1/48 Roden SE.5a

[Brad Cancian]

After finishing my Sopwith Snipe project, I needed something a little more "out of the box" without so many modifications; ie a simple build. So I closed my eyes and grasped for the first thing on the shelf in the "not as hard as a Blue Max kit" pile and grabbed the Roden SE.5a (Hispano Suiza) in 1/48 scale. This kit has been reveiwed many times and is a very good represenation of the type with lots of detail and optional extras.

I have decided to keep this one relatively simple without too many modifications. That said, I did feel that I needed to add some minor additions. Whilst the Roden kit is very nice, there are some obvious omissions around the engine compartment. Firstly, there is a gap between the supplied engine cylider heads and side cowls which leads to a see through effect straight through the engine compartment - this needs to be blanked off. Also, there is a large access / ventillation hole under the belly of the SE.5 behind the engine. This hole is about 2/3 the size of the cockpit opening, and other than a rear bulkhead, there is no detail supplied forward of said bulkhead. This means that you can look into this hole and see straight through into nothingness. Finally, the ventillation holes on the lower side of the cowl are moulded as long depressions, and should (from what I can see) be open. Sigh, so much for a straight OOB build!

So, I have decided to scratch up a few rough pieces to fill in this large hole. I added some basic engine bearers to both fuselage halves:



I have also roughly scratch built the lower part of what looks vaugely like an inline V engine (noting that only the bottom will really be seen), including some angled pieces to blank off the see though effect uder the cyliner heads.



I will paint the engine a murkey dark metallic colour to hide its simplicity. This should be passable when viewed from below (hopefully without to much scrutiny!), and is at least an improvement over the empty space that would otherwise be there! I also scratch built the lower cowling from sheet styrene with the proper cutouts (anyone know if there were any adjustable flaps on the other sides of these cutouts to reguate engine ventilation?)



BC

[Rowan Broadbent]

Out of the box, eh?

Yeah, right!!!!

Lovely start, Brad, another treat in store.

Thought about the markings yet?

Oh, yes, I believe that there were hinged plates above the lower cowl openings, as you suspected. Part supply them in their etched set (for us lazy buggers!).

[dak66]

So this ought to be good.When you wrote out of the box and i saw that first picture i had to laugh .

Brad how about the red Schweinhund for a marking choice or Billy Bishops plane .

[ChrisSavaglio]

I almost bought the out of box statement...for a few seconds anyway.

The snipe came out great, so I'm looking forward to see this one get going.

I built the Se.5a a long time ago, right around when it first was release. I remember having a tough time getting all the fuselage pieces together. It's entirely possible it was my own fault since everyone else seems to have had an easier time with it.

Can't wait to see the progress, Brad.

Chris

[Iwik]

Hi Brad!
After a splendid Snipe, a soon-to-be splendid Se5a.
Keep them coming!
Ciao
Iwik

[PrzemoL]

OOB?

Anyway, I am sitting in the first row place to see and admire. This is one of my favourite 1WW airplanes and I reckon it will be a delight to watch this bird emerging. OOB...

And I do confirm the existence of vent covers, I have them in my 1/72 Part+Roden build.

[StephenLawson]

". . . I also scratch built the lower cowling from sheet styrene with the proper cutouts (anyone know if there were any adjustable flaps on the other sides of these cutouts to reguate engine ventilation?"

Aeroscale member Steve Hatter came up with this for his research on a 1/32 scale build at Aeroscale. It does reflect the Hisso type.

[middleton]

Thank you - I am finding this most useful in conjunction with my build of the 1/32 version. My search ability is not good it seems - can anyone direct me to photos of the dash board - original - as the pictures I have of restored/replica aircraft do not look quite right somehow - or are they in fact faithful?

David.

[Brad Cancian]

Beautiful pic, thanks Stephen! I have already added the louvers to the back of the vents (they look closed in your pic - I have posed mine slightly open). I will also add the small drain hole at the back of the panel now that I have seen this pic.

Build is progressing slowly - waiting for oils to dry at the moment! Thinking about starting something to build concurrently in the mean time... hmmmm

BC

[Trackpad]

Originally Posted by Brad Cancian

Build is progressing slowly - waiting for oils to dry at the moment! Thinking about starting something to build concurrently in the mean time... hmmmm BC

Brad, here's a suggestion: while you wait for the oils to dry, try building something...oh, I don't know..."Out of the Box," perhaps...??

Nice work on the SE so far. I have one to build, so I'll be watching this thread for pointers!