"Pete's" 1/48 Sopwith F.1 Camel - WW1 Memorial GB

  • Thread starter Deleted member 5819
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D

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Hi I'm going to have a go at this, the Sopwith F.1 Camel.

The kit has a lot of flash and pin marks :sad: so don't expect a lot .



Parts.



HIstory.
The Camel, designed by Thomas Sopwith, was the highest scoring fighter of World War One. This single-seat fighter took its name from the hump over the breeches of the two front machine guns; the nickname given it by one of the squadrons was rapidly adopted as the types' name.
The first prototype flew in December 1916 and two main versions were produced by a variety of contractors, the F1 and the 2F1 shipboard variant, both powered by no fewer than six different rotary engines at various stages.
Its handling characteristics were a gift to the skilful pilot but could kill the slow or unwary. This made the Camel ideal for daylight combat but versatile enough to allow it to be used as a night fighter and ground attack aircraft. The shipboard 2F1 Camel also saw some success operating against German airships and seaplanes over the North Sea.
Production totalled some 5500 aircraft, the final number being confused by cancellations and non-delivery after the Armistice.
The Camel saw extensive service in home defence, over the Western front, in the UK on training and test work until 1923 and in other countries up until 1928 - a remarkably long career for the time.
This aircraft was held in the same high regard by those who fought in World War One as the Spitfire was for those involved in World War Two. With a superb fighting record it is hardly surprising it was nicknamed "The King of the Air Fighters".

  • F.1 - powered by 110-hp (82-kW) Clerget 9Z rotary engine, first flown by Harry Hawker at Brooklands
  • F.1/1 - tapered wings and broad interplane struts
  • F.1/3 - powered by 130-hp (97-kW) Clerget 9B, test-flown at Martlesham Heath in March, 1917
  • N517 - ordered by the Admiralty
  • N518 - powered by new AR.1 150hp (112kW) rotary. In production, this engine became the BR.1 (Bentley Rotary) and powered the Camels delivered to the Navy.
SOPWITH CAMEL F.1 SPECIFICATIONS
Wingspan: 28 ft.

Length: 18 ft. 9 in.

Height: 8 ft. 6 in.

Empty Weight: 950 lbs

Gross Weight: 1,482 lbs

Top Speed: 112.5 mph

Service Ceiling: 19,000 ft.

Range: 250 miles

Engine/Horsepower: Clerget rotary/130

Bomb Load: Four 20-pound bombs

Armament: Two Vickers .303 machine guns

camel-14a.jpg

Pete.
 

Steve Jones

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Great intro Pete. I hope you enjoy the build. Good luck
 

SimonT

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This reminds me that I started an Italeri version back on the other site - scratched the rotary engine then got side tracked by other things and never finished it :smiling4:

This looks like a pretty ropey old thing - good luck with it
 
D

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Hi here are some engine reference pitcures for discussion only, please feel free to use them.

The Clerget 9B was a nine-cylinder rotary aircraft engine of the World War I era designed by Pierre Clerget.
Type: Nine-cylinder air-cooled rotary engine
Bore: 120 mm (4.72 in)
Stroke: 9B: 160 mm (6.30 in)
Displacement: 9B: 16.29 l (994.08 cu in)
Length: 920 mm (36.22 in)
Diameter: 9B: 1,020 mm (40.15 in)
Dry weight: 173 kg (381 lb)
36864359021_4df9f4c007_b.jpg

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36169170194_4639f58b25_b.jpg

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2790011.jpg

Pete.
 

Tim Marlow

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Great set of references, glad you posted them...hope the build is fun....
Tim
 

colin m

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Another wingy thing in the GB - nice. Timely reference pictures. I was just having a look around at 'Clear doped linen' and your pictures answer the question nicely.
 
D

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Great set of references, glad you posted them...hope the build is fun....
Tim
Hi Tim no problem as for the biuld it's the first wingy thing I've built in 40 years I stop when my Dad past away,there was someone who could build aircraft ex RAF so it had to be right.

Another wingy thing in the GB - nice. Timely reference pictures. I was just having a look around at 'Clear doped linen' and your pictures answer the question nicely.
Hi Colin glad they were usfull as for the build don't expect much.
Pete.
 

SimonT

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Pete, will you be doing an engine for it?

bigb17-026_2017-07-17.JPG
I found that lots of punched circles in alternating diameters was the way to go for the cylinders
 
B

Brad9826

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Pete , I'm coming to you for reference pictures etc, you've got more stuff than the British library...:thumb2:
 
D

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Hi I've made a start, small but I'm off and running.

The pilots seat should be wicker, I've added some surgical bandage as a look a like, added lead wire as top padding collar, will be making a cushion and seat belt.

Aiming for somthing like this.
P1050228.jpg


Added nuts as bit of detail to the engine.

Added some detail to the prop

P1050191b.jpg

Added lower bar to instrument panel.

P1050220.jpg

Thank you for looking in, all comments welcome good or bad.
Pete.
 

Jim R

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Hi Pete
You have your work cut out with this but with your skills and meticulous research it will end up looking great.
Jim
 

Fernando N

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Great intro and nice set of ref pics Pete, thanks for sharing.:thumb2:

Nice start on the seat, prop and engine, good luck with the mods.
Fan of the plane so following with great interest.:smiling:
 
D

Deleted member 5819

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Hi small update.
Added vertical bar and corner braces to instrument panel.

Added front part of the fuel tank plus straps, cushion for seat plus one of the control valves R/H front of seat.
The joystick fits through the rectangle hole in the floor in front of the seat I had not forgotten it.




Added valve push rods.

Added 2x M/G handle grips and some frame work to the sides

Added missing side shoots




I


Thank you for looking in, all comments welcome good or bad.
Pete.
 
D

Deleted member 5819

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Hi very small update progress extremely slow, almost stationary a AFV it is not.

Got some colour and a slight wash in the cockpit.


Cowling And engine.



Joystick and instrument panel.


Seat and fuel tank.


Painted prop and tried adding woodgrain effect.



Replace M/G barrels with brass tubing plus drilled vent hole.



Thank you for taking time to look till the next time, all comments welcome good or bad.
Pete.
 

Jim R

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Hi Pete
Looks like you are sorting this out nicely. These old, poor kits will always take far more work to get to look OK but think of the value for money aspect. Low cost kit + extra time time = cheapfun/hour :smiling5:
Jim
 
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