OK, well, here it finally is! I started a while back but haven't posted since I wasn't sure how things would go. But with most of the bracing rigging done, I guess I may actually finish!

This one is straight from the box, including decals, except (of course) for the rigging. I'm using EZ Line for the first time, the heavier weight for the bracing and the finer line for the control cables. Not totally authentic, but real nice to work with.

Anyway, here are a couple of shots of the model just before I closed up the engine and started to seriously paint:





More in a bit...

Here's where I actually am now. I used a small piece of plastic card on the bottom of the radiator for the "Artful Dodger" decal (which I suppose blows the out of the box thing) and used EZ Line for the rigging. I glued all the lenghths into my pre-drilled holes on the bottom wing and fuselage, then put the top wing on with only the cabines. This stuff is pretty good, I REALLY like that it stretches and doesn't break. With all the rigging on British aircraft, that's a big help! Krazy glue grabs it really fast, which is easier too.







Ailerons, exhausts and control wires next. Lewis gun LAST!

Michael

It seems to be coming along quite nicely. What did you use for PC10?

Carl,

Thank for the comment! I tried to stick pretty close to the Wingnut color callouts for Tamiya paints, including their mixes. But the PC10 they suggest was very brown, so I added some green to it until it looked like I wanted it to.

By the way, "Albatros" or "Albatross"? A question for the ages.

Michael

I like it ! you have done a super job on her so far , how did you find the fit of the cockpit combing and engine cowl ?

Heah , cool we joined the same date !

German = Albatros, English = Albatross

One is the company name one is not.

Terri,

I found the fit to be very good, if rather fiddley. Tolerances are very fine, even too much paint can throw them off, and the fairings over the cylinder banks were a little sloppy. All in all though, really very good!

Steven,

Ah, but did the company spell it right? Get it on a stick!


I did bust one of the cabines when fitting the top wing. Points to the first person who can tell which one!

Michael

Looking real good at this point. I melted the front of mine, and am a little gunshy at the moment. Finishing up the LVG. It looks like that one there is the cabane strut you broke!

I like the EZ line. I use both sizes the same way. I posted a Hobby Craft Spad on here awhile back, and I used two differnt sizes of EZ line for it. It was convincing. If you make a turnbuckle to wrap it through, and put a few twists around itself it makes a convincing Turnbuckle. I like it.
Cheers

Michael,
Great build my friend looks every inch of a SE.5a.Excellent paint too.Any more inprogress photo's?Keep up your the great works and thanks for posting.
Regards,
Gregory Jouette

OK, one way or another, for good or ill, it's done! Here is Gwilyam Lewis' S.E.5a built from the Wingnut Wings kit. The only things I added were paint, glue, rigging material (EZ Line heavy for bracing wires, fine for control lines) and a small piece of plastic card on the bottom of the radiator housing for the Artful Dodger decal.

This is the first fully rigged WWI aircraft I've done in a VERY long time, and my first Wingnut kit and my first with EZ Line. All in all, I'm pretty pleased, certainly the materials were first rate! So a lot of firsts!

Awaiting incoming fire!!

Michael

Michael,
Excellent project my friend.Very impressive SE-5a.What's your gem going to be?
Regards,
Gregory Jouette

Very decent build Michael.

Greg and Stephen,

Thank you for the comments. Things have been a little bumpy for me in the modeling realm lately, so it was nice to have a little incentive!

Greg, pardon my density, but "gem"?

Michael

Michael,
No worries my friend what I meant by Gem was your next great project.
Regards,
Gregory Jouette

Very nice build Michael

Nice work!

Good job Michael

Model of the Month material, I think.