SPA Modeler

Bruce, you are making a much more accurate model than I am. My intention is to add just the rigging to the Aurora plastic. I can see from comparing it to photos and the 1/48 and 1/32 kits I have of the Se 5 that it's better to keep this one on the fun rather than the serious side. I also felt, when I rebuilt the Monogram 109E that I built originally in the 60's the model lost something when I added the resin interior and new canopy. Nostalgia can be fickle, I think.

Duke, there's still a lot of fixing to do on the Se 5, glue spots and obvious rigging holes that need to be filled.

John I’m with you on that approach. I’m trying to keep with the original kit as much as possible. Enhancing the parts rather than replacing.

Torben!

From the Jasta 14 sample pages, the book looks incredible, fully justifying its cost; I also purchased the Harry Lange (another awesome German) drawings and concepts for 2001 ASO; viewing these images is an absolutely humbling experience from my perspective as a fella who likes to make line drawings; to wit: there are line drawings and then there are Harry Lange’s line drawings, really. (I’m tired, gents, really tired.)

John Eaton!

There are so many overall concessions I’m making to the Aurora Smer kit I don’t feel it’s very accurate, but I like it very much, which is saying something, that despite or perhaps because of its flaws (really simplifications or translations from what is really there to a scale model) I find it to be rewarding and fun. It is a detailed enough study model. The Eduard kit version has the right stuff and the new tooling.

I think it’s important to note that my building time is 45 minutes five to six times a week. So.

Last night I added the seat belts!

Insert imaginary photo of seat belts here.

Kitsworld decal seatbelts are wonderful! I have always wanted to try Radu paper belts but I think KW may be better due to more ease of assembly and placement. Radu’s may be slightly more realistic? I think so. I like the effect quite a bit and especially in quarter scale.

Bruce, I get to spend a lot of time at the bench, and I'm actually doing more than usual at the moment because I will have to put a lot of time into building a garage this year and that will put a serious dent in my modeling time. I've been retired for 12 years and have figured out that modeling is one of those things that makes me feel good so I do it. I can spend hours at a time at it without getting bored. Frustrated, well that depends on how the model is going which relates to how much time I am spending on the floor trying to find a part or fixing some stupid mistake or other skill related issues.

I am calling the S.E.5 done, it was a fun build and I'm pleased with the look of it. Here are the pictures.

Hone Run, John!

That's some nice looking rigging John!

Sensational job John! Man, I love that plane!

That is a superb SE5a John!

Well that sure didn’t take you very long...
Very nicely done!

Thanks, everyone, much appreciated. Definitely a perfection is the enemy of progress attitude kept my speed up. Hopefully John Kim won't look in!