Don Coe 9 Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Since building the Bristol Fighter and the Fokker DVIII, I've completed the Micro Aces SE5A. This little gem of a kit really is a delight to put together. The next in line is the DH2 pusher and the 'DIXIE@ the Sopwith triplane. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Pilot Ben 28 Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Looks lovely Don! Link to post Share on other sites
Don Coe 9 Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 A belated "Thank you" to Ben. I mentioned that the next in line would be the Airco DH2. Well, here it is completed and ready for flight! Plus a close up of the revolving Gnome Mono engine, a little jewel of a model! Link to post Share on other sites
Pilot Ben 28 Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 (edited) The level of detail on the engine and prop assembly really is something else! I can honestly say Don that your modelling abilities seem limitless, and not to mention superb! I think the detailing and weathering on the rest of the model gives it a sublime finish; especially the front of the fuselage and landing gear! Edited June 29, 2018 by Pilot Ben Link to post Share on other sites
Don Coe 9 Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 Ben, Most of the plaudits for this model must go to the designer, Jon Porter, the Guv'nor at Micro Aces. All I had to do was to cut the parts out accurately and stick them together very carefully. It takes patience, I grant you, but it wouldn't have been successful had the kit not been accurately produced! Working on a model such as this - and there are a lot in the range - promotes valuable skills for our hobby. The instructions are available for free download from Jon's web site. Have a look at one for the SE5A at ... https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1162/1498/files/SE5a_Assembly_Guide_01H.pdf?13807237656149588389 and see how you would have got on with the construction! Link to post Share on other sites
Club Members Bravedan 106 Posted June 30, 2018 Club Members Share Posted June 30, 2018 Micro Aces really have got the printed finish off to a Tee, haven't they Don! I "put up" with the Ares products as I simply do not have the time for better. I keep looking though!! One day................................................ SIGH Link to post Share on other sites
Pilot Ben 28 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Do you mind me asking how long it took you to "build" Don? I've been looking at one for a while so that I can finally use my surplus DX5, only I have heard that they are quite fiddly.... B Link to post Share on other sites
Don Coe 9 Posted July 3, 2018 Author Share Posted July 3, 2018 They are fiddly - very fiddly, Ben, but are worth the trouble and if you go slowly and with patience, the results are most satisfying. Tweezers, a needle threader and knowledge of which adhesive to use where is an absolute must. That's why I suggested you study the instructions and imagine the build before you jump in at the deep end! Link to post Share on other sites
Club Members Bravedan 106 Posted July 3, 2018 Club Members Share Posted July 3, 2018 A little less fiddly and quite a bit less fiddly, depending on model chosen, are the micro range of balsa planes available from Banggood. While I have not built any, those I fly with have, and they have on occasion successfully tested their robustness to beyond that reasonable to ask for(!). I have flown/trimmed a couple and they do fly well in a none too large sports hall. https://www.banggood.com/Flea-Balsawood-358MM-Wingspan-Micro-RC-Airplane-Newton-Kit-With-Power-System-p-1122905.html https://www.banggood.com/Tiger-Moth-K10-400mm-Wingspan-Micro-RC-Balsa-Wood-Laser-Cut-RC-Airplane-Building-Kit-p-1237225.html https://www.banggood.com/Mini-Camel-Fighter-380mm-Wingspan-Balsa-Wood-Laser-Cut-RC-Airplane-Kit-p-1267512.html https://www.banggood.com/Fokker-E3-480mm-Wingspan-Balsa-Wood-Laser-Cut-RC-Airplane-KIT-p-1266615.html Banggood also sell receiver bricks with servos for budget costs. Link to post Share on other sites
Pilot Ben 28 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Hmmm I will have to take a closer look at those; perhaps over the coming winter. They all look really good, and the Tiggie especially could be a great build..... Link to post Share on other sites
Club Members Bravedan 106 Posted July 4, 2018 Club Members Share Posted July 4, 2018 They also did a SE5A and a couple of others inc Spacewalker, but may have dropped or just OOS, quick search did not turn them up. SE5A flew very well, balsa with just paper roundels so not as cosmetic as the Model Aces one. I note they now do a 400mm balsa frame Zero but that is unlikely to be OK Indoor!! I maidened an SE5A for Clive in our group and it flew excellently. Have also flown the TRIPLANE and that flew well but didn't like right hand turns much (allegedly quite scale then!!) Link to post Share on other sites
Don Coe 9 Posted July 4, 2018 Author Share Posted July 4, 2018 Bravedan. The balsa stick & tissue kits are OK and, as you say, fly quite well, but I find them far more tricky to build because they demand a high degree of accuracy if they are to look anything like the full size aeroplane. The covering and paint finishing is also an absolute pain to do,what with adding weight or introducing warps. One advantage these models have is that they are laser cut kits! Having said all that I confess to having three Aerographic models waiting to be covered and finishing - a Puss Moth, an Avro 504K and a Blackburn Monoplane "D" ! All of these have their parts printed onto sheet stock and needed to be cut out - not an easy job for the beginner in these days of laser-cut kits!! BTW - I don't want to give the impression that the MicroAce kits are difficult to build. They are certainly demand a delicate touch whilst being built but once up and running they are surprisingly tough little models and bounce of walls and furniture! Link to post Share on other sites
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