Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => The Great War GB => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on August 19, 2014, 04:15:50 AM

Title: 1/72 Scouting Experimental 7 - Weekend Warrior Edition
Post by: Brian da Basher on August 19, 2014, 04:15:50 AM
For a long time now, I've enjoyed re-working the venerable 1/72 Revell SE-5.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE-5Aboxandsprues.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE-5Aboxandsprues.jpg.html)

A kit this simple and well-engineered is absolutely ripe for "the Treatment". I've done versions with cowled radials and a canopy and others  where I substituted a SPAD or D.VII engine.

A few days ago, I pulled the last one out of the kit stash. What to do? The best I could come up with was grafting on the rotary engine from a Nieuport. Then I found an amputated Spitfire Merlin from the spares box. Some cut-down sprue made for serviceable exhaust manifolds.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_xprog_001.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_xprog_001.jpg.html)

I got ambitious and decided to do something I usually loathe - I detailed the 'pit! First I added a seat and then a lap belt and an instrument panel from old decals. The cherry on top is that suitably rakish windscreen I happened across. Can't recall what it came off of...

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_xprog_002.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_xprog_002.jpg.html)

I also decided my new sleek SE should be armed more conventionally with two guns on the engine decking. This meant hollowing out a little notch and adding a rear fairing made from part of an old drop tank. Luckily, I had a spare Vickers from a previously-built kit.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_xprog_003.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_xprog_003.jpg.html)

Here's how it all looked when I tacked on the prop from an ancient Testor's Spirit of St. Louis:

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_xprog_00_w_prop.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_xprog_00_w_prop.jpg.html)

Of course, this new Merlin engine would need to be properly cooled. I tried using the belly intake from a Hurricane.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_xprog_00_xbad_intake.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_xprog_00_xbad_intake.jpg.html)

It was too big and covered the holes for the landing gear struts. Having faith in the kit's engineering, I needed another solution. I decided to scratch a new cooling intake from card.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_xprog_00_xnew_intake_01.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_xprog_00_xnew_intake_01.jpg.html)

Wait something's missing...that looks like a long empty hallway down there!

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_xprog_00_xnew_intake_02.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_xprog_00_xnew_intake_02.jpg.html)

Oh no! How do I fix this?

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_xprog_00_Xnew_intake_splitterplate.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_xprog_00_Xnew_intake_splitterplate.jpg.html)

Add a splitter plate! This seemed a good idea as chances of me having the exact-size radiator rattling around the spares box are slim and none!

Will I succeed in making even a marginally creditable model out of this? Stay tuned to find out!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: 1/72 Scouting Experimental 7 - Weekend Warrior Edition
Post by: Brian da Basher on August 19, 2014, 05:42:27 AM
By Saturday afternoon, I was ready to attach the upper wing. I added a beam to the kit's interplane struts to make ones of that famous N shape. Not only would this make the model a little stronger, but it allowed me to eliminate four bits of rigging. By this point, I had the model mostly painted and the landing gear on as well. I decided not to modify the gear except for swapping out the kit wheels for some spatted Aeroclub replacements. Since I was so close to the finish line, I waited until it was all done to take more pics.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0000.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0000.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0001.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0001.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0002.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0002.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0003.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0003.jpg.html)

This is my idea of what a newer mark of Scouting Experimental might be like had the war continued into the mid-1920s. I imagine they'd use a steel tube frame instead of wood and maybe even add some armor plate for the pilot.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0004.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0004.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0005.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0005.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0006.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0006.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0007.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0007.jpg.html)

The camo is my take on how it might have evolved from some of the interesting patterns the R.A.F. used in 1918.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0008.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0008.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0009.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0009.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0010.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0010.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0011.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0011.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0012.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0012.jpg.html)

The model is brush-painted by hand with acrylics. I think I used most of the camo colors I have except for tan and dark olive drab.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0014_upper.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0014_upper.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0015_under.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0015_under.jpg.html)

Here's a closeup of the cockpit detail. I was surprised how much of it showed up in the photos. You really can't see it in the flesh unless you look very close.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0013_cockpit_detail.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0013_cockpit_detail.jpg.html)

The rigging was done with this lovely thin wire a friend sent me. It was made by a model railroad detail company and I haven't been able to find any more like it.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0017.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0017.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0018.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0018.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0019.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0019.jpg.html)

I had a lot of fun building this SE-7. It took me from Friday afternoon until late Sunday morning to finish it.

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0020.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0020.jpg.html)

(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g392/Bri2k/SE-7/SE7_0021.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/Bri2k/media/SE-7/SE7_0021.jpg.html)

I hope you like the pictures.

Brian da Basher





Title: Re: 1/72 Scouting Experimental 7 - Weekend Warrior Edition
Post by: finsrin on August 19, 2014, 06:36:13 AM
Painting, RIGGING, fine spats, and all is looking good  :)
Title: Re: 1/72 Scouting Experimental 7 - Weekend Warrior Edition
Post by: John Howling Mouse on September 08, 2014, 02:29:22 AM
You've come a long way, Mr. Basher. Very, very tight, clean build.  Beautiful end result, IMHO.
Title: Re: 1/72 Scouting Experimental 7 - Weekend Warrior Edition
Post by: Old Wombat on September 10, 2014, 08:06:27 AM
Hmm?! ... Taken me a while to respond to this, I don't know why. :-\

Great looking kite, BdB! :)

Looks like a shouldabeen, rather than a whif. Beautiful! 8)
Title: Re: 1/72 Scouting Experimental 7 - Weekend Warrior Edition
Post by: Dr. YoKai on September 10, 2014, 09:12:59 AM
 Don't feel bad - I missed it too :-[

 Great extrapolation of the S.E. 5, Brian!
Title: Re: 1/72 Scouting Experimental 7 - Weekend Warrior Edition
Post by: deathjester on October 04, 2014, 09:43:03 PM
Very nice work Brian, looks superb!!
Title: Re: 1/72 Scouting Experimental 7 - Weekend Warrior Edition
Post by: Buzzbomb on October 05, 2014, 02:02:04 AM
My excuse is being in Europe. Great work Brian, this aircraft has really nice lines
Title: Re: 1/72 Scouting Experimental 7 - Weekend Warrior Edition
Post by: Volkodav on December 03, 2014, 04:55:34 PM
That looks so right, so convincing, it should confuse the hell out of the rivet counters.