Military Model Scene

Kit reference 82132 is a new Profipack kit of this famous British fighter from WW1.  It rings a bell for me as when I was very young we had neighbour and friend of my parents who flew them with the RFC during WW1.  Even as a young modeller I remember giving him a model of an SE5a I built all those years ago.  After 50 years or so I can't remember which one, but I think it may have been an old Revell kit.

With the larger scale of 1/48 you get scope for much more detail to be included in a model.  As a Profipack kit you get painting masks for the wheels and windscreen, along with etch detail instruments, seatbelts and fittings.  The internal framing and detail fittings for the cockpit are almost a model in themselves.  It should give some idea if I add that the first two full pages of the instruction stages are devoted to this element.  The instrument panel, the instrument fascia's and seat belts for the pilot's seats are all pre-coloured etch metal. Once this is done, the assembly fits on the single piece lower wing before you close up the fuselage halves around it.  Next is to add the engine and the upper fuselage panels before fitting the tail and control surfaces to the bottom wing.  Then you add the Vickers machine gun in front of the cockpit, the windscreen, engine cowling and radiator.  These are followed by the struts and upper wing, rudder and  undercarriage assembly before the final stages of adding the Lewis gun on top of the upper wing and your choice of 2- or 4-bladed propeller depending on your choice from the marking scheme options.  There is also a diagram to illustrate the rigging wires you need to add as well.

There are 5 options for colours and markings:-

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A. D5969, flown by a Canadian pilot, Lt. C.H.R. Lagesse of 29 Squadron at St.Omer, France in June of 1918.  He ended the war with 20 kills and was awarded the DFC (twice) and the Croix de Guerre.  His machine, with the identification letter J is finished in a standard colour of Green upper surfaces and linen undersides.

B. C5303, flown by Lt. L.N. Franklin, flying with No 56 Squadron from Baizieux, France, in March 1918.  Again the standard Green and Linen colours, and a stylised letter X as the identification marking.

C. D3511, flown by an Australian, Maj. R.S. Dallas, DSO & Bar, Croix de Guerre avec Palme, flying with No. 40 Squadron from Bruay Airfield, France in May 1918.  This is the only one of the 5 options which has a more elaborate multi-colour disruptive camouflage pattern on the upper surfaces.

D. F5910, flown by Lt. William Gordon Claxton, another Canadian born pilot, flying with No 41 Squadron at Lealvillers, France in February 1918.

E. C9539 flown by the Australian Ace Capt. H.G. Forrest, DFC, flying with No. 2 Squadron of the Australian FLying Corps from Savy-Berlette, France in March 1918.

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Thanks to Eduard for this example.

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Robin