Jump to content

Sopwith F.1 Camel Build Log


Recommended Posts

Top and bottom wing now have tensioners. The trailing wing edge has been added. Ailerons have been separated from the wings (using a small XActo saw... very nerve wracking). Now to hinge the ailerons and then move onto the fuselage. 

 

~john

 

 

IMG_6257.jpg

IMG_6258.jpg

IMG_6259.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cutting free ailerons ,would be nice to have a hand operated laser burner so one could cut without pressure on the material. Probably also be a dandy way to set ones shop on fire. ;)

Nice work BTW.

Bill, in Idaho

Completed Mamoli Halifax and Billings Viking ship in 2015

Next  Model Shipways Syren

Link to comment
Share on other sites

<chuckles> Yep, Bill, that would be one awesome and swift method to cut those ailerons right off!  Once and for all! <hehehe> I was actually thinking about that as I was sawing them apart, one swipe, after swipe, after swipe, with the saw blade. It was slow, and even a little bit damaging, but easily cleaned up and repaired as needed. I am adding the hinges now for the ailerons, and that is also presenting its challenges. For all the airplanes I have made, this one is a workout. ;)

~john

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Those aren't easy kits . I built the Jenny a few years ago and scratch built a Curtis 12-E One step up from the wright bros. anad the first plane to fly in Idaho' Fun projects but ya gotta be patient.

 

Bill, in Idaho

Completed Mamoli Halifax and Billings Viking ship in 2015

Next  Model Shipways Syren

Link to comment
Share on other sites

John,

 

Very nice indeed.

Michael

Current buildSovereign of the Seas 1/78 Sergal

Under the table:

Golden Hind - C Mamoli    Oseberg - Billings 720 - Drakkar - Amati

Completed:   

Santa Maria-Mantua --

Vasa-Corel -

Santisima Trinidad cross section OcCre 1/90th

Gallery :    Santa Maria - Vasa

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wings, top and bottom, completed. Dihedral added to the lower wing. Hinges added to the ailerons.  Now working on the empennage (elevator first). Lots of metal bending going on ;-) 

 

~john

IMG_6271.jpg

IMG_6368.jpg

IMG_6370.jpg

IMG_6371.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Continued work on the elevator today - all done, now. Once the rudder is complete, I'll snip away the central support (left from the manufacturing process) and then have a completed empennage. 

~john

IMG_6372.JPG

IMG_6375.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Serious headway made on the fuselage these past couple of days. The port and starboard sides were done first, and triple checked for alignment. They were then joined at the nose with what will become the engine mount later on in the build. Horizontal formers were then placed on the top and bottom along the length of the fuselage. This will end tomorrow with the joining of the two fuselage sides at the tail. Note the little metal tensioner eyes in the corners. Wires and turnbuckles will go in there. Along the top will be run a series of stringers from the tail to the back side of the cockpit. Such fun keeping this all aligned!  I had better finish this soon so I can catch up with the other Syren builds!  ;-)  

~john

 

IMG_6389.jpg

IMG_6390.jpg

IMG_6393.jpg

IMG_6396.jpg

IMG_6397.jpg

IMG_6398.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

The fuselage is complete: phew!  The front gun mount is in place (the rear mount waits until the engine accessories are installed). The seat and gas tank support rails are also installed. 

 

Now onto the engine accessories before tackling the cockpit, panel and controls. 

The hangar and shipyard will have to close for the upcoming eclipse: headed out to see mom in Denver then onto Wyoming for the eclipse itself. I'll post some pics assuming we have clear skies. 

 

~john

IMG_6715.jpg

IMG_6716.jpg

IMG_6717.jpg

IMG_6718.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like doing ship models, but I've always thought this model would be a fun one to do.  Your work is absolutely fantastic John - definitely a good marketing piece for this kit!

Mike

 

Current Wooden builds:  Amati/Victory Pegasus  MS Charles W. Morgan  Euromodel La Renommèe  

 

Plastic builds:    SB2U-1 Vindicator 1/48  Five Star Yaeyama 1/700  Pit Road Asashio and Akashi 1/700 diorama  Walrus 1/48 and Albatross 1/700  Special Hobby Buffalo 1/32  Eduard Sikorsky JRS-1 1/72  IJN Notoro 1/700  Akitsu Maru 1/700

 

Completed builds :  Caldercraft Brig Badger   Amati Hannah - Ship in Bottle  Pit Road Hatsuzakura 1/700   Hasegawa Shimakaze 1:350

F4B-4 and P-6E 1/72  Accurate Miniatures F3F-1/F3F-2 1/48  Tamiya F4F-4 Wildcat built as FM-1 1/48  Special Hobby Buffalo 1/48

Citroen 2CV 1/24 - Airfix and Tamiya  Entex Morgan 3-wheeler 1/16

 

Terminated build:  HMS Lyme (based on Corel Unicorn)  

 

On the shelf:  Euromodel Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde; Caldercraft Victory; too many plastic ship, plane and car kits

 

Future potential scratch builds:  HMS Lyme (from NMM plans); Le Gros Ventre (from Ancre monographs), Dutch ship from Ab Hoving book, HMS Sussex from McCardle book, Philadelphia gunboat (Smithsonian plans)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, Mike. It is a fun model. The kit? Well, it has its good points and its not so good points, like all kits, I imagine. Like ship building, I have found that reading ahead really helps! I am also not such a fan of Britannia castings.... With some effort, filing, cutting, drilling and sanding, then some primer and paint, it can look pretty good. 

 

Continued progress on the front end of the Sopwith. The engine mount is in place along with the rear supports and engine accessories. On many modern planes, this stuff is in front of the firewall with the engine, but not here. Behind the firewall is the carburetor, the magnetos, the starter (manual), and pumps. The brass tubing going out to both sides of the fuselage are air intakes that go right to the carburetor. THAT assembly literally rests right at the pilot's legs, just in front of the control stick. Talking about exposed!... a fuel tank behind you, and the engine right in front....

 

~john

 

IMG_6719.jpg

IMG_6724.jpg

IMG_6725.jpg

IMG_6726.jpg

IMG_6727.jpg

IMG_6728.jpg

IMG_6729.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

All,

Back home from the eclipse data collecting trip. If interested, feel free to peruse my blog on this and other topics: http://www.regulusastro.com/ 

- And now to work... and to work on the Sopwith. Not much to report. Status:

 

- Working on all the cockpit connections for air, oil and fuel lines. It is a rather convoluted bit of artistry with little in the way of help in mapping it all out. I have been trying to rely on various images and plans found online and in books, but a good set of blueprints would be best.  

 

Images attached:   The makings of the instrument panel, the interior of the cockpit looking down and from the side, and the finished panel. You'll see the throttle assembly and the control "stick" assembly are now in place. 

 

~john

IMG_6737.JPG

IMG_6738.JPG

IMG_6739.JPG

IMG_6904.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some years ago there was a fellow in Guntersville Alabama started what was called "Ryder's Replica Fighter Museum".He had about 40 replica WW1 airplanes,many flyable,including two DR1's,a Camel,Nieuports,and many others.For two years,92 and 94,he put on a national WW1 flyin,with people from all over the country bringing in their own replicas for a week of flying.There was one gent with a replica Camel powered by a Stearman 225 Lycoming.He said getting it down on a paved runway was like putting it down on buttered glass.The Camel acquired a nasty reputation in 1918 because the gyroscopic forces of the rotary engine in such a short coupled airframe made it a real handful,especially on take-off.The vertical fin and rudder were very small relatively and that added to the difficulty in keeping it straight.If a guy survived in it long enough to master it,there wasn't much that could stay with it in a turning match,except maybe a DR1.You had to be careful going from one Camel outfit to another.They used several different engines,all with different fuel management techniques which could be quite tricky,especially on climbout if you let it get too rich.All in all a far cry from a Cessna 172!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi GMO2,

 

Yes, indeed - the Camel was a real beasty to fly - it was dynamically unstable given the weight and balance configuration.... the spinning massive engine, and the fact that the gas tank losing mass with flight brought the CoG up front even more. Certainly not a Cessna 172 by any means!  ;-)   

 

~j

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oil tank, ammunition cans and instrument panel in place along with the rear gun mounts. Now working on the frame stringers along the fuselage.

~john

 

IMG_6927.thumb.JPG.9ee3ad21af1ed7baaa497b3421d07500.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finished stringers on the fuselage. I learned, again, and again, to read the instructions before diving into things, having glued some cables into place only to find out that the glue clogged holes I needed for future cabling down the road. D'Oh! .. and finished the fuselage for now.  With wings and empennage completed, it is time to assemble all the parts together with control cabling..... 

~john

 

IMG_6936.JPG

IMG_6938.JPG

IMG_6940.JPG

IMG_6943.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I continue to enjoy watching this build.  Very impressive progress.

 

But I am really posting to compliment the HDR eclipse photo in your blog....one of the best I have seen!

 

- Gary

 

Current Build: Artesania Latina Sopwith Camel

Completed Builds: Blue Jacket America 1/48th  Annapolis Wherry

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, Gary! Glad you are enjoying the build. I've been watching your progress on the Blue Jacket, and that has been fun. Also - thanks for the kind words r.e. the eclipse images. I have some 65GB of imagery from the event. It's going to take a long while to sort it all out!   If interested, I just posted a new video of the event in wide field:   

  

Back to the Camel:  The empennage is almost completed. The horizontal stabilizer and rudder were attached.  I used some small snips of copper wire as brads to reinforce their attachment, and it seems to be working rather well. Those can be seen in the close-up shot below. The bracing wires are in place, too. The last bit is to attach the control cabling from the rudder pedals and stick.... I got the rudder lines installed, but I am not quite sure how I am going to get the elevator cabling done... the drawings in the manual have them backwards(!), but I think the verbiage in the text is correct. Ah, well.... language!   Here are some images....

~john

 

 

 

IMG_6958.JPG

IMG_6959.JPG

IMG_6961.JPG

IMG_6963.JPG

IMG_6965.JPG

IMG_6966.JPG

IMG_6967.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Attaching the rudder and horizontal stabilizer is one thing.... getting all the control cables from the cockpit to the empennage is a whole other story! My goodness, this was a taxing effort, but well worth the patience. Using a pair of tweezers, toothpicks with cyanoacrylate glue and a ton of time, I have the rudder pedals moving the rudder and the control stick moving the elevators, and all in the proper directions! Phew.  I have provided a closeup image of the fuselage which shows the control cables running back to the control surfaces. I also could not resist an image of the engine in place.... just to see what it's going to look like in the end. 

 

Having finished the empennage, it was then time to work on the lower wing and undercarriage assembly. This was straightforward enough. The wing actually needed little adjustment to be level and square to the fuselage.... I was happy with that! The undercarriage frame and axle are in place. I am beginning work on the cabane struts for the upper wing. The wheels are also being painted a nice OD green... ready for their day in the light. 

 

~john

 

 

IMG_6968.jpg

IMG_6969.jpg

IMG_6970.jpg

IMG_6971.jpg

IMG_6972.jpg

IMG_6999.jpg

IMG_7001.jpg

IMG_7002.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

you've made quite a bit of progress since I last looked in :)    super looking build John! 

I yam wot I yam!

finished builds:
Billings Nordkap 476 / Billings Cux 87 / Billings Mary Ann / Billings AmericA - reissue
Billings Regina - bashed into the Susan A / Andrea Gail 1:20 - semi scratch w/ Billing instructions
M&M Fun Ship - semi scratch build / Gundalow - scratch build / Jeanne D'Arc - Heller
Phylly C & Denny-Zen - the Lobsie twins - bashed & semi scratch dual build

Billing T78 Norden

 

in dry dock:
Billing's Gothenborg 1:100 / Billing's Boulogne Etaples 1:20
Billing's Half Moon 1:40 - some scratch required
Revell U.S.S. United States 1:96 - plastic/ wood modified / Academy Titanic 1:400
Trawler Syborn - semi scratch / Holiday Harbor dual build - semi scratch

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have made some progress, though slowly: classes have started up again, and I am back into the full swing of teaching for the fall term. That said, the top wing is in place as are the inter-wing struts and some of the cabling. It's tedious, slow and very rewarding. I also have the pitot tube installed as well as the air pump for the gas tank (odd flying machine!).  I am also in the middle of my biennial flight review (FAA requirement) as a pilot, and have been blocked from flying due to the remnants of storm Jose. Phew! Lots going on!  Some pics:

 

~john

 

 

IMG_7003.jpg

IMG_7004.jpg

IMG_7011.jpg

IMG_7016.jpg

IMG_7017.jpg

IMG_7018.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Good afternoon, all.  It has been a while since my last posting. The light is at the end of the tunnel for the Sopwith build, but I was held short by some upsetting news. My dad passed away on the 22nd (Sept) after a prolonged and horrible battle against cancer. He was 82. He lived in Houston to make matters even more complicated. Houston is a mess as they rebuild and clean up all the debris from the flooding. There are a lot of displaced people. Dad's service was very nice. I'll post a shot of him here.... This build is for him, the guy who marveled at all the ship building and airplanes throughout the years, and supported them all, from the first model to getting all my pilot ratings. He was a good guy. 

 

The Sopwith: I have completed the cable runs for the ailerons, though not tied them to the control stick just yet. I need to let the cable stretch out more before committing to the final tie-off. Talking about a having a single point of failure.... the cable is ONE run from stick to lower right wing pulley to bottom right aileron to top right aileron to right front wing pulley through the entire top wing's front, to the left pulley to the left top aileron to the bottom left aileron to the front left pulley along the front of the left wing and to the stick. YIKES.  Images attached:

Running the aileron cable through the front of the lower right wing using tweezers.

A view from under the cockpit of the plane at all the control cables getting to the stick. The aileron cables are unattached and pulled off to the side.

Detail of the aileron cable coming from the wing's leading edge to the pulley that redirects it to the aileron horn and attachment point.

A view of the whole plane held in place so I can get to the underside of the cabling. Looks precarious!!!  

 

Best to All,

~john

 

 

 

IMG_7051.jpg

IMG_7053.jpg

IMG_7054.jpg

IMG_7055.jpg

W A Blackwell Stonehenge 1.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

John, 

Sorry to hear about your Dad. Your entire family has all our prayers.

You can just tell from the smile of your Dad in the picture that he was one of those guys that everyone gravitates towards.

You said it perfectly....."A good guy". 

 

Loving the build!

But take your time. Family always come first.

 

Tom E

Link to comment
Share on other sites

John, my sincere condolences for your loss.  He's in my prayers.

Ken

Started: MS Bounty Longboat,

On Hold:  Heinkel USS Choctaw paper

Down the road: Shipyard HMC Alert 1/96 paper, Mamoli Constitution Cross, MS USN Picket Boat #1

Scratchbuild: Echo Cross Section

 

Member Nautical Research Guild

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really sorry to hear your dad passed away, my sincere condolences.

 

About the Camel...one thing you might consider: 

It will look really nice when you drill open the gun muzzles a bit.

These things are such a focal point and it's a small effort to do.

 

Robin

WIP: No ships atm...sorry!🙄

Completed: Greek bireme - Dusek - scale 1:72

 Louie da fly: "I think it requires a special kind of insanity to choose a galley to build a model of."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...