Roden is a Ukrainian manufacturer - in terms of quality, they are definitely mainstream!
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5A was the second most successful British fighter of WWI ( after the Sopwith Camel ), the early models had a Hispano Suiza engine, the later a licensed copy, the Wolsley Viper ( this boxing ). The mpdel comes in several boxings, with common sprues. Mine came from ebay (at a good price ), and the parts not needed have already been disposed of!
Sturdy box & lovely boxart
Sprue shots:
Faint whispers of flash, here & there ( gaps where unused parts have been removed ), otherwise clean mouldings with small ingates.
Not a massive amount on the decal sheet - 3 marking options, all the same colour........................
Instructions - printed on A4 paper, look pretty clear
Colours referenced to Humbrol - I'm not going to jump into accuracy, that's an ongoing controversy that I'm steering well clear of!
No specific rigging diagram - you're referred to the boxart.
Detail shots:
Very subtle moulding on the fuselage - doped fabric over wooden formers.
This looks to be well within the capability of most modellers, although experience of building biplanes is needed! The step of adding rigging is another matter - the lack of a proper rigging drawing isn't good, but easily overcome by downloading the instructions for the Eduard 1/48 SE, which does have one! No PE parts, but they are available.
The Roden & the Eduard models are head to head, I have the Eduard Weekend SE in the stash, and a comparison doesn't show a great deal of difference, although the Roden model is perhaps a little finer, and I don't like the control pulley cutouts on the Eduard model.
Availability? The Roden model is available from a few UK stockists, although prices do vary between £23 & £29 ( + p&p ). The Eduard model is discontinued, but if you can pick up the Profipack version off ebay at a good price, it may be a better alternative. It depends on what you can find at a price you like.............
Dave
The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5A was the second most successful British fighter of WWI ( after the Sopwith Camel ), the early models had a Hispano Suiza engine, the later a licensed copy, the Wolsley Viper ( this boxing ). The mpdel comes in several boxings, with common sprues. Mine came from ebay (at a good price ), and the parts not needed have already been disposed of!
Sturdy box & lovely boxart
Sprue shots:
Faint whispers of flash, here & there ( gaps where unused parts have been removed ), otherwise clean mouldings with small ingates.
Not a massive amount on the decal sheet - 3 marking options, all the same colour........................
Instructions - printed on A4 paper, look pretty clear
Colours referenced to Humbrol - I'm not going to jump into accuracy, that's an ongoing controversy that I'm steering well clear of!
No specific rigging diagram - you're referred to the boxart.
Detail shots:
Very subtle moulding on the fuselage - doped fabric over wooden formers.
This looks to be well within the capability of most modellers, although experience of building biplanes is needed! The step of adding rigging is another matter - the lack of a proper rigging drawing isn't good, but easily overcome by downloading the instructions for the Eduard 1/48 SE, which does have one! No PE parts, but they are available.
The Roden & the Eduard models are head to head, I have the Eduard Weekend SE in the stash, and a comparison doesn't show a great deal of difference, although the Roden model is perhaps a little finer, and I don't like the control pulley cutouts on the Eduard model.
Availability? The Roden model is available from a few UK stockists, although prices do vary between £23 & £29 ( + p&p ). The Eduard model is discontinued, but if you can pick up the Profipack version off ebay at a good price, it may be a better alternative. It depends on what you can find at a price you like.............
Dave
