SE.5a Night Fighter BRITISH WWI FIGHTER 1/48 SCALE PLASTIC KIT

ProfiPACK #82133

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 150 hp 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, 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, , 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 200 hp 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 Hispano- Suiza 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. 82133 - 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 INSTR. SYMBOLY INSTRUKTION SINNBILDEN SYMBOLES

OPTIONAL BEND OPEN HOLE SYMETRICAL ASSEMBLY REMOVE REVERSE SIDE APPLY EDUARD MASK VOLBA OHNOUT VYVRTAT OTVOR SYMETRICKÁ MONTÁŽ ODŘÍZNOUT OTOČIT AND PAINT POUŽÍT EDUARD MASK NABARVIT PARTS DÍLY TEILE PIECES PLASTIC PARTS A> 82130 A C>

82130 C

B> 82130 B

RP - RESIN PARTS

R32 R29 R30 2 pcs. R33 R34 -Parts not for use. -Teile werden nicht verwendet. -Pieces a ne pas utiliser. -Tyto díly nepoužívejte při stavbě. -

COLOURS BARVY FARBEN PEINTURE

GSi Creos (GUNZE) MISSION MODELS AQUEOUS Mr.COLOR PAINTS GSi Creos (GUNZE) MISSION MODELS H11 C62 MMP-001 FLAT WHITE AQUEOUS Mr.COLOR PAINTS H12 C33 MMP-047 FLAT BLACK H309 C309 MMP-031 GREEN H37 C43 MMP-012 WOOD BROWN H334 C334 MMP-102 BARLEY GRAY H47 C41 MMP-012 RED BROWN Mr.METAL COLOR METALLICS H51 C11 MMP-063 LIGHT GULL GRAY MC214 MMM-001 DARK IRON H65 C18 MMP-088 BLACK GREEN MC218 MMM-003 ALUMINIUM H85 C45 MMP-019 SAIL COLOR MC219 MMM-009 BRASS 2 A B25 B B19 B25 H47 MMP C41 012 B40 RED BROWN MC214 H37 MC218 MMM C43 H12 MMP MMM MC218 001 WOOD BROWN C33 047 003 MMM MC214 DARK IRON FLAT BLACK ALUMINIUM 003 MMM ALUMINIUM 001 PE30 DARK IRON H37 C43 MC218 WOOD BROWN MMM B20 C 003 ALUMINIUM B49 PE45 B22 PE46 H47 MMP C41 012 PE10 decal 36 RED BROWN PE6 decal 34 PE1 PE2

H37 B63 C43 WOOD BROWN

MC218 MC219 MMM MMM 003 PE3 009 ALUMINIUM BRASS B36 B37 PE35 H12 MMP C33 047 PE3PE3 MC218 H 37 FLAT BLACK MMM C43 003 WOOD BROWN ALUMINIUM PE29

MC218 MMM 003 B15 ALUMINIUM

C

H37 C43 WOOD BROWN B51

PE45

H37 C43 B WOOD BROWN A B48

H37 C43 WOOD BROWN PE15 B33

MC219 B8 MMM MC214 009 MMM BRASS 001 B43 DARK IRON B33 H37 C43 B43 WOOD BROWN

H37 C43 B52 WOOD BROWN PE46 3 D MC214 PE21 MMM step 1 step 2 001 MC214 DARK IRON MMM 001 wire DARK IRON B12

MC214 MMM 001 DARK IRON PE27 wire H37 C43 WOOD BROWN

MC219 MC214 MMM MMM 009 B53 001 DARK IRON BRASS H47 MMP MC218 C41 012 B44 MMM RED BROWN 003 ALUMINIUM H37 B55 C43 WOOD BROWN

H85 C45 B55 SAIL COLOR

B12, PE27

MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM A20 A20

H37 C43 WOOD BROWN

MC214 MMM B8 B33 B53 B12 B25 B22 001 B63 PE40 DARK IRON

B8 B19 B20 A20 B43 PE40 B43 B33 B49 B48 B55 A20

C5 H12 MMP OPTIONAL: decals C33 047 PE21 FLAT BLACK B4 MC214 34 35 34 MMM 001 32 DARK IRON decal 31 34 B11

H37 A9 C43 33 WOOD BROWN H12 MMP C33 047 FLAT BLACK PE26

H37 C43 PE5 WOOD BROWN MC219 PE13 MMM 009 BRASS B4 PE7 B27 PE12 H37 C43 PE11 PE33 WOOD BROWN PE8 PE9 4 MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM

MC218 MMM B70 003 ALUMINIUM H37 C43 WOOD BROWN MC219 MMM 009 BRASS

H85 C45 SAIL COLOR B39

MC219 PE16 MMM 009 BRASS

H37 C43 WOOD BROWN

B3

MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM A23 H85 C45 SAIL COLOR

H37 C43 B5 WOOD BROWN MC218 MMM B70 003 ALUMINIUM B43 MC214 B13 MMM H37 001 C43 DARK IRON WOOD BROWN

D

5 B66 B72 B7 B1

B71 B64 B2 B6

E MARKINGS A ; C ; D MARKING B

MC219 H12 MMP MMM B54 C33 047 MC219 009 B54 H12 MMP FLAT BLACK MMM 047 BRASS 009 C33 FLAT BLACK BRASS

MC219 MMM 009 MC218 BRASS MMM B34 003 MC218 B34 ALUMINIUM MMM 003 MC218 ALUMINIUM MMM B46 003 B46 ALUMINIUM B46 B46 MC218 H12 MMP MMM MC218 C33 047 003 H12 MMP MMM FLAT BLACK ALUMINIUM C33 047 003 FLAT BLACK ALUMINIUM H12 MMP C33 047 H12 MMP FLAT BLACK C33 047 B62 FLAT BLACK B69

MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM

B61 B67 MC218 MC218 MMM MMM 003 003 ALUMINIUM B58 ALUMINIUM

G MARKINGS A ; C ; D C1

H47 MMP C41 012 RED BROWN

B73 H37 B9 C43 WOOD BROWN F H47 MMP C41 012 B21 RED BROWN

MC218 B9 MMM PE19 003 MC218 ALUMINIUM MMM 003 ALUMINIUM MC219 MMM B38 009 BRASS PE4 6 A27 A21 X C10 COLOR H85 C45 SAIL H37 C43 WOOD BROWN 003 MMM MC218 ALUMINIUM X B65 A26 X C9 E

7 B14 A24 ALUMINIUM MC218 MMM 003 PE28 DARK IRON MC214 MMM 001 FLA H12 C33 T BLACK MMP 047 PE18 PE23 B14 B14 F X C6 X C1 1 A6 A5

8 C3 A C PE22 C3 - MARKINGS ; C2 - MARKINGS B ; D

H12 MMP PE31 C33 047 C2 FLAT BLACK C4

PE17

fill MARKINGS A ; C ; D ONLY

MC219 MMM G B41 009 B18, B24, B26, - BRASS MARKINGS A ; C ; D ONLY G

MC219 MMM 009 BRASS

B26

B18 MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM B24 9 B17, B60 - MARKING B ONLY B60

MC219 MMM 009 BRASS

MARKING B ONLY

MC219 MMM 009 B28 BRASS

B17 MC218 MMM 003 ALUMINIUM H I C7 C8

A12 X X A12 PE42 PE44

H309 MMP C309 031 H309 MMP GREEN C309 031 GREEN

A12 A12

J K CAMOUFLAGE COLOR CAMOUFLAGE PE44 PE42 COLOR

A20 A20 10 H309 MMP B32 C309 031 GREEN

A2 A18

B30 B30

H B21, B73 B60

A12

A15 A1 A14

MC214 MMM 001 DARK IRON A19 A17 A18 A16 I

J A14 A13

MARKINGS C ; D ONLY K

B3, B70

PE34

H309 MMP C309 031 GREEN

PE32 11 eduard A7 A25 82133 A7 A25

C6 C7 C9 C10 C1

C3 C2 C8 C11

L MC214 MC214 MMM MMM 001 PE39 001 PE39 DARK IRON DARK IRON

A27 MC214 MC214 MMM A2 001 MMM PE39 DARK IRON 001 PE39 DARK IRON

A26 A20 A1 A12

A20 A12

M A28 - MARKINGS A28 A ; B ; C A7

A29 - MARKINGS A ; B ; C A29 A3 A3 - MARKINGS D A10

A4 A4 - MARKINGS A25 D 12 - 1,4 mm MARKING A l - 1,5 mm RP32

8 mm CAMOUFLAGE PE48 COLOR B16 right B57 left

CAMOUFLAGE B35 COLOR PE14

MC214 B16, RP32 B57, RP32 MMM 001 DARK IRON

MARKING B - 1,4 mm l - 1,5 mm RP30 right

RP29 left

12 mm CAMOUFLAGE PE49 COLOR B16 right B57 left PE48

CAMOUFLAGE COLOR

CAMOUFLAGE B35 COLOR PE14

MC214 B16, RP30 B57, RP29 MMM 001 DARK IRON

MARKINGS C , D

RP33 right RP34 left PE47

B35 3,5 mm PE47 PE14

CAMOUFLAGE COLOR

MC214 MMM B16 right B57 left 001 DARK IRON

13 N O A12 B29 ALUMINIUM MC218 MMM 003 A12 B31 A16 ALUMINIUM MC218 MMM 003 A18 N L O M step 1 A8 DARK IRON MC214 MMM 001 L step 2 A1 1

14 P Q A11 MC214 PE41 MC214 MMM MMM PE41 001 001 DARK IRON DARK IRON

CAMOUFLAGE COLOR PE44 PE42

CAMOUFLAGE A5 COLOR A6

PE36 MC214 B3, B70 MMM 001 A21 DARK IRON A21

R S A8 MC214 MC214 MMM MMM PE41 001 PE41 001 DARK IRON DARK IRON

A6 A5

B3, B70 PE43 MC214 A21 MMM 001 A21 DARK IRON

T MARKINGS B ; C ; D ONLY U MARKINGS B ; C ; D ONLY

H47 MMP C41 012 PE25 RED BROWN PE20 MC214 MMM 001 B68 DARK IRON PE37

MC214 MMM 001 DARK IRON MC214 MMM PE24 001 B47 DARK IRON

6 pcs. V MARKING B ONLY H12 MMP C33 047 - 1 mm FLAT BLACK l - 2,2 mm 6 pcs. plastic

PE52

PE50 PE51 - 0,3 mm

15 MC214 T MMM B47 001 B47, B68, B75 - MARKINGS DARK IRON B75 B ; C ; D ONLY H37 C43 L WOOD BROWN U B68 H37 C43 Q WOOD BROWN P

B10 A22 Q

H47 MMP C41 012 RED BROWN

MC214 MMM 001 DARK IRON L

MC214 MMM 001 DARK IRON

B23 B59 B23 - MARKING A B10 - MARKING B B59 - MARKINGS C ; D S R

S V

16 B658, flown by Capt. Cecil Lewis, No. 61 (Home Defence) Squadron, Rochford, A United Kingdom, Cecil Arthur Lewis was born on March 29th, 1898 and joined the RFC in 1915 and served with No.3 Squadron equipped with the Morane Parasol. Between May and June 1917, he flew SE.5as with the well known No. 56 Squadron. This was followed by stints with Home Defence units, but by the second half of 1918 he found himself back in France serving with No. 152 Squadron, as a night fighter flying the Sopwith Camel. After the war, he left the service and was one of the founders of the BBC for which he wrote, produced and served as its CEO. In 1938 he received an Oscar for his script for the film Pygmalion. At the beginning of the Second World War, he joined the RAFVR and he served in southern Europe. In 1947, he established a farm in South Africa and returned to United Kingdom in 1950. From 1956, he worked as a reporter for the . After retiring, he moved to the island of Korfu, where he would live out the rest of his life but never stopped writing. He died on January 27th, 1997 in London.

17 C1805, flown by Lt. W. R. Oulton, No. 143 (Home Defence) Squadron, Detling, B United Kingdom, May 1918 No.143 Squadron was formed on February 1st, 1918 at Throwley and was equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8. In March of the same year, it was re-equipped with the SE.5a and moved to Detling. On the night of May 19-20, the unit took part in the interception of the first German raid by Gotha bombers on London. 'Night fighting' SE.5a aircraft were camouflaged in a special coating called NIVO (Night Invisible Varnish Orfordness), and was also applied over the white rings in the national roundels. The white band on the rudder was likely painted over with PC-10. There are six Holt flare holders below the fuselage.

H309MMP H11 MMP GREEN WHITE C309 031 C62 001

DARK H65 MMP SAIL H85 WOOD H37 LIGHT H51 MMP GREEN C18 077 COLOR C45 BROWN C43 GRAY C11 063 eduard 18 flown by Capt. Gilbert Insall VC, No. 50 (Home Defence) Squadron, Bekesbourne, C United Kingdom, May/ Gilbert Insall entered the ranks of the RFC on March 14th, 1915 as a 2nd and was assigned to No. 11 Squadron. For his salvaging of his Vickers FB.5 Gunbus on November 7th, 1915, he was awarded the . He would not be able to claim it, though, until September 27th, 1917, upon his escape from captivity after being shot down on December 14th, 1915. After his return to service, he was assigned to No. 50 Squadron where he was Flight A leader. He remained a military pilot after the end of the First World War and retired on June 30th, 1945. He passed away on February 17th, 1972 and his Victoria Cross found its way into the collection of the RAF Museum in Hendon. The white ring on the national markings on the upper wings and the white band on the rudder were overpainted in the camouflage colour NIVO that were used to help conceal the aircraft on the upper and side surfaces. The white ring on the national markings on the fuselage was overpainted with red colour.

eduard D5995, flown by Lt. L. Lucas, No. 50 (Home Defence) Squadron, Bekesbourne, D United Kingdom, summer 1918 No.50 Squadron, RFC, was formed on May 15th, 1916 in and equipped with RAF BE.2 and BE.12 aircraft. Their task was to defend United Kingdom against German airship and bomber attacks. At the beginning of 1918, the unit was re-equipped with the Sopwith Camel and the SE.5a, and these were flown up to the squadron's disbandment on June 13th, 1919. The unit was reactivated in 1937 as a bomber element and remained active, with small breaks, until 1984. The aircraft is camouflaged on the upper and side surfaces in PC10 and the lower surfaces remained in the colour of canvas. The white within the national markings on the upper wings were subdued with the camouflage paint and the rudder carried nonstandard bands in blue and red. The covers on the ends of the exhaust pipes prevented blinding the pilot at night and were a field level modification.

© EDUARD M.A., 2018 www.eduard.com Printed in Czech Republic