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

[McColm]

What about a pair of skis instead?

[nighthunter]

I have been strongly thinking about this every time I look at it, and I want to make it a Finnish Ilmavoimat kite, complete with winter camo and Hakaristi Insignia, and ski's. this will be a first for me as once I get the free time, I'll be scratchbuilding the skis from styrene.

[McColm]

History isn't my strongest subject so I'm guessing that the Tank would be fairly new so caterpillar tracks instead of wheels or skis would be too radical?

[nighthunter]

If tracks had been practical, the Finns would have used them in the '30s and '40s, would be my guess. Probably too much weight comparatively.

[NARSES2]

Caterpillar tracks (Continuous track) go back to the 1830's or so. (can't be bothered to check actual dates) although the idea came up in the late 1700's. Various aircraft including a B-36 have been fitted with them

[jcf]

Note that the tracks used on the handful of aircraft experiments were of the 'rubber band'
variety, not linked plates ala WWI and previous crawler designs.

A not uncommon solution in the pioneer aircraft days was wheels for takeoff, skids for landing.

[NARSES2]

Note that the tracks used on the handful of aircraft experiments were of the 'rubber band'

Yup, the few photographs I've found were continuous band although some of the photos are so poor that you can't really tell. It makes sense that they would be of the continuous band type.

One of the interesting experiments I found was for an A-20, now I could just imagine the Soviets using that but you still have the problem that you can't retract the undercarriage

[nighthunter]

So, becoming a thread necromancer, lol.

S.E.5a is almost finished. WIP pictures coming soon. Skis made from 1/700 scale Japanese small craft and other miscellaneous parts. Misplaced the Lewis gun, replaced the fuselage Vickers with 2 Spandau MGs from a wrecked Revell Fokker D.VII in a Nieuport 28 arrangement. Stole a seat out of a wrecked Italeri Hellcat and used it. All in all, a good looking kite. Just needs the camp and for me to find where I misplaced the damned decals that TsrJoe was kind enough to send me. This should make for a fun weekend...

[nighthunter]

And after the paint and wash:

[PR19_Kit]

I'm not the World's biggest bi-plane fan, but that looks terrific! 

What scale is it, it's difficult to tell from the pics, it looks big in some and tiny in others? 

[nighthunter]

Kit, it's the Revell 1/72 scale kit. Also, the items in the background of the first few WIP shots are of a large-ish Whistler BC coffee mug, and a standard sized ball point pen.

[PR19_Kit]

It IS a tiny little thing then! Nice job, and it'll be even better with the decals etc. 

[NARSES2]

That is coming on really well  

[nighthunter]

Kit, and Narses, thank you both, Decals today, hopefully...

[nighthunter]

Okay, so decals are on, and she got washed, today, the dulcoat went on, tomorrow, beauty shots!