Sopwith Camel by Mike Dowling - FINISHED - Model Airways - 1/16

[jablackwell]

40 minutes ago, Mike Dowling said:

John, when you made your wooden wing struts, did you take your measurements from the plans or the instructions ? There is quite a big discrepancy between the two.

The length of the struts will depend on the placement and angle of the cabane struts. Make sure these are properly placed and angled out appropriately to match their attachment points in the upper wing. Once those are in place, you can attach the upper wing and check into the length of the interplane struts. These came out very close to their planned size for me, maybe a mm off. You have to cut them a little long in order to file them to a wedge fit into their parts CAW42. They should be tight, as in they will "lift" the lower wing a bit and they will attempt to pull down the upper wing onto the cabane struts tightly. They shold not bend the upper wing... that's too tight ;-)

 

~john

[Mike Dowling]

Thanks John.

 

Not heard from Model Expo yet. I thought soldering would be a problem.

 

I also thought I could at least get on with the wing struts but from what you say, since I don't have the right cabane struts I can't do that either so I really am stuck!

[Mike Dowling]

I am still waiting for the parts I need from model airways but, in the meantime I have made a start on my 'half' covering of the plane. I can only do so much because otherwise I will not be able to do the cabling that runs though the wings for the ailerons.

Anyway I thought you might like to see how far I have got. he final colour scheme is going to that of 209 squadron RAF from WW1 as flown by Arthur Roy Brown who was credited to an extent with shooting down the Red Baron !

 

 

[Mike Dowling]

Hooray, my bits have arrived from Model Airways so on we go

 

I have done the undercarriage framework although I have to admit to doing the rigging three times because I was being a numpty !

I have also drilled the holes and fitted the eye bolts to the cabane struts. I am very glad I am lucky enough to have a proxxon drill press as drilling those holes would have been a real headache by hand.

 

Now of course I have to try and fit them on !!

 

John - did you use epoxy for the struts ?

 

 

 

[jablackwell]

For the cabane and outer wing struts, I used CA. For the landing gear struts, I used epoxy soaked into the string used to simulate the bungee cables. 

CA was touched on the "bolts" for the wing struts. It holds well. 

 

~j

[aviaamator]

Wonderful job! Famous aircraft! One of my buildings in 48th scale...

[Mike Dowling]

Smashing little model. I hope mine looks a bit like that in the end !

[Mike Dowling]

The cabane struts are on and I have made and fixed the inter-wing struts as well. I did use epoxy in the end as the CA was just not strong enough. The rigging for the ailerons is also done though it hardly shows. I have not tied it off yet as, like John, the thread needs time to settle and stretch. Having said that there is no way that anyone could get to the control stick now unless they happen to be a micropilot !!! Therefore, whether the ailerons actually work or not with their very complicated and fiddly rigging is fairly pointless. Why do we do this stuff to ourselves ?!

 

Because I am covering half the plane I figure that will be my next job as it will be easier to do before I put on the strut bracing so I am getting there and it does now look like a proper bi-plane.

 

Nice to have you along Popeye.

 

Some pics for all.

 

 

[Mike Dowling]

The half of the wings that I was going to cover are now covered, painted and varnished. Tricky enough dodging the aileron cables so I am really glad I did it before the strut bracing which is the next thing to do.

 

 

[Mike Dowling]

John, how did you tie off your aileron cables after tensioning ?

[jablackwell]

Hi Mike - not sure which knot I used at the time, but I used a knot then a dab of white glue to secure it.

 

~j

 

 

[Mike Dowling]

Well folks, the beast is finished ! The ailerons have proved to be a disaster as somewhere my tensioning went wrong despite triple checking it. Never mind, who is going to fly it anyway and as long as it stays still it will be fine.

 

I have put my excuse for a propeller on for the time being in the absence of a better one. Whilst the cabling hasn't worked out at all well it is all there and I must admit I have enjoyed making this a lot more than some models. So, view for yourselves.

 

Next build for me is another tram. Much easier !!

 

 

[JohnReid]

Congrats! this is not an easy build but the Fokker is worse, so bad that I turned mine into a wreck for my Fokker diorama.Cheers! john.

[Mike Dowling]

Thank you John, I also have the Albatross in my stash waiting and am thinking of getting the triplane. Did you do the model expo or the Artesania Fokker ?

[jablackwell]

Nicely done, Mike: she is a lovely model.  Display with pride.

~john

[Mike Dowling]

Thanks John for you comment and also for your invaluable help without which I don't think I could have done it.

[cog]

Here's the beginning of your prop. I first cut the prts from a piece of mahoganny 1.5 mm thick, as I didn't have anything else (that was December last, I got a wee bit side tracked a.o. ) As the prop couldn't exceed 1 cm thickness I had to sand the parts down. Both whilst cutting as whilst sanding a few of the parts seem to have a different idea about being a piece in one ... Next up sticking them together and shape it down to a smooth looking prop

 

 

Edited March 25, 2018 by cog

[popeye the sailor]

you showed the sopwith hanging in your Fokker log......made me realize that I had totally lost track of this project.  while it appears that I didn't miss much,  I see that the finish produced a fine looking model.   the half fabrication looks great....the truss cables can be a trial....you pulled them off very well.   definitely set you up for your tackle of the Fokker kit     super looking model!

[ColSmi41]

I got the Sopwith Camel F1 (Model Expo) about 6 months ago and have been working on it since then.  I found that the wooden framework of the fuselage was very easy to break, so I replaced the wooden parts with brass tubing of the same sizes. soldering it together.    I have now completed the fuselage itself and am part way through the engine parts (supplied).  I have completed all wings, almost all out of the metal parts supplied, but have changed a f ew things like the wing ends with brass wire.  I am pretty pleased with how it is at the moment, though had I just spent a little more time on some parts I would no doubt be even more pleased.

I have found that the plans supplied do not always match the parts and what they are supposed to in their sizes etc. so I have had to adapt parts.  I know it may be dumb of me to ask, BUT, is the full length of the crankshaft tube glued to anything, apart from the engine tube endcap?

I preseume that the crankshaft is supposed to be free turning along the full length when the prop and engine is glued on?

Also, I had to modify the carburettor as the side horns were far too small to take the bras tube supplied.  Instead I have filed down the horns thinner and used a smaller pipe in place of that supplied.

My other query is......How do I secure the engine mount tube ( attached to the carburettor) to stop irt moving about when the crankshaft is turned.  Is it supposed to be glued to the rear edges of the diagonal engine mounts.

Any help would be gratefully received.

Colin