Author Topic: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais 1918 (1/32) Completed  (Read 19015 times)

Offline kkarlsen

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My contribution to the diorama GB is inspired by the film 'Aces High' (1976 tv movie) I have always wanted to do a S.e.5a diorama. And I think the film catches the atmosphere of the RFC during WWI!  Although the 'Aces High' film is showing it's age today, it stayed with me and did make a lasting impression on me. So I'm picking up the challenge, trying getting this project come to life...



No 74 Squadron, Clairmarais, France, summer 1918 (Keith 'Grid' Caldwell in shorts)

Some time ago I came across this photo and the story of No 74 Squadron. The story of this Squadron, also called 'Tiger' Squadron is truly remarkable. With a lot of catching story's of some of the allied flying heroes of WWI.
I havent' yet decided exactly which planes I will end up doing, because the Squadron had so many 'character' that it takes your breath away! But the Squadron commander the New Zealander Keith 'Grid' Caldwell's plane will surely be part of it...
 
Long story short, here's an excerpt from Wikipedia regarding No 74 'Tiger' Squadron:
 
"During its wartime service, it was credited with 140 enemy planes destroyed and 85 driven down out of control, for 225 victories. Seventeen aces had served in the squadron, including Victoria Cross winner Major Edward Mannock, Ira "Taffy" Jones, Benjamin Roxburgh-Smith, future Air Commodore Keith Caldwell, Andrew Kiddie, Frederick Stanley Gordon, Sydney Carlin, Frederick Hunt, Clive Glynn, George Hicks, Wilfred Ernest Young, Henry Dolan, Harris Clements, George Gauld, and Frederick Luff."

My plan for this diorama is to build three S.e5a's 1/32 to get something of a squadron feel + Crossley tender/trailer.

This is as far as I've gotten, working on the three S.e.5a's...

Kit fuselages with replaced interior frames and wires...



Wings primed, kit fuellines replaced with brass wires...



Instrument panels and seats...





An extra experiment using real wood for the panel + Eduard instruments, a scratch build magneto, copper wire, brass tube and a scratch build Creagh-Osborne compass...
« Last Edit: June 30, 2017, 05:39:26 PM by kkarlsen »

Offline Doug Mace

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2017, 02:50:40 AM »
Fantastic, kk....beautiful beginnings...this is going to be a marvelous dio! Are you going to work Mannock's ship into the mix?
"Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes"  -   Oscar Wilde

Offline lcarroll

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2017, 03:24:07 AM »
Great "theme" for a Diorama and huge undertaking; I'll be keeping a watchful eye on this thread!
Cheers,
Lance

Offline lone modeller

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2017, 04:04:51 AM »
This is a very large undertaking considering the time left. I still think that it is a great idea and am looking forward to seeing more. You have made a super start - the idea of using real wood is great.

Stephen.

Offline Juan

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2017, 04:07:04 AM »
Outstanding start, I am sure this will be a great looking diorama.  Love what you have done thus far.

Offline Des

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2017, 05:35:57 AM »
A big task you have taken on but one that will look excellent when completed, the work you have done so far is superb.

Des.
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Offline Manni

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2017, 04:09:51 PM »
Big thing! the results of your work are very good. I will watch this thread with interest.
Manni
"Ich hab' da mal was vorbereitet.": Jean Pütz
"Warum noch mehr Bausätze?!?": meine Frau

Offline kkarlsen

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2017, 09:27:30 PM »
Thank you gent's, I will try not to disappoint you all

Regards: Kent  ???

Offline coyotemagic

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2017, 10:46:59 PM »
That's an ambitious project, my friend, but you're off to a magnificent start!  Those instrument panels are truly spectacular.  What type of wood did you use?
Cheers,
Bud
"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream in the dark recesses of the night awake in the day to find all was vanity. But the dreamers of day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, and make it possible." -T. E. Lawrence

Offline kkarlsen

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2017, 12:48:22 AM »
That's an ambitious project, my friend, but you're off to a magnificent start!  Those instrument panels are truly spectacular.  What type of wood did you use?
Cheers,
Bud

Thanks! I used some very fine grained wood veneer and stained it with oil colours...

Offline kkarlsen

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2017, 07:23:45 PM »
So a little update...

I do not know if it's correct, but I decided to scratch the seatbelts, I wanted the early british Sutton Harness ones.
Maybe they would have been in use late 1918?





Also reworked the control colums...
« Last Edit: June 30, 2017, 05:43:22 PM by kkarlsen »

Offline RAGIII

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2017, 11:23:46 PM »
Gorgeous work!
RAGIII
"A man has to know his limitations": Harry Callahan

"Don't slop it on" Lynda Geisler

Offline kkarlsen

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #12 on: March 21, 2017, 03:26:36 AM »
Thanks! The assembly of the fuselages and tails are coming along...



Top wings beeing masked for some shading...



Bottom wings ditto...

« Last Edit: June 30, 2017, 05:47:16 PM by kkarlsen »

Offline lone modeller

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #13 on: March 21, 2017, 07:25:32 AM »
These are coming on really well. Those seat belts and instrument panels are excellent.

Stephen.

Offline RAGIII

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Re: S.e.5a's - No 74 'Tiger' Squadron, Clairmarais, 30 july 1918.
« Reply #14 on: March 21, 2017, 11:01:22 PM »
Outstanding work to date The IP and belts look great. At this pace you will finish your three before I finish the one I have been working on for Months  :-[
RAGIII
"A man has to know his limitations": Harry Callahan

"Don't slop it on" Lynda Geisler