Model Airways Sopwith Camel 1/16 scale [COMPLETED BUILD]

We complain about working inside the hull of a ship…this is working inside of a box frame! A very small one!
So it was time to add support frames and then the wood, cut to length, to make up the frame that supports the seat and the gas tank.
Then the machine gun support frames were added.
In addition I added bolt heads where applicable.

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Hi Dean,
I just spent the last little bit catching up on your build, it is amazing how fast time flies. My condolences go out to you and your family for the loss of your grandmother. All of my grandparents are gone now but like you I was very fortunate to have had them around when I was growing up. They all had a major influence in my life.

As for your Sopwith, wow I'm impressed with every aspect of it. The way you incorporate wood and metal, the clean tight joinery, combined with your painting skills, is second to none!
 
Daniel20 said:
Hi Dean,
I just spent the last little bit catching up on your build, it is amazing how fast time flies. My condolences go out to you and your family for the loss of your grandmother. All of my grandparents are gone now but like you I was very fortunate to have had them around when I was growing up. They all had a major influence in my life.

As for your Sopwith, wow I'm impressed with every aspect of it. The way you incorporate wood and metal, the clean tight joinery, combined with your painting skills, is second to none!
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Thank you Daniel! I appreciate that. ;)
 
Stage 5: Building the Engine Mount & Plumbing

The next step is the motor mount and accessories…magnetos, air pump, oil pump, carburetor and intakes…
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It may not look like much to do, but you have to cut the pipes to length and angle cut the two intake pipes, then clean up all the castings. And then you drill holes where the plumbing will go in the next step.
Then I added primer, then paint, then clear coat.
After assembly, I scratch made and added the optional firewall (not included) with a piece of thin aluminum.

Here are some pics, really hard to see all the detail due to location and lighting. I have some matte clear I picked up today. So may coat everything with that, as I don’t like the shine. ;)
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Stage 6: Building the Cockpit & Controls

The next step is full of sub assemblies! To finish the fuselage…
I am building the control stick assy, rudder pedal assy, throttle assy, fuel tank, reserve fuel tank, oil tank, ammo canister, machine guns, and instrument panel.

Then the controls go in first, then the fuel system, oil system, fuel pressure system. There are other miscellaneous items as well.
The first sub assembly is the throttle assy. I also ran some of the fuel lines on it. It mounts to the frame rails by the seat. The rest of the lines go to the fuel tank, reserve fuel tank and carburetor.

The casting cleaned up and assembled with fuel lines added.


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After looking at the photo, I realized the fuel line was not correct according to the instructions…sigh! So I corrected it, after I had already painted it! I had to drill new holes and make a new fuel line.
This is how it should be plumbed…
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So I corrected it by running a fuel line from the filter to the mixture control mechanism.
The fuel system has two tanks (main and reserve) that go to the selector, then it goes to the filter, then to the mixture control mechanism and finally out to the carburetor. There is a inline shutoff valve, not included. So I will have to make one.
Here is what I have so far…
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Then I have to do the fuel pressure system, which goes to the top of the tank, and has a hand pump to use prior to flight, connecting to a tee that then goes to the prop driven pump on the cabane strut.
And there is a sight glass for the fuel level that has two lines to the tank.
There is a lot to the fuel system! ;)
 
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Heinrich said:
Kudos to you for working with all those small, metal parts Dean - and needless to say it looks super! For me the various metal parts, painting and overall fragility would be an insurmountable challenge :eek:. I will rather stick to English teaching.
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Thank you Heinrich! It can be frustrating, but mostly rewarding. Oddly enough I look forward to doing all of the plumbing! :p

Ps - you “would” rather stick to English teaching. ;)
 
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Jeez a loo Dean! Haven’t checked in for a few days and you are leaps and bounds ahead again! The fuse is looking even better than the outstanding wings, I admire your patience and skill with those tiny little parts! You need to send Model Expo some pics when completed and enter it in a contest or two in your area, maybe the county fair or the like… amazing realism and exquisite details!
 
Stargazer said:
Jeez a loo Dean! Haven’t checked in for a few days and you are leaps and bounds ahead again! The fuse is looking even better than the outstanding wings, I admire your patience and skill with those tiny little parts! You need to send Model Expo some pics when completed and enter it in a contest or two in your area, maybe the county fair or the like… amazing realism and exquisite details!
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Thanks Lou! I just hope I can survive cleaning all of these horrible castings…lol. ;)
 
Heinrich said:
Kudos to you for working with all those small, metal parts Dean - and needless to say it looks super! For me the various metal parts, painting and overall fragility would be an insurmountable challenge :eek:. I will rather stick to English teaching.
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I'm with Heinrich. Your work is unmatched - but there will not be any plane builds in my future...
 
Dean62 said:
Thank you Jan! I see a few things I missed in the photos…sigh! But I will add as I go! ;)
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A couple years ago the Amiral and I toured the National Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. We spent the better part of a day in the WWI section. They had a beautiful Sopwith Camel F1. Way to much to see there in one day. We spend two and half days looking at all the exhibits.
 
Next was the instrument panel. I couldn’t wait to do this! ;)

First was cleaning the castings, then I started painting them…then I added bolt heads to the gauge frames…

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Then they were glued into the panel, after I stained and clear coated it…
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Next was adding the gauges… no decals, they were printed on paper…sigh! So I cut them out and glued them on and the coated with clear…

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Then I noticed there was no manufacturer name plate…
Shown below…
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So I decided to make one! :p
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Mounted to the instrument panel…
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A few more…I am really happy with it, considering what I had to work with!
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And finally a sneak peak of it sitting in the fuselage…
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That’s it for todays work! Happy modeling! ;)
 
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Well I’m back…here in the section of the forum where airplanes are hidden! :p
Today I worked on the rudder pedal assembly and the control stick assy.
Then I installed both of them. Then the throttle assembly could be installed.
I also added some floor or foot boards on each side of the control stick. They were not mentioned in the kit, but every actual photo I have seen of the real Camel had them.
I assume the pilot needed something to stand on when getting in and out of the cockpit. That would be the only place. ;)
Pics…
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