RalphSarc Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Revell 1/28 Sopwith F.1 Camel History An agile, highly maneuverable biplane, the Sopwith Camel accounted for more aerial victories than any other Allied aircraft during World War I. Credited with destroying 1,294 enemy aircraft, it was called the Camel due to the humped fairing over its twin machine guns. Much like a real camel, this aircraft could turn and bite you. Noted for its tendency to kill inexperienced flyers, many pilots feared its vicious spin characteristics. Until sufficient speed was developed during takeoff, Camel pilots maintained full right rudder to counteract the torque the rotary engine. Failure to do so often resulted in a ground loop with the Camel crashing on its starboard wingtip. During World War I, 413 pilots died in combat and 385 pilots died from non-combat related causes while flying the Sopwith Camel. The Kit This is one of three newly reboxed models by Revell of its tried and true 1/28 scale originally manufactured in the early 1960's. The other two were the Fokker Triplane and Spad XIII. Several years ago they did a Fokker D.VII but much to the chagrin of modelers everywhere, it turned out to be a real dog mostly having to do with a very poorly manufactured upper wing. Anyway, Baby Boomer modelers have built at least one of these three planes. They were fun because they were large and because they had cool box art! The kit itself has soldiered on rather well over the years. There are the usual problems with ejector pin marks in all the wrong places that will require some time to remove or fill.Thanks to its size, there is a pretty good amount of detail. Actually, WWI planes can be well detailed because there isn't that much in the way of lots of bits. The kit comes with a full rotary engine and a nice pilot figure to pose rakishly leaning against his plane. There is a removable access panel to look at the back of the engine. Another nice option is that all the holes for rigging have been drilled out already. One only need to run the thread through them. The Instructions The instructions are what I call Euro-instructions. That means no written information and only drawings. The 10 construction steps are more than adequate and they also show specifics on rigging the plane as one goes along. Watch for the start of my Sopwith Camel build in a week or so :-) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Layton Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Interesting subject Ralph! And very detailed thread as well, thanks for the history text Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted October 19, 2014 Author Share Posted October 19, 2014 Interesting subject Ralph! And very detailed thread as well, thanks for the history text LOL yea I was going to post this, my first review, in the review section but could access that thread!!! My goal is to be able to build a WingNut kit so I'm going to use the Revell Biplanes to hone my skills. I also have a 1/48 SE5A kit but its really small!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanReed Posted October 19, 2014 Share Posted October 19, 2014 Lets get started Ralph! Interested in seeing it come together! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted October 19, 2014 Author Share Posted October 19, 2014 Lets get started Ralph! Interested in seeing it come together! Just have to finish my Revell F-106 and I'll be ready to start!! Keep watching :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazypoet Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 I'm looking forward as well. I have a soft spot for all of the Sopwith fighters 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Okay here we go!! Ready to practice wood graining!! Wood grain supplies!!! Priming and base coat for parts to be wood grained!! Wood Graining 101, lol!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUY5Y Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Great review Ralph,well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Great review Ralph,well done. Thanks guy I appreciate that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 11, 2014 Author Share Posted November 11, 2014 Continue on with my wood graining effort! Very pleased with the prop!! Primed the wings, higlighted stitching ribs and painted the upper and lower surfaces. Still haven't mastered staight lines with my airbruch, lol!! Green upper wing surfaces. Tan lower wing surfaces. And finally continued on my attempt to woodgrain and detail a WWI cockpit. Looks ok but I still need lots of practice, lol!! Oh and I need to take care of that injector pin mark on the left side headrest. Good Lord Revell!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 14, 2014 Author Share Posted November 14, 2014 A bit of dry fitting! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Fran Posted November 14, 2014 Administrators Share Posted November 14, 2014 Nice work Ralph in a very old model kit!! nice to try out new techniques. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 15, 2014 Author Share Posted November 15, 2014 Nice work Ralph in a very old model kit!! nice to try out new techniques. Thanks Pardelhas for the kind comment. I'm using this Revell Spowith and Spad kit to practice all the techniques needed to build my WingNut Fokker D.V11 (A1b). So far I have really enjoyed learning how the simulate wood grain. Very cool process I must say! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 18, 2014 Author Share Posted November 18, 2014 Progress continues on the Sopwith!! Working on the wood grain cockpit interior. Cockpit. Really like the brass work! Seam work! Priming the fuselage. Dry fitting the engine and cowling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 18, 2014 Author Share Posted November 18, 2014 Finished the wood grain around the exterior of the cockpit, masked and painted the fuselage OD, set the engine and cowling and added the bottom wing and tail surfaces today!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Layton Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 I like it a lot Ralph You are nailing this one! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanReed Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 Thats looking fantastic Ralph! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawman56 Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 Absolutely love the wood grain Ralph! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RalphSarc Posted November 22, 2014 Author Share Posted November 22, 2014 Continued the Sopwith Camel by installing the machine guns. Getting ready to install the upper wing. Two is better than one! Installing the main landing gear. Starting the rigging using .020 styrene rods. Painting the rigging! Painted each rigging wire end in Vallejo Brass to simulate turnbuckles and ready for decals! See the finished kit in the completion thread! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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