Looking for a Flair SE5a Kit

[Daniel Cardona]

Hello to All

I'm looking for a Flair kit of the SE5a, does anybody knows where maybe I can find a kit somewhere or maybe if someone has one for sale?

Maybe a set of plans with a copy of the templates?

Regards

Daniel

[Former Member]

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[Daniel Cardona]

I tried ebay but no luck.

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[Daniel Cardona]

The flair kit is just the right size, it has a nice scale appearance without being complicated and it looks fairly easy to build and operate. Their website is still active but I don't know if these kits are discontinued or not, it's a shame if they are.

Daniel

[Jon H]

Flair kits are pretty rare these days and usually sell for silly prices, far more than they are worth.

Although its a tiny bit smaller the super flying model se5a is a good alternative and well priced. Fit a small 4 stroke (a 40 would be plenty) or equivalent 2 stroke/electric and you would have a really nice little model. I tempted myself as i have a nieuport 17, pup, and fokker DR1 so the se5a would complete my set!

[Former Member]

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[Daniel Cardona]

Such a shame, I wonder how nobody took over with there kits, like slec or belair kits for example.

[Former Member]

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[Capt Kremen]

There was until fairly recently (? a year or two back), a 'side-line business' offering legitimate original Flair items e.g. Plans, Decals, Vac-Form Mouldings and partial wood kits. (I know because I refurbished a second hand e-bay bought SE5a by this means ! ). I understood the manager of the concern was using the project to train apprentices in various aspects of production etc.. It was hoped that if enough interest and/or the project successful, further Flair items including a limited run of kits might be produced. I noticed some of these items were up for sale on ebay. As nothing further seems to have been announced, one might assume the project has now sadly ceased, all the more unfortunate given current times.

[Daniel Cardona]

Posted by Jon - Laser Engines on 21/10/2020 15:54:55:

Flair kits are pretty rare these days and usually sell for silly prices, far more than they are worth.

Although its a tiny bit smaller the super flying model se5a is a good alternative and well priced. Fit a small 4 stroke (a 40 would be plenty) or equivalent 2 stroke/electric and you would have a really nice little model. I tempted myself as i have a nieuport 17, pup, and fokker DR1 so the se5a would complete my set!

I took a look at the super flying models SE5a but I'm not entirely convinced. it looks a bit fiddly to my liking, plus I don't know they say that it's good for a.60 four-stroke right on their box. I agree with you that a .40 to 45 would be plenty, maybe a 52 max. it looks that it's designed more for electric.

another alternative would be a Balsa USA kit but a 1/4 scale is too much, you would need a big engine for that size.

[Daniel Cardona]

Posted by Capt Kremen on 21/10/2020 18:30:55:

There was until fairly recently (? a year or two back), a 'side-line business' offering legitimate original Flair items e.g. Plans, Decals, Vac-Form Mouldings and partial wood kits. (I know because I refurbished a second hand e-bay bought SE5a by this means ! ). I understood the manager of the concern was using the project to train apprentices in various aspects of production etc.. It was hoped that if enough interest and/or the project successful, further Flair items including a limited run of kits might be produced. I noticed some of these items were up for sale on ebay. As nothing further seems to have been announced, one might assume the project has now sadly ceased, all the more unfortunate given current times.

I was at least hoping to find the plans and maybe a set of templates for the ribs formers, etc. but no hope for that too.

[kc]

You could always get the Boddington SE5 plan from Outerzone and build it at 32 inch span or enlarge it before printing.  If enlarged to 150 percent  making 48 inch span the mainly 1/8 construction would come to a handy 3/16 (5mm approx )

If a look alike SE5 suits you then Boddington did a 60 inch Mannock, 77 inchMajor Mannock and 56 inch Scout all available as plans with optional wing ribs from DB Sport & Scale. At 20 pounds for a set of Mannock or Scout wing ribs it's a bargain. There is an even larger version at 95 inch called Giant.

Edited By kc on 21/10/2020 18:57:54

Edited By kc on 21/10/2020 19:03:32

[Capt Kremen]

Daniel 'PM' sent

[Daniel Cardona]

Posted by Capt Kremen on 21/10/2020 18:58:27:

Daniel 'PM' sent

PM replied

[Daniel Cardona]

Posted by kc on 21/10/2020 18:56:07:

You could always get the Boddington SE5 plan from Outerzone and build it at 32 inch span or enlarge it before printing. If enlarged to 150 percent making 48 inch span the mainly 1/8 construction would come to a handy 3/16 (5mm approx )

If a look alike SE5 suits you then Boddington did a 60 inch Mannock, 77 inchMajor Mannock and 56 inch Scout all available as plans with optional wing ribs from DB Sport & Scale. At 20 pounds for a set of Mannock or Scout wing ribs it's a bargain. There is an even larger version at 95 inch called Giant.

Edited By kc on 21/10/2020 18:57:54

Edited By kc on 21/10/2020 19:03:32

Good Call for the Boddington Scout! looks promising and I think it's the same size as the Flair Kit. Only the Nose looks a bit longer, I wonder if it can be arranged with minor alterations without upsetting the flying qualities.

[Geoff S]

Shortening the nose to make the Scout more like an SE5a will simply bring with it the same issues as the SE5a already has - the need for a load of ballast to get the CoG right. But the SE5a has a relativley long nose so it's less of a problem than (say) a Pup or Camel.

Geoff

[cymaz]

DB Giant Mannock

[Sheepish]

Hi Daniel

Have you seen this site:

http://model-plans.co.uk/

He lists plans for the Fair SE5. I have successfully given him and bought plans from him in the past.

[Mike Etheridge 1]

I will check to see whether I have the plan which I could get copied at my local printers in South Croydon. My plane which has only flown once was reckoned by one of my club members to be the best plane he had ever flown, ''it goes where you put it'' was his comment. I flew it briefly but was not so hot on the rudder use which is necessary on turns.

Edited By Mike Etheridge 1 on 22/10/2020 08:46:12

 

Yes , I have got the plans, two huge sheets, and I have got the instructions already scanned which I can send you today if you send me your e-mail address in a PM. Also let me know if you need the plans copied which I will do on a non-profit basis if you wish?.

Edited By Mike Etheridge 1 on 22/10/2020 08:57:51

[Daniel Cardona]

Posted by Sheepish on 22/10/2020 08:07:08:

Hi Daniel

Have you seen this site:

http://model-plans.co.uk/

He lists plans for the Fair SE5. I have successfully given him and bought plans from him in the past.

Yes I did send them an email about 3 days ago, but no reply.

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[Cuban8]

I'm a big fan of Flair Models and built quite a few of them back in the Days when Dudley Pattison owned the firm. I wonder who owns the rights to the designs now? In particular the Scout series of which the excellent Puppeteer is but one. Is someone sitting on the designs? I'd have thought someone like Sarik would have plan packs flying out of the doors, when one considers the interest in the designs and how much kits and less than perfect used examples command when advertised.

I know we sometimes bemoan the state of the hobby, but I really think that there are healthy signs of building your own models again showing up now.

[Daniel Cardona]

Posted by Cuban8 on 22/10/2020 10:40:09:

I'm a big fan of Flair Models and built quite a few of them back in the Days when Dudley Pattison owned the firm. I wonder who owns the rights to the designs now? In particular the Scout series of which the excellent Puppeteer is but one. Is someone sitting on the designs? I'd have thought someone like Sarik would have plan packs flying out of the doors, when one considers the interest in the designs and how much kits and less than perfect used examples command when advertised.

I know we sometimes bemoan the state of the hobby, but I really think that there are healthy signs of building your own models again showing up now.

I don't know how old are you but speaking for myself ( age 39) build was always a part of this hobby. ARTF surely pushed the popularity of this Hobby are there are so many nice options out there, but still, every time I see an ARTF for sale and think about it I always end up building one instead.

For example just recently i was thinking to get another Wot4 for an OS46 AX that I have, I always fancied the MK3 whit the tapered wing, and as far as I know, the ARTF is with the parallel wing. I know that it might take a lot of time to build the model or I might take a huge risk wasting all those man hrs and then destroying the plane in seconds on a test flight but I just can not resist building one myself a feeling that great satisfaction.

unfortunately, the younger generation is more into getting in the air as quickly as possible and not very keen on getting their hands dirty with balsa dust. a real pity since there are many great designers making wonderful subjects and plans for the RCME magazine. so many to choose from and so little time.

And about the Flair models, yeah I still cannot understand why companies like Sarik and Slec didn't take over and reproduce the kits with maybe some little mods or upgrades. another great British design going down the drain.

I remember I was feeling almost sick when I heard that myhobbystore was closing doors and all the brian Taylor designs would be going lost, fortunately, Sarik took over the business.

Regards

Daniel

[Daniel Cardona]

Posted by cymaz on 22/10/2020 06:47:30:

DB Giant Mannock

The Scout from D.B Sport and Scale doesn't look that bad, its the Longish Nose that spoils a bit Model But I admit it looks nice if some effort is put into it, after a close look at the picture I also noticed that there's a Laser Engine powering this model and judging from the carb needle sticking at the back it must be an old one with a super Tigre carb. What I don't know is what size it is, if it's a 75 or maybe a 62.