Rhys Davids SE-5a

[Dave in Dubai]

Hello chaps,

I am getting close to putting the Pheon decals on the WNW SE-5a.
This build has been going on now for a few years

Can somebody tell me whether the roundels on the wing surfaces should
be inboard of the ailerons or centred on the wing struts-i.e. overlapping the ailerons?

The Pheon decal sheet shows them positioned inboard, but I have seen a few builds online showing them outboard which made me wonder which placement is correct.

Thanks if anyone can clear this up.

[lcarroll]

Dave,
    If it's his B'525 (Call Letter "I")  there's a top profile in the Osprey SE5/5a Aces of WWI book by Norman Franks showing them Inboard. Russell Smith's "Last Dance of the Hussar" depicts Rhys Davids rolling into Voss' "six" in 525 in the epic final battle where Voss was shot down by him and the upper roundels are clearly inboard. Last, Rowan is noted for doing his homework as well. I'd say inboard given Russell, Norman Franks, and Rowan all seem to agree! I have the Kit, the Decal Sheet, and some A/M items in my stash and plan to do it the same as yours. My roundels will be inboard.
    I've lost track of this Build, looking forward to seeing it when you get it completed! Have you sorted out or found any info on two vs. 4 bladed prop configuration for this one?
Cheers,
Lance

[Dave in Dubai]

Hi Lance,

Thanks for your reply.

A525 had the four bladed prop fitted.

I was looking at an old thread on "the Aerodrome" ( am I allowed to mention that here? ), and there was some discussion between Rowan and the late Dan San Abbott on the topic of whether a two or four blade prop was fitted.
Dan San stated that Rhys Davids machine was one of the early production SE-5's which had the geared Hispana Suiza and therefore by default had to have a four blader fitted.

I have a copy of Alex Revell's "High in the Empty Blue", which has some photos of A525 , but it is some years since I last looked at it, and currently do not have access to this book here in Dubai.

I reckon Rowan's research is spot on, but rather than me get it wrong and someone later points out that I have put the roundels in the wrong location, I thought I would ask here just to be certain.

Thanks anyway for your kind reply,

D in D 

[coyotemagic]

Dave, I have the Osprey book on 56 SQN and although there are no photos of A525 showing the roundel position, all of the photos of all of the squadron's SE5a's prior to May 1918 show the roundels inboard.  When 56 replaced the wide white fuselage band with two narrow divergent bands in May, they also moved the roundels outboard over the ailerons.  On top of that, I agree with Lance's assesment of Rowan's, Russel's and Norman Frank's research.  I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Bud

[Dave in Dubai]

Thanks Bud,

That information is appreciated.
So now I have bitten the bullet and applied the Pheon decals to the top wing.
Here is what it looks like now,



  D in D.

[bobs_buckles]

Hi Dave,
For what it's worth, I would of gone down the inboard route.
Looking good 

vB

[Nigel Jackson]

Hi Dave,
For what it's worth, I would of gone down the inboard route.
Looking good 

vB

Me too Dave.

Best wishes

Nigel

[Dave in Dubai]

Thanks Bob and Nigel,

I have had this kit since it was released so I am trying to clear some of the backlog before the next projects begin.

Also spent last night drilling out the solid end of the Vickers gun before adding the photoetched end intake if that is the right term?
A fiddly job but well worth doing.

Wingnut Wings fortunately corrected this in later models...the Snipe has the hollow recess moulded into the gun halves, saving you the tricky drilling excercise.

Now if only they could fix the camera lens ports....it is impossible to eliminate the joining seem within the camera halves on the two seaters, no matter how careful you are. Wonder why they didnt opt for a seperate tube moulding to place on top of the lens thus removing the join problem?

Happy modelling!

D i D

[Dave in Dubai]

Upper and lower wings with inboard cockades applied

[bobs_buckles]

Looking rather splendid there, Dave 
I can't wait to see more.

Cheers,
Vb

[IFF1418]

Extremely nice David. Well done. Looking forward to see your further progress.

Kind regards
Patrick

[Widmerpool]

I have a vague recollection that only Royal Aircraft Factory-built SE 5's had their roundels inboard of the flaps (and that their upper wing cockades frequently did not have a white border).  I believe Rhys-Davids' SE was built by Vickers, and therefore would have had its roundels in the more common "outer" positions. Any thoughts from others on this?
And I hope I'm wrong about this because Dave has already done such a great job on his SE.

Widmerpool