vintageflyer

My Feedback: (1)

OK.. Now this may sound stupid, is that picture Your plane or full scale? Seriously.
Sad thing about it, I'm thinking that I'd like to do something like that! You are truley inspiring Steve.


Dave

smcouch77

Thanks Dave. That's the best compliment a scale builder can hope for. Here's the whole picture before cropping.
Steve

vintageflyer

My Feedback: (1)

Well it's a good thing you don't have a lathe. I wouldn't put it past you to scale down an engine too, part by part.
I never really cared too much about scale. Maybe because where I live at nobady has planes of this caliber. I see how it can be addicting though. When I was around 12-13, I chose to quite plastic models because it was getting out of hand. I wanted to reproduce all the wire, plumbing, seats, etc.. and go as small as I could. I never did build a model I was "satisfied" with. I figured I never would be. I can relate a bit about that, and I'm glad to see that You've built your perfect model. Even with the patients, I don't think I could bring myself to that level. I guess I would have to learn to "enjoy the road passing" than having expectations of the destination. Otherwise I think I would lose my patients, go crazy, quite R/C, and wind up in a stray jacket! [X(] In the mean time, I think I'll just sit back and enjoy your posts.

Dave

rwright142

Steve,

Excellent build. I live in Mooresville, not far from Indy. Where do you fly?

vintageflyer

My Feedback: (1)

Did you ever mention what set of plans you built this from? Is it a scaled down original???

Dave

farr301

Son of a gun. That is what all scale planes should look like. Amazing build. Nothing more to say.

Farr301

smcouch77

Dave. I know what you mean about the straight jacket! I built it over a 2 1/2 year period. When it started feeling like a chore, I stopped and worked on something else for a while. I made my own plans from several sets of three views and a big bunch of pictures.

RWRight. I live on the N.E. side of Indy. We are looking for a new flying site. I drive up to Muncie most of the time. I'll PM you my phone number. Give me a call and we'll get together and burn some fuel!

Farr301. Thank you very much.
Steve

pachemin

WoW!!!! Amazing build congratulations

alcarafa

Hi Steve : this plane is just a masterpiece, your job inspires anyone in this hobby.

Have tried to do some scale planes, but compared to your SE 5A my essays are just a joke.

Congratulations for the job, I hope I could find in México all kind of materials to achieve something close to your plane, unfortunately down here to build a plane like yours would cost a fortune.

Woooow what else can I say, just awsome.

Regards.
Rafa

smcouch77

Thanks guys. I appreciate the compliments.
Rafa, Don't think that planes have to be expensive. I made most of this one with bits and pieces of stuff around the house. I spent less than $300 over a two year period (not counting the engine and electronics which I already had). Most everything you need can be found online or at a hardware store. And if you can't find something there are a bunch of guys here at RCU who will be glad to help. Just have fun building.
Steve

alfredbmor

Steve:
Your instrumental panel looks so real, I'd like to know where you obtained all parts (besides the micro fasteners).
I have still untouched the new box that came from tower hobbies on 2006 Christmas containing the dynaflite S.E. 5A, meanwhile I have finished other projects and learned to fly helis. Now I am coming back to the building bench and I'd like to have a detailed scale S.E. 5A and I want you to help me on the searching of some micro stuff.
You did a great job on yours and I am aware of the invested time and care to accomplish this magnificent job. Congratulations and I hope that you will be able soon to get into new scale events.
Thanks.

Alfredo

smcouch77

Hi Alfredo.
I'll be glad to help, if I can. I made the Instruments by drawing them with Model Cad. I printed them at the right size and cut them out. The bezels are made by cutting rings out of anything I could find that was the right diameter ( ink pens, plastic tubing, metal tubing, etc.)
The compass is a shaped and hollowed out piece of dowel rod I cut the face ring from brass plate and stamped the "screws" with a nail set.
The inner ring is printed on card stock and is suspended with wire.
My basic approach to making any detail piece is to look at as many pictures of it as I can, then ask "What can I make this out of ?"
Steve

alfredbmor

Great tips, thanks for sharing, Thanks a lot.

vintageflyer

My Feedback: (1)

$300 for 2.5 years of modeling this plane. That's probably cheaper than your cable bill!
Well I am trying to put some time aside this summer for my first scale build. A Proctor Antic. I know, it's not C/L, but it is an airplane. Just as I typed that I thought, why Not make it a C/L? [X(] Maybe I'll do just that!
Thanks for the inspiration Steve. I feel as excited as I did when I first dicovered model airplanes. I'll just have to be sure that I keep an eye out for that staight jacket


Thanks again for sharing your plane w/ us Steve.


Dave

smcouch77

Hi Dave. I've never built a proctor kit, but I've heard they are top notch. Good luck with your's! And don't worry too much about the straight jacket. Mine is really quite comfy!
Steve

smcouch77

I’ve made a couple of improvements to the nose area.
First, when I made the radiator, I made a mistake on the shape of the top. I had to redo it for the top engine cowl to work, but by then I had already made the louvers and they were too tall. The bottoms were damaged in the nose over, so I went ahead and shortened them to the proper height and lowered them. Now the right amount of radiator core shows at the top.
Second, was the scale prop. The three views show the trailing edge to be straight. The photos show that there’s a curve at the hub. This curve is needed for the prop to clear the synchronizer pump gear. Also I wanted a laminated prop since the full scale props are laminated. So I took off the thrust washer and made a new prop to the proper shape. I remounted the synchronizer pump back to the scale location, so now there’s a safe clearance for the flying prop.
Finally, I decided to go with the fairings over the bungee cords on the landing gear. I made a small Vac-U-Form box and carved plugs for the top and bottom pieces out of balsa. I pressed the rivets with the dies I used on the metal parts. They worked fine on the plastic. Cutting the top piece to shape was a real chore. It took several attempts to get it right. This has to be the most complicated piece on the whole aircraft!
Steve

smcouch77

I finished the bungee fairings today. I really like the vac u form. I can see a lot of formed parts in the future.
Steve

timfarrar

Steve, did you make that vacuume forming machine ?

Seeya, Tim

smcouch77

Hi Tim. I sure did! If you want, I'll send you a PM with the specifics.
Steve

timfarrar

Great Steve...

I already have a real good ideal what to do but if you dont mind it would be great to see your instructions too.

But just do it sometime when you have the time because it is no hurry on my end. It is just something I am interested in making someday.

Thanks, Tim

Swamp3r

I've never read a thread word for word that long before but your work got me hooked to it. Beautiful planePlease don't fly it anymore......lol. It's too pretty to fly.

alfredbmor

Hi Steve, I am still following this thread closely as I am building my Dynaflite SE5A.
I'd like to know where you get that tin material that you used to build the tank cover and many other detailed things that you have done here. Which size or caliber is?

Thanks.

Alfredo

smcouch77

Hi Alfredo. Most of the metal parts are brass or aluminum. I get it at the hobby shop. Some parts are just aluminum, like the covers over the engine and the Vickers gun. Those are .016". Other parts, like the wing tank, are made by gluing an aluminum foil with the rivets pressed in over plywood. The foil is .005" and you can get it at craft stores like Michael's or Hobby Lobby.
Good luck with your plane and let us know how it's going.
Steve

alfredbmor

Steve:
Thanks for your help, I will look for that aluminum deeply in my LHS and there are some Michaels and Hobby Lobby shops in the area so I think that I will find the foil soon.
My building process is almost done, now I'd like to focus on detailing.
I am very happy to count with you and this fabulous thread; you have an incredible patience and great skills. Thanks for everything. I will be around.
Alfredo.

smcouch77

I've started building a 1/3 scale model of this plane for R/C. If you want to follow the build, here's the link.
Steve
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7397127/tm.htm
PS That "Little Plane" at the end of the bench is my 1/6 scale.