Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA37707
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a Diecast Model
RFC No.56 Sqn, C1149 Schweinhund, Duncan Grinnell-Milne, November 1918 | Limited Edition
1000
Pieces Worldwide |
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| 1:48 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a | | 5.25" | | 6.75" |
Duncan Grinnell-Milne was seconded to the Royal Flying Corps in 1915 and following his flying training, he joined No.16 Squadron in France, scoring his first aerial victory flying a BE2. In late 1915, he was shot down and crash landed behind enemy lines. Captured by German forces, he was forced to spend more than two years in a German prisoner of war camp, before eventually escaping and making his way back to France. Returning to flying duty as the Commanding Officer of No.56 Squadron RFC, Grinnell-Milne managed to score five more victories in the last weeks of the war. His unique SE5a (C1149/W) had a non-standard fuselage colour and carried the name "Schweinhund", which was a reference to how the German guards would address him and his fellow POWs.
At a time when the German Air Services were enjoying a period of air superiority over the Western front, the arrival of the British Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a fighter proved to be a significant development. At last, the RFC had an aircraft which was capable of taking on and beating the best German fighters and Allied airmen again began to claim a significant number of victories over their adversaries. In conjunction with the excellent Sopwith Camel, the SE5a was significant in regaining Allied air superiority over the trenches of the Western Front and crucially, ensured that they retained control for the rest of the war. The SE5a was undoubtedly one of the finest fighter aircraft of the Great Air War.
Designed by H.P.Folland as an easy-to-fly fighter, The Royal Aircraft Factory's S.E.5a bi-plane was first flown in 1917. Together with the Sopwith Camel, the S.E.5 was instrumental in regaining allied air superiority. Both friend and foe recognized the S.E.5 as a formidable fighting machine. It was fast, extremely strong and easy to fly, and was the aircraft of many WWI aces. Later model S.E.5a's had Wolseley Viper 200 hp engines, which ended the engine problems of earlier designs. A Vickers gun was fired through the air screw with synchronizing gear, and a Lewis could be fired over the top wing or directly upwards. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi's 1:48 scale S.E.5a models are a part of their popular WWI series. These models are beautifully detailed, with fine gauge wire used to represent bracing wires between the simulated fabric stretched wings. The cylinder heads of the V-8 Hispano-Suiza engine rise through the cowling and feature separately applied long exhaust pipes on both sides of the fuselage. A finely detailed photo-etched metal gun sight and a telescopic "Aldis" gun sight are mounted in front of a detailed pilot figure. The Lewis machine gun, with its Foster mount, is wonderfully detailed on the top wing. A two or four bladed propeller is mounted in front of the radiator shutters, and there is a gun port for the second, internal gun. The model rests on rolling rubber tires that accurately simulate the gray color that vulcanized natural rubber takes on after prolonged exposure to sunlight.
© Copyright 2003-2022 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored.
Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
- Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
- Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
