R.A.F. S.E.5, FINISHED Finnish Ilmavoimat, 1927

[KiwiZac]

I don't know why but I really like that Revell kit, it's a real sweetheart. I love your skis! Great work! The idea of a Finnish SE appeals, especially with winter mods. Very keen to see the end result.

[nighthunter]

And, now for the main event.... Glamour Shots & Backstory, modeling that style after Dizzyfugu.

Finnish Ilmavoimat Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a



In early 1916 the Royal Aircraft Factory developed the S.E.5 fighter for the Royal Flying Corps. After the war, several surplus aircraft were donated and sold, sans machine guns, to the new country of Finland in support of the Whites, by several anti communists in Great Britain. The White Finns, always using their ingenuity, substituted LMG 08/15 "Spandau" 7.92mm machine guns for the Vickers .303 cal, due to the fact that there was a surplus of them.









The Finnish Whites modified the interrupter gear on the Hispano-Suiza 8 engines,to allow for two of the "Spandau" machine guns, mounted to the fuselage, one in the same location as the Vickers .303, and another on the left side, similar to the Nieuport N.28.







During the Finnish Civil War, the White's S.E.5's were instrumental in establishing air superiority, their engines performing better in the cold weather than the Gnome Rotaries of the Red's Nieuports. After the victory of the Whites in the Civil War, the S.E.5's were used as border patrol aircraft, and flew with to their Great War adversary, the Fokker D.VII.







In 1928, the few remaining S.E.5a's were being used as advanced trainers, alongside the D.VII's, and SPAD's. The last S.E.5 was retired in 1931 and placed in the Ilmavoimat Museum. Aircraft #54, was found in the museum's storage hanger in 1954 and restored to flying condition in 1987.

[PR19_Kit]

That works VERY well, Finnish scheme suits the SE5 very well. Nice job. 

[nighthunter]

Thanks Kit!

[major]

Oooo! That's cracking! 

[The Rat]

Kaunis! 

[Old Wombat]

Rather spiffing in that Finnish finish, what!

[nighthunter]

Glamour picture post updated with back story.

Thanks all!

[Dizzyfugu]

Pretty! 

[Spey_Phantom]

very nice work there 

[NARSES2]

That's come out really well mate 

[nighthunter]

Thanks all, for your kind words. Now to get cracking on the Hawker Hunter, lol!

[comrade harps]

Very nice. 

[zenrat]

Cool.

[lancer]

That is very nice. It looks very different on ski's