Replica Plans SE5A

Chaplin · 30 April 2025, 10:26 AM

Hi all,

I'm interested in possibly building an SE5A from the Replica Plans drawings. Does anyone have any info or experience in this?

Firstly, I need to know whether I will actually fit in one as i'm 6'3.

Also, I heard there were some issues around the drawings and licencing but not sure of exact details.

Any info will be appreciated.

Regards

petair · 30 April 2025, 11:41 AM

Built a set of wings and center section from these drawings. e-mail if you need assistance. petair@canadianaeroplaneslimited.com. Peter

Maxim08 · 30 April 2025, 01:16 PM

Peter, Replica Plans is the ‘80%’ scale aircraft like QGM. Not the full size Replicraft like your great wings.

Regards,
John

Chaplin · 30 April 2025, 11:40 PM

I am also interested in hearing more about the replicraft plans as at 6'3" this would be more my size.

I have looked at the website and they only seem to sell drawings for a 1/5 scale model. Are people building full size from these plans? Will this be for a flying aircraft?

MattS · 1 May 2025, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaplin

I have looked at the website and they only seem to sell drawings for a 1/5 scale model. Are people building full size from these plans? Will this be for a flying aircraft?

If the plans were drawn to 1/1 scale you would need a very large desk... All dimensions are given as full scale. All the drawings are based on original drawings where available and research where they aren't available. I am building a full sized Camel and have found the Replicraft plans pretty good.

I now have a reasonable range of original Camel drawings, however I haven't found anything original that shows the assembled parts and sub assemblies. In addition I have learned that original drawings could be amended and there is no guarantee that the particular original drawing I am looking at, is the final "correct" drawing. In addition, common practice at the time was to implement "factory" solutions as needed that may or may not have been added later to the original drawings.

In short, getting a set of plans for a WWI aircraft is "challenging". You pick your poison. Personally I have no regrets about picking up a set of Replicacraft plans and using these as a base to apply other research to. The Replicraft plans are also good eye candy. Hope this helps

Maxim08 · 1 May 2025, 05:04 AM

Chaplin, the drawings are 1 fifth in scale but all dimensions are stated full size. Replicraft drawings are, as Matt stated, compilations with many drawings crammed onto a small number of sheets. I have a near full set of ‘factory’ drawings reduced to a common size of 18” x 24”. The stack is over 2” thick and numbers in the hundreds of pages. IIRC, Replicraft has most of that info on 6 large sheets. Well worth the money to have these and study them so that you can evaluate the project’s complexity prior to any construction. As you can tell from Peter’s wing photos, there are lots of parts to make.

Regards,
John

John McKenzie · 4 May 2025, 03:05 AM

Mike Chaplin ,
PM reply sent in answer to your Q 's ,... in the private message that you sent to me .
Reply with your email address , if you wish more specific info' .

JM .

climbak · 8 May 2025, 01:03 PM

I've flown both the smaller scale Replica Plans SE5 and a full scale built from Replicraft drawings. I'm 5'8", so don't need nearly as much room, but one of my fellow pilots is 6'1" I think and he fits in the smaller one without the seat pads, but it's tight. Fit is certainly better for a tall or big guy in the full scale, but the smaller one can be made to fit. One of our Replica Plans is a great fit for me and the other I need an extra back pad to comfortably work the rudder and brakes so you can add some extra length during your built.

I'll also say that while the full scale is "cooler" cause it's big and loud, the 7/8 is incredibly fun to fly. Much more forgiving and sporty than the full size.

MattS · 8 May 2025, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by climbak

I'll also say that while the full scale is "cooler" cause it's big and loud, the 7/8 is incredibly fun to fly. Much more forgiving and sporty than the full size.

I didn't know that about the smaller ships, useful to know. I've read the Camel described as flying with barn doors as ailerons.

@Chaplin, have you taken a look at kits? They can take much of the mystery out of the build process and will get a builder in the air a lot faster.

regular122 · 24 May 2025, 07:36 PM

The Replica Plans 80% is really a misnomer. At 7/8 they are closer to 90%. The one I used to own presented very well and was about 24’ in span and 20’ in length—not visibly far off of the real ship. While probably cramped for a big guy, at 5’10” and 160 it was fine. Biggest issue is the width near the shoulders.

Steve