Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA37711
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a Diecast Model
RAF No.74 Sqn, Keith Logan Caldwell, Clairmarais, France, September 1918 | |
| 1:48 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a | | 5.25" | | 6.75" |
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Already celebrated as a brave and tenacious pilot, New Zealander Keith Caldwell would surpass his own high standards of incredible airmanship when his fighter was involved in a mid-air collision in September 1918. With his aircraft damaged and spinning earthwards, Caldwell climbed out to stand on the wing of the fighter, where he attempted to pull the wing and strut closer together.
At the same time, he kept his other foot on the rudder pedal and attempted to bring the aircraft under some control. Miraculously, the aircraft started to respond, but continued dropping at an alarming rate, however, it was now something of a controlled fall. Knowing he wouldn't be able to affect a controlled crash landing, Caldwell brought the stricken fighter in low over Allied lines, jumping clear of the aircraft just seconds before it struck the ground and disintegrated.
Allied troops watching on could hardly believe what they had witnessed, and later recounted how as the SE5a smashed into the ground, Caldwell picked himself up, dusted himself down and calmly strolled towards Allied positions. For most men, having survived such an incident, they would have taken this opportunity to use their rank and take a desk job for the rest of the war, but that wasn't Keith Caldwell's style. He was straight back to his squadron and back flying operational patrols, once he'd been checked out by station doctors.
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 2003-2024 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.
