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SE.5a Wolseley Viper BRITISH WWI FIGHTER

1/48 SCALE PLASTIC KIT P r o f i P A C K

#82131

INTRO The Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a is credited with being one of the fastest and deadliest aircraft of World War I. But the story of this 'Spitfire of Great War', as it is sometimes referred to, is not so straightforward. The SE. 5 (Scout Experimental 5) was designed by Henry Folland, John Kenworthy and Frank Goodden as a fighter powered by the new 150hp V8 Hispano-Suiza 8Aa engine. As the rotary engines neared their limitations, in-line liquid cooled engines were supposed to be a more promising way to fly faster and higher. The first prototype of the new fighter made its maiden flight on November 22nd, 1916 and began a somewhat intricate journey from miserable testing to combat proven glory. The new engine was troublesome and the wing design of the plane had glitches. The first two prototypes were lost in crashes, with chief test pilot at the Royal Aircraft Factory and one of the aircraft's designers, Major F. W. Goodden, losing his life on January 28th, 1917. The problems were partly solved thanks to modifications adopted on the third prototype, thus creating the first production variant of the new fighter. The SE.5 entered service with No.56 Sqn RFC, during April 1917. The squadron was home to several famous aces. One of them, Albert Ball, was instrumental in honing the SE.5 into a formidable airplane. The new fighter was received with mixed emotions because of its unusually high seat position, large windscreen and armament layout that was composed of fuselage mounted 0.303 Vickers and upper wing mounted 0.303 Lewis machine guns. Ball, together with his mechanic, worked during the nights to address smaller as well as bigger glitches of the new design and most of the changes they made to the design were adopted for all SE.5s at squadron level. The large windscreen was dispensed with and the pilots lowered their seats to a more normal position. But, they always prayed for good visibility from the cockpit. The changes made by No.56 Sqn were shortly adopted for production. The final few SE.5 aircraft built in July 1917 were fitted with a more powerful 200hp Hispano-Suiza 8Ab engine, effectively setting the SE.5a standard. Production of the SE.5 ended after only 77 examples being built. The SE.5a was then produced in high quantities by six manufacturers: Vickers (2164), Austin Motors (1650), Air Navigation and Engineering Company (560), Wolseley Motors Limited (431), Martinside (258) and Royal Aircraft Factory (200). The American Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company built one example, as production of some 1000 aircraft was considered there. The US Army Squadrons of the American Expeditionary Force were among those receiving the SE.5a, and the Curtiss supplies would equip them. But the armistice ended this plan. The SE.5a is frequently compared to another famous WWI fighter, the Sopwith Camel, the last formidable british fighter with a rotary engine. Because of the different engine construction philosophy, the two fighters were very different aircraft. The Camel was highly maneuverable thanks to the centre of gravity pushed very far forward and also because of the sheer inertia of the rotating engine, which made it very fast in a right turn. But the Camel was an unforgiving airplane, dangerous to less experienced pilots. The SE.5a, although very fast, was to the contrary a very stable and forgiving fighter. It was not as agile as the Camel, but still agile enough. And above 10,000 ft it was clearly superior not only to the Camel, but also to most enemy aircraft. Furthermore, the armament of one fixed, fuselage mounted Vickers machine gun, supplemented by a Lewis machine gun affixed to the top of the upper wing made it possible for pilots to attack a high-flying enemy, sneaking up beneath it unobserved. Some pilots questioned this armament arrangement, with two fixed Vickers suggested as a better solution, but early problems with the Constantinesco synchronizing gear spoke against it. In the end, the SE.5 was the first fighter with two machine guns. The Camel entered the field later in 1917. For SE.5a pilots, it was quite easy to pull down the wing mounted Lewis machine gun for reloading, but changing the drum and pushing the weapon back into firing position was a different story. The slipstream could even ram the removed drum into the pilot´s face. But, pilots learned how to get the best from the SE.5a, the best of them leading the way. Apart from the aforementioned Albert Ball, there was, for example, James McCudden, a former sapper and air mechanic, later an ace with 57 kills, who used his skills to optimise the engine of his SE.5a for use in high level solo patrols against high-flying Rumpler observers. While 17,000 ft was the ceiling for the usual SE.5a, McCudden was capable of sorties of up to the 20,000 ft level. Another of the more famous men of the RFC ,Edward C. Mannock, developed tactics which allowed extraction of the best of the SE.5a´s qualities. Hisso and Viper Problems with both supply and reliability of the 200hp Hispano-Suiza (nicknamed 'Hisso') engines troubled the SE.5a throughout its service career. As a result, there were a number of engine modifications installed in the SE.5a, both from the French supplier of the Hispano-Suiza, as well as from the British Wolseley firm, whose engines were usually further developments of HispanoSuiza designs. With the earlier geared engines, the prop shaft was driven by a reduction gear and the propeller rotated counter clockwise (from the pilots perspective). The later direct drive engines had the propeller rotating clockwise. As Hispano Suiza supplied most of the early engines, the nickname 'Hisso' was used for all the planes with the geared engine, whether it came from Hispano-Suiza or Wolseley. For later production, the more reliable direct drive Wolseley Viper became the standard engine and aircraft so equipped were nicknamed 'Viper', again without distinction between suppliers. After the armistice a great sale of army surplus was held, and many planes were offered to the public, including the SE.5a. The price of one airworthy plane was 5 £, which translates to some 1,500 £ at today's values. Some retired pilots, who never flew the SE.5a during the war, brought one just to make one test flight, returning the plane with a discount. Such was the reputation of the SE.5a, enticing the pilots to try them, even if it did cost them a sizeable amount of money! Many of SE.5as were actually sold and were used in air races and also for 'Sky-Writing' purposes in advertising. 82131 - NAV1

ATTENTION

UPOZORNĚNÍ

ACHTUNG

ATTENTION

Carefully read instruction sheet before assembling. When you use glue or paint, do not use near open flame and use in well ventilated room. Keep out of reach of small children. Children must not be allowed to suck any part, or pull vinyl bag over the head. Před započetím stavby si pečlivě prostudujte stavební návod. Při používání barev a lepidel pracujte v dobře větrané místnosti. Lepidla ani barvy nepoužívejte v blízkosti otevřeného ohně. Model není určen malým dětem, mohlo by dojít k požití drobných dílů.

INSTRUCTION SIGNS

BEND OHNOUT

OPTIONAL VOLBA

INSTR. SYMBOLY

OPEN HOLE VYVRTAT OTVOR

PARTS

INSTRUKTION SINNBILDEN

SYMETRICAL ASSEMBLY SYMETRICKÁ MONTÁŽ

DÍLY

NOTCH ZÁŘEZ

TEILE

SYMBOLES

REMOVE ODŘÍZNOUT

APPLY EDUARD MASK AND PAINT POUŽÍT EDUARDS MASK NABARVIT

PIECES

PLASTIC PARTS 82130 A

82130 C

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82130 B

PE- PHOTO ETCHED DETAIL PARTS

-Parts not for use. -Teile werden nicht verwendet. -Pieces a ne pas utiliser. -Tyto díly nepoužívejte při stavbě. -

COLOURS

BARVY

PEINTURE

AQUEOUS

Mr.COLOR

H 37

C43

WOOD BROWN

H 47

C41

RED BROWN

BLUE

H 51

C11

LIGHT GULL GRAY

C62

WHITE

H 52

C12

OLIVE DRAB

MC214

DARK IRON

H 12

C33

FLAT WHITE

H 85

C45

SAIL COLOR

MC218

ALUMINIUM

H 33

C81

RUSSET

H 309

C309

GREEN

MC219

BRASS

GSi Creos (GUNZE)

FARBEN

AQUEOUS

Mr.COLOR

RED

H 11

Mr.METAL COLOR

H 47 C41

B19

B25 B40

RED BROWN

B25

H 37 C43

MC214

H 12 C33

WOOD BROWN

DARK IRON

MC214

FLAT BLACK

MC218

PE30 B20

ALUMINIUM

DARK IRON

H 37 C43

MC218

WOOD BROWN

ALUMINIUM

B49

MC218 ALUMINIUM

B22

PE2

PE1

PE10

decal 56

H 47 C41

PE6

RED BROWN

B63

decal 57

PE3

H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

MC218 ALUMINIUM

MC219

B37

BRASS

B36

MC218 ALUMINIUM

PE35

H 12 C33 H 37 C43

FLAT BLACK

PE3

PE29

WOOD BROWN

MC218 ALUMINIUM

B15

C H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

B51

H 37 C43

WOOD BROWN

B48

H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

PE15

B33 B8

MC214 DARK IRON

B43

MC214 DARK IRON

MC219 BRASS

B33 H 37 C43

B43

WOOD BROWN

B52 H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

step 1

PE21

step 2

MC214

DARK IRON

wire

B12 MC214 DARK IRON

PE27

wire

H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

B53

MC219 BRASS

MC214 DARK IRON

H 47 C41

B44

RED BROWN

MC218

H 37 C43

B55

ALUMINIUM

WOOD BROWN

H 85 C45

B55

SAIL COLOR

B12

MC218 ALUMINIUM

A20

A20 H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

MC214

DARK IRON

PE40

B33

B53

B12

B25

B22 B63

B19 B20 A20 B43 PE40 B43

A20 C5

H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK

decal 53 A9

B33

B49

B48

B55

OPTIONAL: decals B4 58 58 55 58

PE21 MC214 DARK IRON

B11 H 37 C43

H 12 C33

WOOD BROWN

FLAT BLACK

PE26 H 37 C43

PE5

WOOD BROWN

PE13

MC219 BRASS

PE7

B4 PE8

PE11 PE9

B27 PE12

PE33

H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

MC218 ALUMINIUM

MC218

B70

ALUMINIUM

H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

MC219 BRASS

H 85 C45

B39 PE16

SAIL COLOR

MARKINGS A ;B;D ONLY

H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

B3 MC218

A23

ALUMINIUM

H 85 C45 SAIL COLOR

B5 MC218

H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

B70

ALUMINIUM

B43 MC214

B13

DARK IRON

H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

B54

MC219 BRASS

H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK

MC219 BRASS

B34

MC218 ALUMINIUM

B46 B46 H 12 C33

MC218 ALUMINIUM

FLAT BLACK

H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK

B69

MC218 ALUMINIUM

B67

PE19 C1

H 47 C41 RED BROWN

MC218 ALUMINIUM

H 37 C43

B38

WOOD BROWN

MC219 BRASS

PE4 MARKING

ONLY

B60

A24 MC218 ALUMINIUM

MC218 ALUMINIUM

B60 B21 6

B73

A26

B65

MC218 ALUMINIUM

X H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

H 85 C45 SAIL COLOR

C10

A27

A21

B14

MC214 DARK IRON

PE28

H 12 C33

PE23

FLAT BLACK

PE18

B14

C11

A30

A31

A30, A31 - MARKING A ONLY

ALUMINIUM

MC218

B17

MC219

BRASS

C4, PE31 - MARKINGS

PE17

FLAT BLACK

H 12 C33

PE31

A ; B ; C ; E ONLY

fill

PE22 C3

C3 - MARKINGS

C2 - MARKINGS

B74 - MARKINGS

B74

B;D A ;C;E

B ; D ONLY

I C8 C7

A12

PE44

PE42

H 309 C309

GREEN

A12 A12

K H 309 C309 GREEN

PE44

A20

PE42

H 309 C309 GREEN

A20

B32

CAMOUFLAGE COLOR

A2 A18 B30 B30

B60 A12

A15

A14

MC214 DARK IRON

A19 A17

A18 A16

A14 A13

K B3, B70

PE34 CAMOUFLAGE COLOR

PE32 11

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82131

A25

C10

C3 C8

C11

MC214

DARK IRON

PE39

PE39 A27

PE39

MC214

PE39

DARK IRON

A26

A20

A1 A12

A20

A12

A28

A28 - MARKING

A7 plastic - 1 mm l - 16 mm

A29 - MARKING

A29

A3 A3 - MARKINGS A ; C ; D; E

A10 plastic - 1 mm l - 16 mm A4 - MARKINGS A ; C ; D; E

A4 A25

MC218

ALUMINIUM

B29

A12

B35

H 33 C81

RUSSET

A18

CAMOUFLAGE COLOR

PE14

B31

ALUMINIUM

MC218

A16

B57

B35

H 33 C81 RUSSET

B16

BRASS

MC219

B28

CAMOUFLAGE COLOR

PE14

step 1 A8

MC214

DARK IRON

step 2 A11

MC214 DARK IRON

PE41

A11 MC214

H 309 C309

PE41

DARK IRON

GREEN

PE44 A5

A31

PE42 H 309 C309 GREEN

B3, B70

A30

A31

A21

PE36 MC214 DARK IRON

A21

MC214 DARK IRON

PE41

A8 A6

MC214

A30

DARK IRON

A21

B3, B70

PE43

A21

MC214 DARK IRON

MARKING

PE41

ONLY

PE38

H 47 C41 RED BROWN

PE20

MC214 DARK IRON

PE37

B3, B70

MC214 DARK IRON

B47

V PE25 MC214

A20

DARK IRON

B68

MC214 DARK IRON

PE24

U B47

MC214 DARK IRON

B47, B68, B75 - MARKINGS A ; B ; C ; D ONLY

B75 H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

V B68

H 37 C43

WOOD BROWN

A22 - MARKINGS A ; B ; D ONLY

A22 H 47 C41 RED BROWN

fill MARKING

ONLY

B10 MC214 DARK IRON

S R S T

A C1096, Lt. H. J. Burden, No.56 Squadron, Valheureux, France, Spring 1918 The first Canadian fighter ace Henry John Burden was born on April 28th, 1894 in Toronto and his first taste of combat came in 1916 while with the Canadian Forestry Battalion in France. Originally, this unit was tasked with supplying wood as a strategic raw material to the British government. He joined the ranks of the RFC in April 1917, and after flight training he became a member of No.56 Squadron RFC in February 1918. The unit was equipped with the SE.5a. By the end of the war, he had 16 kills to his credit for which he was awarded the DSO and the DFC. White ‘3’, which Lt. Burden flew at the begin of 1918, carried the standard british camouflage scheme. Upper and side surfaces were painted khaki PC 10. The bottom surfaces remained in the normal canvas colour. The PC 10 colour partially bordered along the lower surfaces. The first series SE.5a aircraft built for the RAF, of which this aircraft was a part, differed in the location of the national markings on the wings.

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WHITE

H11 C62

GREEN

H309 C309

H51

WOOD

H37 C43

H5 C5

RED

H3 C3

LIGHT GRAY C11

BLUE

SAIL COLOR

H85 C45

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B F8146, 27th Aero Squadron, United States, 1922 The 27th Aero Squadron was formed on May 8th, 1917 in Texas, and later moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada to undergo training consistent with RFC norms. The unit arrived in France on March 18th, 1918 and began accumulating combat experience on June 2nd. The unit moved back to the States after the ceasation of hostilities. Between 1919 and 1922, the unit was equipped with the SE.5a and the SE.5e. Later, the unit was redesignated as the 27th Fighter Squadron and operates as such to this day, flying the F-22, as the first unit to reach operation status using the type. Aircraft that were used in the United States had their upper surfaces painted Olive, and the lower surfaces received only a clear coat. The national insignia remained in the same location as the British markings. The white pointed star on a blue background with a red centre was worn by US aircraft from August 1919. The unit insignia appears behind the fuselage markings.

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WHITE

H11 C62 H52

OLIVE DRAB C12

H51

LIGHT GRAY C11 SAIL COLOR

H85 C45

WOOD

H37 C43

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C F8953, 2nd Lt. S. C. Elliot, 85th Squadron, Ascq, France, December 1918 No.85 Squadron RFC was formed at Upavon in Great Britain on August 1st, 1917 and by May 1918, was moved to France and the midst of the fighting. Initially, the unit flew the Sopwith Dolphin and then re-equipped with the SE.5a. The aircraft flown by the Canadian Stuart C. Elliot was purchased with funds donated by the people of the town of Crieff, as indicated by the dedication inscription behind the roundel on the port side of the fuselage. The inscription partially obscures the markings of the 85th Squadron, a hexagon.

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H51

LIGHT GRAY C11

GREEN

H309 C309

WOOD

H37 C43

SAIL COLOR

H85 C45

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D F8038, 25th Aero Squadron, November 1918 The history of 25th Squadron began to be written on May 7th, 1917 at Kelly Field in Texas. Transfer across the ocean in January 1918 was followed by training in Great Britain, after which the unit moved again, this time to France. The unit also re-equipped with the SE.5a. On November 10, 1918, the first flights over the German side of the Front were undertaken. The unit was decommissioned the following year at Mitchell Field, New York. This aircraft carried the standard scheme that was applied to British aircraft. American aircraft during service carried national insignia in the form of roundels. This was because of the possibility of the original markings in the form of a five-pointed star on a blue background with a red centre being confused with German crosses. The executioner in black behind the fuselage roundel was the unit marking of the 25th Aero Squadron.

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WHITE

H11 C62

GREEN

H309 C309

H51

RED

H3 C3

H85 C45

WOOD

H37 C43

LIGHT GRAY C11 SAIL COLOR

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C1149, Capt. D. W. Grinnell-Milne, No.56 Squadron, Bethencourt, France, E January 1919 British fighter ace Duncan William Grinnell-Milne was born on August 6th, 1896 in London and at the age of thirteen he joined the ranks of the 5th Battalion Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own). After the beginning of the war, he was deemed too young for service at the Front, and was left on the island. He was subsequently assigned to the RFC and underwent pilot training. On September 29th, 1915 he received orders that assigned him to No.16 Squadron, RFC. As a member of this unit, he took part in the fighting, but on December 1st, 1916 he was shot down and taken prisoner. He managed to escape in April 1918 and return to the British side of the Front. After that, he was assigned to No.56 Squadron, equipped with the SE.5a. On December 17th, 1918 he was assigned CO of this unit. He had the fuselage of his SE.5a painted red and named it ‘Schweinhund’ as a reference to his time in German captivity.

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WHITE

H11 C62

GREEN

H309 C309

H51

WOOD

H37 C43

H3 C3

SAIL COLOR

H85 C45

LIGHT GRAY C11

RED

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