30.RAF SE5*FIRST EDITION
IMMORTALISED BY ALBERT BALL VC
THE classic RAF SE5 that was employed to good effect by No.56 Squadron pilots in early 1917. Jack Bruce wrote our 30th DATAFILE in 1991 and provided over 50 rare archive photos from his joint archives with G S Leslie. This 36 page First Edition contains 36 pages plus covers, and features 1:72 and 1:48 scale drawings by Ian Stair that present both the extended and reduced wing planforms. There's a contemporary rigging diagram and four pages of airframe details from the 1917-dated handbook providing invaluable reference for modellers. Series editor Ray Rimell provides a model kit survey, camouflage and markings note as well as the rear cover's three colour profiles. These few remaining copies are slightly yellowed with age but are in otherwise good condition and fully complete.
THE Royal Aircraft Factory's Scouting Experimental No.5 entered service in April 1917 and operated on the Western Front serving four RFC squadrons. Chief among these was No.56 where the legendary Captain Albert Ball initially condemned it as 'a rotten machine' but would revise his opinion once he scored several victories in A4850.Various 'teething troubles' were eventually cured and the cumbersome 'Greenhouse' semi-canopy removed before the type morphed into the mercurial SE5a. This November 1991-published First Edition was written by Jack Bruce, supported with over 50 photos including several cockpit close-ups and a double page set of squadron line-ups. In addition, there are detailed 1:72 and 1:48 scale plans by Ian Stair, four pages of contemporary handbook sketches as well as a rigging diagram-plus colours and markings' notes, a model kit survey and three rear cover colour profiles by series editor Ray Rimell. These remaining copies are a little faded now but are complete.