Picking up an old project

Brad Cancian · 31 October 2009, 05:57 AM

Having just moved house, and finishing the last of my university work for this year, I have managed to get the smell of paint and glue back into my nostrils again. Thought I would pick up a project I started early this year and try and finish it off - the Roden 1/48 SE5a. The previous build thread is here. Here are some pics to remind me what I did....

I finally settled on some markings. Being an Australian Flying Corps fan, I decided to paint her in the markings of B'619 flown by 2/Lt. G C Logan of A flight, 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps. This aircraft was bought on charge with 2AFC on 5 January 1918 and lost 21 February 1918 when "Lt. Logan in B/619 left Aero. at 11.35 a.m. on Patrol and was last seen going towards the line. Pilot and machine missing. Struck off." The aircraft was downed by anti-aircraft fire, though Logan made a landing, nosed the aircraft over, and was made a POW. Here she is with some paint and decals on (still looking a little shiny from the gloss coat).

Markings are a mixture of paint, roden decals and pegasus serials, which were a PAIN to put on because they were so fragile and required both the black and white parts of the serials to be applied separately for each number (went through about 4 sets of numbers..... please, please, PLEASE someone do a GOOD set of serial number decals for RFC aircraft.... please!!!)

Next is flat coat, then the top wing can go on.

Feedback always welcomed.

BC

Beaconroot · 31 October 2009, 08:11 AM

Brad,
Glad to see you back on the SE5a finally. I have been looking forward to seeing how you finishths bird. Glad your back at the bench.
Jim

bobs_buckles · 31 October 2009, 10:19 AM

Brad,
Good to see the dust come off this one.
Glad to see you back and looking forward to seeing the final results.
All the best,
Bob

NickT · 31 October 2009, 02:58 PM

Superb as always.

I was just looking at the previous thread the other and wondered if you'd finished it. Its tempting me to start my SE5a from the stash, although with the decal problems I might wait for Rowan's sheet to be released.

Great work.

Nick

Brad Cancian · 31 October 2009, 04:56 PM

Thanks guys

Nick - yes I would wait - the only roden decals I used were the fuselage roundels - I shattered the upper wing roundels trying to position them - once they are on they stick for good... and they have a tendency to silver too....

If Rowan is watching - how about some nice RFC serials Rowan...?

BC

StephenLawson · 31 October 2009, 08:33 PM

Greetings Brad,

Glad to see you showing us how again! Missed you and that Chesser cat grin of yours! I'll get with you later on that basket case Alb. C.X.

Rowan Broadbent · 1 November 2009, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Cancian

Thanks guys

Nick - yes I would wait - the only roden decals I used were the fuselage roundels - I shattered the upper wing roundels trying to position them - once they are on they stick for good... and they have a tendency to silver too....

If Rowan is watching - how about some nice RFC serials Rowan...?

BC

Hello Brad,

The problem with RFC/RNAS serials is that standardisation which WWII modellers are so used to, wasn't prevalent for British manufacturers at this time. Although German factories had their own 'house styles' to be sure.

If one looks at the SE5a as a case in point, there were many different contractors and within these manufacturers the size, style, colour and even position of serial numbers sometimes varied from one production order to the next and even within a particular production batch.

To do an accurate sheet of RFC serials would involve many different number sets for each individual aircraft. Where standardisation exists, such as with Fokker Dr.Is, I include additional number sets. I'll also be doing this with the Macchi M5, as there was a distinctive Macchi style.

I'm not necessarily ruling out some sort of British serial number decal sheet but I am saying that it's not as simple as some would have you believe!

The 48th SE5a decals will be out this week with 17 different options - one for 2 Sqn AFC, but too late for you Brad!

BTW, I haven't ruled out your Kookaburra family for the Pup - just waiting to see if the new Aeroclub model has the Whitehead/Monosoupape cowling.

Brad Cancian · 1 November 2009, 03:00 AM

Thanks Rowan - I know that it is always going to be very difficult to put together an RFC serial set, and that it is impossible to cater for every need - I too had to compromise on the SE5a with the serials I put on it (in reality the serials were slightly larger), but it's all I had at hand that was matching.

Even if you did a generic serial set in a couple of different sizes (similar to what Pegasus tried) that would go a long way to helping those of us that don't always model "off the decal sheet"

Glad to see the kookaburra pup is still on the list

BC