1:72 SE.5a rigging wire and exterior details set

SE.5a — bracing wires and exterior details, 1:72 (SBS Model)

A photo-etched set in 1:72 scale intended for a model of the British SE.5a fighter biplane. It is not a kit — it is an accessory that solves the hardest part of building a biplane: the bracing wires between the wings. Against stretched fishing line or wire, flat etched wires have the correct profile, hold their shape and do not go slack, so the interplane bracing looks technically right even in a small scale. The set also adds exterior details of the airframe.

The real subject

The SE.5a was a British single-seat fighter biplane from the end of the First World War. Against the lighter and more agile types of the day it relied on speed, stability and a good view, which made it a steady gun platform. Its most characteristic feature is the dense web of bracing wires between the wings and the tail surfaces — and that is exactly what decides the final impression of a model.

Building and painting tips

Paint the etched parts separately while they still hold in the fret — once they are cut free, handling becomes unpleasant. The wires are glued with super glue, ideally just a drop carried on a piece of wire rather than straight from the tube. Drill the attachment holes in the wing with a pin vise before you cement the two halves together. Work systematically from the inner pairs outward and let each pair cure before you start the next one, otherwise the half-finished structure will shift.

Who the set is for

• Builders of the SE.5a in 1:72 scale who dislike the look of bracing made from fishing line or wire.
• Modelers of First World War biplanes.
• Patient builders with experience of photo-etched parts and super glue.

The set is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The aircraft kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.