Picking up an old project - Roden 1/48 SE5a

[bobs_buckles]

Brad,
Sweeeeeeeeet!

Do you have any close up pictures of the inspection triangles? I want to use your method on Roden's 1/32 SE5a.

Cheers,
Bob

[Brad Cancian]

Here ya go Bob



I tried quite a few methods - this was the most successful, though still not perfect (but better than the kit option of decals).

Oh, I used about 70 odd of your little beautiful buckles for this one - looks like I'm gonna have to put in an order for some more!

BC

[NickT]

Again another masterpiece!

For the inspection windows how did you fill them? Did you fill them with varnish or used clear plastic sheet?

Thanks,

Nick

[Brad Cancian]

Hi Nick - I tried a number of methods (to my frustration!) - In the end I used clear two part epoxy (Araldite) to fill in the inspection windows - it is slighly flexible when dry but sands well enough and comes up nicely under a coat of future.



BC

[NickT]

Brad,

thanks for that, I'll have to try that on my SE5a. They're certainly the best I've seen, much better than the decals provided in the kit.

I picked up a set of Rowan's new decals at Telford today so there's nothing to stop me now.

Cheers,

Nick

['14-'18aviationcollector]

Originally Posted by Brad Cancian

Hi David - yes, I have three photos of this machine I used as reference - one can be found in the Windsock datafile on SE5a sqn markings for 2AFC, which I beleive I cannot share here due to copyright (but I can e-mail you a copy if needed). That said, some editing of the photo shows the orientation of the wing marking (and the photo has not been reversed).



As you can see, the "E" is applied correctly.

I am under the understanding that the blue applied to RFC aircraft was roughly between the RAF dark blue of the 40s and their very vibrant lighter blue of the 1920s. I do not think it is as dark as the RAF blue of the 1940s from my references.

Thanks!

BC

G'day Brad,

Thanks very much for the reply! I don't have the Windsock Datafile on SE5a Squadron markings for 2 AFC, but I sure would like to get it! I hope that as new such publications are produced, the authors become aware of my photograph collection, so that at least some new photographs can be included in new publications. Alternatively I could publish them myself, but that would be a huge job, and I already struggle for time. Presumably, 2 AFC, at least at that particular time applied the markings so that they can be read from above and ahead, rather than the traditional above and behind.

Here is a series of threes photographs supplied by Alain of the Memorial Flight Association of BE2c 9969 on my thread about PC 10, CDL, varnish, roundel colours etc. The first two are of the wings, which are held in storage as part of the Musée de l'Air collection, and the last photo was taken during war time, or possibly shortly afterwards. As you can see, in the colour photographs, the roundel blue is very dark, and I can see in these photographs where the reference to a hint of purple in roundel blue comes from. There were other colour photographs posted on this thread, and I will see if I can find some others.

Regards,

David.

['14-'18aviationcollector]

G'day Brad,

I have found some more photos. I haven't gone to too much trouble to find some photographs, because it is very time consuming, but here are some more from my PC10 etc thread. The first two are original colour photographs taken by Frank Hurley during WW1, and are of AFC Bristol Fighters. The roundel blue is not particularly easy to see, although you can see the rudder flash of one of the Bristol Fighters in the second photo. The third photograph is of the Vintage Aviator's SE5a (actually as I am posting this reply the photographs have not appeared strictly in order but it is obvious which are the photographs taken by Frank Hurley and which is of TVAL's SE5a). It has been mentioned on this site several times that they own an impressive collection of WW1 aeroplane fabric samples, which naturally they would use for reference in the construction of their replicas, as well as having immense value as historical items. TVAL is a truly professional organisation, and I sincerely believe their research and development is amongst the very best in the world, if not the best. Whilst their aeroplanes are replicas, the colours they have used concur with the results of my research. Both results have been achieved completely independently of each other. I did not even know that TVAL were building historically accurate replica WW1 aeroplanes until I saw reference to their work here on The Aerodrome.

Regards,

David.

['14-'18aviationcollector]

I just tried to attach a larger version of Frank Hurley's AFC colour photograph montage, but it seems to be the same small photograph as before, so I will try attaching it again here in a new post.

[stevedrew]

Originally Posted by Brad Cancian

Hi Nick - I tried a number of methods (to my frustration!) - In the end I used clear two part epoxy (Araldite) to fill in the inspection windows - it is slighly flexible when dry but sands well enough and comes up nicely under a coat of future.



BC

Brad,

Much mention has been made in many modelling sites regarding the use of "Future". I haven't been able to source any here in Australia. I was directed to an "equivalent", "Pascoes long-life self-shining floor polish", available through Bunning's warehouse.

Do you actually use "Future" (if so where can I get me some?). Is Pascoe's also suitable? What about using it through an airbrush?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Brad Cancian]

Hi Steve - I have managed to acquire a small amount of future through some of my modelling contacts, but that's only around a film canister's worth... I believe another equivalent that you can pick up at the supermarket here in Oz is the "Pledge One-Go" - though I have not used it, I have heard that it's just as nice! I have never sprayed it through an airbrush but apparrently Future can be sprayed stright from the bottle and thinned with Windex.

Cheers,

BC