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr

[Bughunter]

For your second one how about one of McCudden's ? B.4891 perhaps?

Lance, thank you very much to made me aware of this machine!
The kit has markings for McCudden's B4863 with nearly the same markings, 4blade, same radiator, short exhausts.
I like the wooden undercarriage of the 4891, so with a new serial number I should be able to do this

Cheers,
Frank

[lcarroll]

Frank,
    B4891 had the short exhausts and wooden landing gear as you say and also the modified (raised) cockpit enclosure which if I remember was different then the modification on B.4863. I used an A/M resin set which again I think was produced by True Details and was still available, it's been almost 10 years since I built this one. (I see the front frame mount for the Aldis Sight has popped loose)



   If the Kit has this feature included it would be an easy Build, otherwise maybe a challenging Scratch-Built addition?
   It would make for a lovely model with that Kit.
Cheers,
Lance

[RAGIII]

I am Not Convinced that  McCuddens B 4891, "6" had the bulged cockpit. I think we discussed this a long time ago. I have Stared at the available photos countless times and in some it looks like a straight up SE5a cockpit and in others I can almost imagine a slight bulge. I am pretty certain that "If" it was bulged it wasn't the same and was much more subtle than B 4863 "G". I went with Encore on this one and used the standard cockpit arrangement. As I can't prove things one way or the other your choice is as Valid as any and your build was/is Beautiful! 
RAGIII



PS: Not meaning to be controversial, just giving Frank an option 

[lone modeller]

The propellor is looking super Lance - with varnish it will not be easy to see that it is not wood. Another first class build on the way to being finished.

Stephen.

[Alexis]

Sorry for the lateness in replying Lance , thanks for the reply on the rigging line for the undercarriage .

Love the work on the prop so far 


Alexis

[lcarroll]

   Thanks for checking in and for your kind comments, Rick, Stephen, and Alexis. Rick, as I always say, when it comes to WW.I Aircraft details "The only thing we can be 100% sure of ........ is we're just not sure"!!
Cheers,
Lance

[RAGIII]

    Rick, as I always say, when it comes to WW.I Aircraft details "The only thing we can be 100% sure of ........ is we're just not sure"!!
Cheers,
Lance

AMEN Brother!
RAGIII

[KiwiZac]

Rick, as I always say, when it comes to WW.I Aircraft details "The only thing we can be 100% sure of ........ is we're just not sure"!!

And now I finally have my forum signature 

[Bughunter]

Sorry Lance, I don't wanted to hijack your thread, but thank you very much Lance and Rick for such useful information!

Cheers,
Frank

[kiwin992]

Thanks for sharing a great build with us, and probably my favorite WW1 subject. I haven't yet got to grips with posting photos on this site but my SE5a build can be seen on the WNW website under customer models/SE5a Hisso. It is the first model to appear in this section and also the first ever WNW build for me. Rigging was a challenge, but taken slowly, it's fine.
Keep up the good work
Rgds
Brian A. from NZ

[lcarroll]

Thank you Brian and my apologies for the late reply. I just checked out your Build on the WNW Site, very nice and especially given it's your first ever WWI subject. I encourage you to add a few photos of it to the" Specific Aircraft Build links" Board for the SE5a in the WWI Aircraft Modelling Section, there's a trove of information and inspiration there and the more added the better!
Cheers,
Lance

[lcarroll]

    So, here we are six weeks since my last update; I'll admit to my "Modelling Mojo" being somewhat dampened by the world events of the past several weeks. This Build is finally entering the "Home Stretch" with the addition of the Cabane struts and the bottom end of all the rigging lines except for the tail section and flight control cables. The Cabanes were aligned using a simple template jig. The struts were wrapped with Tamiya Tape to represent the fabric wrapping applied for extra strength and sealed with several coats of extra thin CA before painting.





   The upper wing (shown posed here) fitted beautifully.



   The Aldis and "Ring and Bead" Sights were added.





..... and a subtle bit of post shading added to the wing roundels.



  At this point the exhaust pipes were added:





Next came the Wind Screen and finally the upper wing was installed on the cabane struts. The next step will be the addition of the four inter-plane struts. As usual I've included a good ration of dust in the close up photos!





....... and last the prop was finished with a coat of flat varnish and the Hub or Boss picked out with some steel and silver.



   ..... and that's where she sits. Now it's time for some serious rigging work!
Cheers,
Lance

[KiwiZac]

I swear there's a conspiracy by "Big SE.5a" to get me to build one of these things in 1/48 - yet another beautiful build in the making! Gorgeous work, Lance! A wonderful comeback update.

So, here we are six weeks since my last update; I'll admit to my "Modelling Mojo" being somewhat dampened by the world events of the past several weeks.

I'm the same way, and you'd think having to semi-isolate would be a boon to modelling but it's only in the last few days I've felt motivated to approach the bench. As the kids these days say: "that feel"!

[iamjohnsname]

Hi Lance, great work on this beautiful kit, and thanks for sharing. I’m keen to know why you use a little template jig to mount the cabane struts. I’ve never done this and am not sure of the advantage over simply using the top wing. I feel like having the whole wing up there would allow you to line up the wings - and therefore the struts - more precisely. But I’d love to know how this approach works better.

Thanks,
-- John