Roden 1/32 SE5a -the build

[StephenLawson]

Here are a couple of shots from Rick (RAGIII). Looks like I need to bring the plywood back one more bay.

[Kofoed]

Hi Stephen,
I'm back from my recreation on the sanatorium - completely healed from any damages on my spirit caused by my Battle Axe build. Thanks for your advice

Impressive build. Your engine is a gem. So is your interior. I'm going to follow this build with particular interest since I have it and the Part etch set in the waiting line myself. This is going to be an excellent reference.

Will you be doing the Grinnell-Milne scheme? In red? Or someone else's?
Can't wait to see your progress on this.

Thanks for showing,
Kofoed

[StephenLawson]

Originally Posted by Kofoed

Hi Stephen, I'm back from my recreation on the sanatorium - completely healed from any damages on my spirit caused by my Battle Axe build. Thanks for your advice

Impressive build. Your engine is a gem. So is your interior. I'm going to follow this build with particular interest since I have it and the Part etch set in the waiting line myself. This is going to be an excellent reference.

Will you be doing the Grinnell-Milne scheme? In red? Or someone else's?
Can't wait to see your progress on this.

Thanks for showing,
Kofoed

Greetings Kofoed;
Excellent news! Thank you for the kind words I will do what I can to answer any questions. As for the scheme. I have some great references on Grinnell-Milne scheme.

Here is abit of fun from Part of Poland.


Part S32031 - RAF S.E.5a w/Wolseley Viper (1/32)

[StephenLawson]

As with any modification the modeler can expect to make small compromises to make the whole affair fit. The Part of Poland PE is very close to being exact but the thickness of the plastic can get exaggerated when you fine tune the kit parts to fit well with the PE. I have a need to work on the kit radiator shell (PP 4 F). As it is a bit wide by aboyt .040 thou. This may be due to my work and should not be seen as a kit problem.


Also I recommend only using the PE parts when it comes to the engine compartment structures. If you use the additional plastic parts as well there is a great deal of time lost on modifying these items.



The deformed piece at the bottom of this image will be carved down. The placement of the engine is a bit of a compromise as I wanted the red magneto caps to be visible as on the original but the engine is aboiut 1/8 of an inch too long.

[StephenLawson]

Plotting the lay of the PE and getting the engine thrust line correct the unknown factor was the depth of the engine that seems to be about 1/8 an inch too large from side to side and from top to bottom. This is not really a problem but the attachment of the PE sides should be dropped 1/8 of and inch as well. In other worrds the top edge of the PE should be 1/8 an inch from the top of the kit fuselage inside face. My original concern was the clearance at the bottom for the lower wing attachment and the reason I set the PE flush with the top edge of thee kit fuselage side.

[StephenLawson]

Here the 1/32 Roden scale build sits next to the 1/48 Roden scale build.


The first hint I had that the PE should be dropped was the PE lower faming / wire bracing harness did not clear the lowest portion of the engine.

[Kofoed]

Hi Stephen,

Looks so great, thanks for posting all these photo's. And thanks a lot for your thorough descriptions on potential problems. This is certainly a great reference.

I was lucky to get my hands in a copy of Grinell-Milne's book, "Wind in the Wires" (excellent reading, by the way). In this book is quite a good photograph of his "Schweinhund". If you have seen this, would you agree that this was PC10? The reds and blues tell me that this shot was taken on orthocromatic film, so the fuselage should have been much darker had it been red, shouldn't it? Is this the scheme your will show on yours?

Thank you,
Kofoed

[StephenLawson]

Originally Posted by Kofoed

". . .I was lucky to get my hands in a copy of Grinnell-Milne's book, "Wind in the Wires" (excellent reading, by the way). In this book is quite a good photograph of his "Schweinhund". If you have seen this, would you agree that this was PC10? The reds and blues tell me that this shot was taken on orthocromatic film, so the fuselage should have been much darker had it been red, shouldn't it? Is this the scheme your will show on yours? Thank you, Kofoed

Greetings Kofoed;
In correspondence from Alex Revell he states that Grinnell-Milne talked about this. He says that during the war he was limited to the area where the red could be applied. Drome member RAGIII has also discussed this with Alex Revell. Though the white outer ring of the fuselage cockade is missing, it was mostly PC10 at least during the war. The nose to on extent or the other was red. Probably just the radiator at first then back to th plywood ending. The post war the whole fuselage.

[Kofoed]

Thanks a lot, Stephen. Information like this is invaluable. I haven't finished his book yet, I enjoy reading it a lot. Magnificent English language alone makes it worth reading. And then the story takes place in the real world during WW1. Amazing.

I'm looking very much forward to see the progress of your build.

Thanks,
Kofoed

[RAGIII]

Originally Posted by Kofoed

Thanks a lot, Stephen. Information like this is invaluable. I haven't finished his book yet, I enjoy reading it a lot. Magnificent English language alone makes it worth reading. And then the story takes place in the real world during WW1. Amazing.

I'm looking very much forward to see the progress of your build.

Thanks,
Kofoed

Alex was very clear that the pictures were all post war, and were the overall red fuselage. Alex was kind enough to e mail 2 unpublished photos which show the aircraft from the right side and apparently before the pictures we are all familiar with. The serial number is visible on the tail, the result of a thin overpaint or perhaps the serial was there on the later pics and edited out. Schwienhound was NOT applied to the right fuselage on these pics, and the quick release hub was dark, probably red, and not white as in the later pictures. As for GMs book it is an excellent read but only one breif mention is made of the SE in question. Gm states that he was flying his RED NOSED SE ...etc. This was at or right after the armistice. This indicates to me that the nose or radiator were quite likely red at some point near the end. Finally be careful making judgements on color based on those grey tones. As you stated type of film matters but also lighting and a lot of other factors. First hand accounts such as Alexs' interviews, pilots statements etc plus good photos are the best way to interpret color.

By the way Stephen, looking great!
RAGIII