foodstick

A good friend is building the 1/4 scale Balsa USA SE5a.. He seldom goes online...I thought I might research the plane for building tips,pics ,etc...

There is so little on the threads here ? It surprises me. Is this plane the unloved for its looks? or are there some flying issues? It should fly great with all that wing. I am just surprised there is so little shared info on the kit. Maybe SE5a guys are fliers not contributors !

I would have loved to see a build thread...

Steve Percifield

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I'm pretty sure that there are several build threads on RC Scale Builder Forum. The flying qualities are excellent. The kit builds easily. Except the nose gets a little busy. The best airplane from the Great War.

abufletcher

My guess is that BUSA builds go so quickly that no one has ever had time to document one! I think you just open the box, pull some sort of cord, and out they pop!!!

M_Callahan

It just seems that way because they are so much fun to build.

Mike

MaineBear

I wondered the same thing. Picked up mine shortly after it came out, then let it sit for over a year before starting my build. I intended doing a 'casual' scale build but it turned out more like scale build. Now, after about five (5!) years I'm calling mine 'finished'. You might call me a s-l-o-w builder, but it's been enjoyable. So many details to add -sheet metal parts, fittings, inprovising, trying new technigues/materials, making changes, etc etc. Haven't flown it yet but am very anxious to do so. Had planned to last month but had to resolve an ignition interference problem (now resloved).

Overall, I found the instruction manual excellent, well thought out, etc. and no major problems were encounted. However, in some areas I did deviate some in order to provide incorporate detail I was adding. If I can help you or your friend in his build just let me know.

Dick

abufletcher

BTW, Steve, I love that second photo!

Steve Percifield

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Don, that's my favorite photo of the Se5a
steve

Nieuport nut

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The original machine was amazingly complicated so that has scared a lot of people off. There is a good reason the GTM version is taking so long!. I was out yesterday with a friend who has made a 99.9% scale SE5A, and it is a sweetheart to fly. Just keep takeoffs and landings into the wind.

I think there is a real market for a more accurate sport version than the one put out by BUSA, However you can't argue with how well their version flies. I just wish their outline was a little more accurate. Bob Holman has the Dennis Bryant 1/4 scale plans, and short kits for a very accurate version but I've personally never seen one fly.

Martin

abufletcher

Incredibly complex...maybe one of the most sophisticated fighters of the WWI...really almost more like the later "between the wars" designs. The SE5a was really a racing car with wings. And I think this is why 90% of the SE5s you see at flying fields are just basic fun-scale versions. And as a fun scale version they are right up there with (fun-scale) Pups in terms of easy of flying. Unfortunately, my own SE5a has been a real handful each time I've flown it. Horrifying the first time and just "alarming" on the few subsequent flights. But I'm about ready to give it another go. I put it away for a long time to practice more rudder flying as it seems to be extremely sensitive to rudder input.

BobH

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When the SE5a entered service it was deemed "too stabile". The neuports were much more manuverable. Some of the pilots re-rigged their plane to take out the stability of the plane. What soon became obvious though was that have a stabile gun platform was a noticable advantage and the kill rates for the plane soon began to climb.

The SE5a is rigged with +5degrees dihedrel, +5 positive incidence on the wings and stab. Zero degrees thrust on the engine in both directions.

OldScaleGuy

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That is a great picture Steve. I have saved it to my desktop. This one is just as good looking up close as it in the pictures too!

Steve Percifield

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Why, thank you Steve...

Steve Percifield

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BTW, the credit for the picture goes to Rhonda Shelton. It was taken at the Derby Days Airshow 4 years ago. She has captured some great pictures of our planes, including a few we can't (shouldn't) print, here.

sp

JL1

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I have one flying, easy and fun build, good flyer