Help with my Sopwith Camel (first model build!) please...

I cant help you with the rigging.... I have not tackled a biplane in over 30 years and did not rig mine back then. But for the paint, 19 seems kind of high end for one kit, but most likely that many are needed for mixing on other colors tht are readily availble from another brand. You will find as you go on that you accumulate a large stock of paints very rapidly. The basic RAF/RFC WWI paint scheme was Khaki drab uppers and sides over plain doped linen lower surfaces. The two colors are available from many paint lines. And of course wood browns/tansfor struts and propellers, metalics for the engine and guns, black for tires, etc... See how they add up? Paint sets are good for generic colors, but you will probably want to complement those with specific colors you will need for each kit as you go along.

Have fun

'johnnyrockets',

You don't say what scale your Camel is. Thread can be OK for rigging, especially for your first attempt as it is very easy to work with. Fishing line is next on the list as it won't have the "wound" look of fiber, more smooth and therefore more realistic. The ultimate is a product called "Wonder Wire". It is a 6mil ceramic wire that holds a perfect straight shape and glues into place with Elmer's white glue. Unfortunately, it really only goes well with 1/48 scale because of it's size.

I have to agree with 'stikpusher' on the paint selections. Nineteen seems excessive but if you are determined to go that route, look over several other kits you might be interested to see if there are common colors called for there as well. It is very easy to end up with a slew of colors in no time so you want to try and maximize the use of what you buy.

Good luck to you, PWB.

Welcome to the madness JR.  I recommend you post your question in the Aircraft forum instead of the Gen'l discussion.  Sometimes this get much less reading than in the specific area of interest.  You gets lots of answers there.

Check out the IPMS Stockholm http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/ website for tons of great tips.

Here is one on rigging

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2004/08/stuff_eng_tech_rigging.htm

A bipe for your first? Nothing like diving in with both boots on. If you're going to use thread, use monofilament - looks the part. Stay away from standard sewing thread.

....and yes, they are very colorful birds, and the same color can vary on the real thing depending on the surface it's applied to (wood, linen, metal, etc.).

Thanks!

Wow, I never thought to post this question in the appropriate forum (doh! ).  Good idea!

Okay, correction, sure enough only 4 colors were required.  I was reading in the instructions and they must have been listing paint for every conceivable paint scheme.  The box just lists for colors, so I'll go with those!

The kit is 1:48, and here I thought a biplane was the "easy" kit to start with!    But that is okay, I'm determined to do my best.

I like the idea of monofilament and/or "Wonder Wire".  Where can I get "Wonder Wire" I wonder?

Well thankfully the kit only has 25 parts.  It is a Revell kit from Germany.

Thanks to everyone!  I truly don't know what I'm doing, and I imagine it shows, but I'll get there with all of your help! 

johnnyrockets

... I truly don't know what I'm doing, and I imagine it shows...

 

No worries. This is all for fun, so no pressure!

For rigging, you can also use a product known as "invisible thread", which can be found at any fabric/craft store. I also would recommend investing in a pin vise ( http://www.modelexpo-online.com/product.asp?ITEMNO=JS141T ) , as you will need to drill fine holes into your wings.

A good practice is to start on the top wing. Glue thread into a top wing hole, then let dry. Now pull the thread through a bottom wing hole and tape the excess to your plane somewhere out of the way (but not on a decal!). Now put a drop of glue on the bottom wing hole and let dry. Finally, grab a finger nail clipper and clip excess thread flsh to bottom of the wing. Now just a dab of touch up paint and you're done.

Be sure to post pictures of your progress!

Well it appears that Revell is kind of weird with the whole paint thing.  The really do want you to buy 19 colors of paints for this kit and then mix them to get the exact colors that the kit calls for.

Well that is a bit excessive, so I am just getting colors that are "close enough".  Maybe down the road when I've acquired a zillion different colors, I'll be able to do that.

Thanks to all!

Right then - spoken like a true modeler. No 'shake and bake', premade, and premixed jazz for you. You'll make do, improvise and overcome. That's the spirit, my man!.

You'll go far at this, I suspect!

'johnnyrockets',

As to your request for "Wonder Wire" information:

Precision Enterprises Unlimited

P.O. Box 97

Springfield, VT.

05156

(802) 885-3094

When first I purchased some (it comes in a 10 foot length), it was $7.95 + $2.50 shipping

Sorry it took so long in the day to get this back to you.

Regards, PWB.

Excellent!

Thanks so much to all for your great help!

J

And don't forget, sometimes they'll list every single color used even if the red they mentioned was used to paint a sincle red button on the control column.  So don't get too freaked out about the number of colors listed.   As one person mentioned in their post, before you know it, you'll have a whole shelf full of paints soon enough.

Welcome to the forum!  You'll find that people here will ask every conceivable question no matter if it's their 1st model or their 1001st.  I, for one, am extremely impressed that you went with a biplane for your first kit.  I've been building models for about 32 straight years and I don't think I worked on my first bi-plane until maybe three years ago.  You are truly a brave soul!  It's like learning to swim by being thrown into a tank full of sharks!  But you'll be the better for it.  In my humble opinion, I'd say just built your Sopwith just to get the hang of things first.  The Revell kits are so inexpensive.  You could then go out and get another Revell biplane and make that one your rigging test bed.

Good luck!  Ask lots of questions!  And welcome to the forum. 

Eric

I use stretched sprue for rigging...