1:32nd scale Sopwith 1 1/2 'Strutter' (1.B2)

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The Se5a (Viper) and Spitfire Mk.1a dual build and the Fokker D.VII build are nearing completion.
Therefore I'm starting the next build.
A Roden kit for a model of a French Sopwith 1 1/2 ‘Strutter’ (1.B2), Ser No.326 ‘7’ of French Escadrille SOP226.

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
I had read of Aluminium doped Strutters, but was guided by the Windsock data file 34.
It seems at the time of writing, doped Aluminium Strutters had not been known.
From what I now read it seems a few Strutters were supplied to the French for evaluation.
They were considered worth using and licenses were given to allow the French to build the aircraft for their use.
Production was slow to start, as happened with the earlier Caudron aircraft.
The Sopwith aircraft built by the French looked similar to the British counterpart, although it's thought the 1.A2 (reconnaissance) version may have had reinforced wings and different equipment.
However, only the few early models originally supplied British were clear dope linen.
Later French built Strutters were probably Aluminium doped and by the end of 1917, the five coloured dope camouflage was universally adopted.
The camouflaged aircraft had the standard French 5 colours pigmented dope. On the upper wings pigmented dope was used, which is why a difference can sometimes been seen in hue between doped surfaces and the roundels.
If the landing gear, cowlings and plywood coverings were camouflaged, it was with the standard paints.
On the Aluminium doped aircraft, the colouring was apparently:
One coat of clear tautening dope
Two coats of Aluminium tautening dope
One coat of clear finishing dope
That fuselage and wings were similarly doped.
The cowlings left the factory burnished (sometime painted in unit level) and the exposed plywood decking was varnished. The landing gear was either painted silver (most often) or left with the blue -grey protective paint.
As with most WW1 aircraft research, very little can be actually confirmed.
However, given this and the helpful comments elsewhere, I've decided to amend the colouring of this model to that of an all Aluminium doped finish.

Mike

[crazypoet]

Following with interest!

[sandbagger]

Hi all,

A few modifications for the Sopwith 1.A2 'Strutter'.

Changes to the airbrakes.

Addition of the operating pulley and cable slot for the airbrakes (port underside of fuselage).

Aileron fitting.

Elevator angle.

Rudder fitting.

Tubular carburettor air intakes.

Gaspatch Vickers machine gun offset to the left on the decking panel (not central)

Gaspatch Lewis machine gun on Scarf mounting.

Addition of control column rocking shaft and cover.

Addition of fuselage access panels between observer and pilot cockpits

More research to be done for possibly adding the following cockpit details:

Rear of the fuel tank and forward in the observer/gunner cockpit.

Fuel contents indicator.

Compass.

Control rods or cables.

Magneto starter switch.

Clock or watch.

Frame over front of fuel tank.

Tachometer.

 

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
When to two halves of the fuselage are joined together, the joint seam on the underside of the fuselage will be visible in the rear of the observer/gunners cockpit.
This was sorted by fitting a 1.0 mm thick plastic card insert,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The fuselage halves and cockpit parts have been painted
Tamiya acrylics used.
Wood and leather effect was made using ‘Windsor & Newton’ Griffin Alkyd oil paints (Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna and Raw Sienna).
Fuselage halves and instrument panel gloss coated ready for decals, which is the next step,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The Aviattic bleached linen effect decals (59 in total) were cut for the inside of the fuselage halves.
Although the weave effect can be seen, a white base coat would have been better than the dark yellow I used.
The main assemblies of the two cockpits have been fitted.

Now it's onto adding cockpit detail (not in the kit) and rigging,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
It's been a few weeks since I last posted, mainly as I was abroad on vacation.
However, the fuselage internals are now complete.
Exact information is rare for the cockpit layout of the French 1.B2 version of this aircraft.
Therefore I've added what detail I could and with some artistic license.

General:
Blue crossed bracing wires along the fuselage sides and rear floor section.
Added a false rear floor to hide the visible fuselage joint seam.
Given the access to the open cockpit, the control cables for the rudder, tail skid and elevator should be able to be added later - we'll see.

Rear cockpit 
Crossed bracing wires at the rear of the cockpit.
Two bomb cannisters at the front of the cockpit.
Centre pedestal with a rolling map holder between the bomb cannisters.
Forward cross frame under the cockpit decking panel.
Tailplane incidence control cables from the pilot's cockpit.

Pilot's cockpit
Tailplane incidence control cables.
Airbrake control cables.
Trigger cable for the Vickers machine gun.
Engine blip cable from the control column.
Ammunition container under the instrument panel.
Wicker seat with cushion.
Engine throttle and mixture control rods.
Fuel supply pipes from the fuel tank.
Fuel content indicator pipe on the fuel tank.
Pipe to the oil Pulsometer.
Replacement carburettor air intake pipe (metal tube).
Retaining frame at the top, front of the fuel tank.
Rear support frame for the Vickers machine gun.

NOTE
The instrument panel is the British version and not the type fitted to the French 1.B2 aircraft.
The pilot's seat is of the British type and not the metal seat fitted to French aircraft.
Due to the access through the open cockpit area, the control cables for the rudder, tail skid and elevator should be able to be added later - we'll see. 

Mike

 

 

 

 

 

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
A few updates on the 1.B.2 strutter.
I've added basic bomb release panels under the fuselage.
Initially I applied a light grey base colour on the model as I was applying the 'Aviattic' Weave Linen Effect'.
I though that would bring out the Aluminium effect for the linen covering.
However, it didn't so instead I applied 'Alclad' Duraluminium as the base coat.
Even so, the reflective nature of the paint lessens the linen decal effect somewhat.  
The French roundels and Escadrille markings were created in Paint Shop Pro software on my PC.
They were then printed using my Canon i-Sensys LBP631 Cw laser printer.
The chick/egg emblem and rudder decals were printed on clear back laser paper and the chick/egg decals were applied twice, as the decal paper is translucent.
The remaining decal were printed on white backed laser paper and carefully cut out for application.
The decals were sealed with a semi-matte clear coat, after which Flory Models dark dirt wash was applied.
The wash is basically to dirty up the aircraft (heavier than I normally apply).
The pilots Vickers and observers Lewis machine guns are also painted.

Next is to rig the control cables for the rudder, tail skid and elevator before the top decking panel if finally fitted,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
I've now added the control cables for the rudder and tail skid.
These were passed through the fuselage from outside and attached to the pilot's rudder bar. 
The tailplane incidence control cables were fitted previously. 
The cockpit decking panel was then fitted.

Next is the pre-rigging stage for all of the externally visible wires,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
A few updates.
The underside of the fuselage with the rocking shaft and cover, bomb cassette panels and the airbrake control pulley with cable.
The airbrakes have been fitted.
The 'Proper Plane' Waring and Gillow propeller.
The observers Lewis and mounting with 'EZ' line for the pulley cords.
The wheels with 'Aviattic'' weave effect linen covering. 
I've applied wood effect to the interplane and landing struts, but need to paint the metal fittings etc,

Mike

 

 

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
More updates.
The landing gear assembly is complete.
The interplane and fuselage cabane struts are done and have slightly larger diameter brass tubes fitted to the strut end locating pegs.
This was done as the locating holes in the wings are larger than the strut pegs.
The underside of the upper wing has been pre-rigged with 22 lines.
Lastly, the upper wing ailerons only have been pre-rigged.
This is for the rear interconnecting control line that will route between the wings and their ailerons.

Next is fitting of the upper wing,

Mike 

[belugawhaleman]

Superb work😀 I really like your wood grain effect and fabric with weathering. Impressive!

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The engine has now been fitted with the Aviattic 3D printed engine cowl.
Many of the French aircraft had a single, larger cooling slot in the lower, front of the engine cowl.
As opposed to the British type, which had two cooling slots at the same location on the engine cowl.
Also, the modified Gaspatch Vickers machine gun was fitted.
Finally, I created a pilot's windscreen, which was off-set to the right of the breach block of the Vickers machine gun,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The upper wing has been fitted.
I found it best to fit the fuselage cabane struts first.
Those struts are rigid when fitted and take much of the load from the upper wing.
Once secured in position, the wings can be flexed slightly to locate and secure the interplane struts.

Now it's onto final rigging,

Mike

[GusMac]

Looks great, although calling that a windscreen might be a breach of the Trade Description's act!

[sandbagger]

19 hours ago, GusMac said:

Looks great, although calling that a windscreen might be a breach of the Trade Description's act!