SE-4 Racer (oz5380)

About this Plan

SE-4 Racer. Rubber scale model biplane racer.

Quote: "OUR WORLD WAR I model for this issue is a ship that has been overlooked by most, if not all, model builders. Therefore let's look over a few of the SE-4's salient points before beginning construction.

The letters SE do not, as is believed by many, stand for Sopwith Experimental. Instead SE stands for Scouting Experimental; the factory responsible was Britain's Royal Aircraft Factory which was established and operated much along the same line as is our own Naval Aircraft Factory. Other more famous designs of the RAF (not to be confused with Royal Air Force) were the RE-8 (Reconnaissance Experimental which was produced.in very large numbers and used on all fronts), the BE-2 series A to E (Bomber), and the BE-12 single place bomber-fighter. One must also remember that the renowned SE-5, one of the most famous fighters of all time was also a product of the Royal Aircraft Factory; in fact the SE-5 was a 1916-17 development of this same SE-4 which we are about to model.

Early in 1914 the British Secretary of State for War was a Lt Col JE Seely. Seely wished to establish a world's speed record with a plane from the RAF so that organisation was ordered to design and produce a plane for such an attempt. HP Folland, then Chief Engineer of the British Nieuport & General Aircraft Co of Cricklewood, London was retained as designer for the SE-4 project. The ship took to the air just prior to the opening of hostilities. Little is available in the way of data on the SE-4, but we do know that it was powered by a 160 hp, 18-cylinder Gnome engine, The performance is stated as excellent; the plane climbed to 1,500 ft in the first minute after takeoff, and the top speed (at low attitude) was a good 135 mph.

That was some speed for 1914; in fact the advanced monocoque design together with excellent overall streamlining leads one to wonder why the design was not further developed and placed in quantity production. For some reason or other the design seems to have been dropped, and aside from a 1914 citation in the House of commons on its good qualities and performance, little more seems to have been wade a matter of record for posterity.

Data in the author's files shows the ship to be carrying the numbers 628 on the rudder. This particular SE-4 was camouflaged, apparently, in the 'sand and spinach' manner, so there seems to be some basis for assuming that the SE-4 did see a bit of war service. How many were produced is not known, at this writing, but it appears to have been a fine ship that was far and away ahead of its time. One unusual feature was the use of ailerons on both wings.

The model illustrated is to the scale of 3/4in to the foot, so interested persons may determine any measurements by placing a scale on the plan and measuring directly.

The lines of the fuselage are so sleek that the author decided on the hollowed block type of construction. This results in little of any extra weight and the smooth and shiny results are well worth the effort. Select two blocks of medium weight balsa and cement together by spotting cement at regular intervals. Trace the side view outline to one side and band-saw to shape; likewise the top view. Note that the extreme nose is not quite round; rather it appears to be slightly oval and wider than it is deep by about 1/8 in. Sections A, B and C can be determined by making templates. Carve the fuselage to shape with a sharp knife; check the sections often, and finish the outside with a final sanding. Note that the headrest is an integral part of the fuselage.

The tail surfaces are built up directly over the plans. 1/16 in flat stock of the widths shown is used throughout these parts. A fiat section was used on the model illustrated with fine results, but a symmetrical airfoil can be formed by using additional 1/18 in sq, strips on each side of the basic empennage ribs..."

Hi Steve Here is Joseph H. Wherry's SE-4 Racer from Model Airplane News magazine issue 05-48. Dimensions are directly scaled off the drawing. Dihedral and strut info is provided in the text.

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article page, text and pics.

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