1/48 Sopwith Camel F.1*** FINISHED Pg.4

Chad and Gil, thank you for your kind words.
Chad, try your hand at rigging sometime. It's not as difficult as you might think. I'd suggest an aircraft with less rigging such as a Fokker D. VII or Dr.I for less of an amount to do as an introduction.

Gil, yes, I think Snoopy would be quite content to climb aboard for a Dawn Patrol on this one.

stikpusher

What is there to say about the Sopwith Camel? It is one of the iconic aeroplanes of WWI, probably the most well known from the Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force to even the novice aviation buff. And helped out no doubt by a certain cartoon beagle and his never ending quest to defeat the Red Baron. This is Monogram’s 1979 retool of Aurora’s 1956 vintage kit. I added a few bits to the interior, and detailed a few exterior bits. Rigging is steel wire and EZ Line, paints are Xtracolor, Humbrol, and Testors enamels. Decals are by Eagle Strike for a Camel from 45 Squadron flown in Italy in summer 1918 by Lt. C.M. Masters.

Very, very nice! A silk purse out of a camel's ear or something like that It's great to see an old kit given such new life, thanks for posting all the progress photos. Snoopy would be proud to climb aboard.

Seriously nice Stik.  The rigging, propeller, and paint came out wonderful.  You made a pearl from this classic.  I don't have the guts to try rigging.

Thanks Joe. I neede to pose the plane with something on the base, but I have no WWI figures made up. He's a good dog, and I think hes gonna show up with more 1/48 aircraft builds in the future...

That looks really, REALLY good Carlos. Love the doggy in the dio.

Aggieman

Simply superb work on a favorite subject of mine (that has twice defeated my efforts to put one together as an adult builder; I did build this exact kit back in '79 as a pre-teen without any rigging).  

 

Thank you. You and me both on building it back then in the same manner.

Simply superb work on a favorite subject of mine (that has twice defeated my efforts to put one together as an adult builder; I did build this exact kit back in '79 as a pre-teen without any rigging).  

Steve and Greg, thank you!

Greg, yes, that prop was my attempt at lamination layers. I  first painted it overall the lighter brown, then used a very fine brush to establish the darker areas and filled those in, trying to give the look of the compound curves in the laminations. I don't know how to fix the nose weight problem though... 

Excellent work, Stik, a real beauty.

I like the prop, how did you do that? I've never attempted a wood prop at all, let alone one with the fun patterns. I guess that pattern is lamination layers?

Only little mistake I see is you need some weight in the nose, she's a tail sitter.

Great job Stick

Thank you TJ. Now the challenge is to keep that skill current.

Just great. You definitely conquered the rigging

What is there to say about the Sopwith Camel? It is one of the iconic aeroplanes of WWI, probably the most well known from the Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force to even the novice aviation buff. And helped out no doubt by a certain cartoon beagle and his never ending quest to defeat the Red Baron.

This is Monogram’s 1979 retool of Aurora’s 1956 vintage kit. I added a few bits to the interior, and detailed a few exterior bits. Rigging is steel wire and EZ Line, paints are Xtracolor, Humbrol, and Testors enamels. Decals are by Eagle Strike for a Camel from 45 Squadron flown in Italy in summer 1918 by Lt. C.M. Masters.

posed with my Oeffag Albatross, my first grown up biplane build from a few years ago

And ready for the dawn patrol

Thanks for looking, comments and critiques are welcome

Thank you PJ.

Hey she looks fantastic. Great job stik.

Thanks guys, I do appreciate your kind words!

I airbrushed on the topcoat a little while ago, and I’m calling this one done. It’s not perfect, it’s not contest material, but it is finally finished.

I’ll get some better all around view photos up in awhile.

That's looking really good!  I haven't tried a biplane yet being scared of the rigging.

Mike

almost there.

That's a fine looking string bag you've got there. I can't hardly wait to see the final reveal.

Got the Hisso warming up, Carlos.  Make sure those guns are armed!

Final bits of touch up and detail painting done, propellor added...

Flat coat is all that is left, and I’ll call this one done.

Thank you Steve. I've only rigged a handful of ships, so I can't say much there in comparison. I'm sure that the basic technique of working from the center out works well for both types. 

Looks superb Stik! You have really done justice to that ancient kit. It’s funny, I have no problem rigging a ship but quake in my boots when I think about working on some of my biplane kits!!!

Steve

Tanker-Builder

Yeah Well:

 Let's face it Stik ! -You and I appreciate what it takes to fly. No electronics and seat of the pants. That's the real way to  feel it. You and the machine striving through the sky. The Air flowing past your Goggles!

 

I guess that comes from too many times hanging in a parachute harness on the way to the ground, trying to determine wind direction by the airflow across my face. 

PJ, thanks. This build sure was a reminder that biplanes are lots of little details all bundled up into the contraption.

stikpusher

Today was a knuckle down session. The finish line edges ever closer. Two plus hours of gluing snipping, etc. and the rigging was done! EZ Line for the flying surfaces control cables, .008” music wire for bracing wires on the landing gear, and .010 music wire for the wings to landing gear “flying wire”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up, touch up painting, flat coat, add the prop and finito! 

 

 

Superb rigging job Stik. Love the attention to detail often missed with these bipes.  

Yeah Well:

 Let's face it Stik ! -You and I appreciate what it takes to fly. No electronics and seat of the pants. That's the real way to  feel it. You and the machine striving through the sky. The Air flowing past your Goggles!

John and Greg, thank you. Working my way up the food chain of older kits before I tackle a new tool biplane.

I've managed to miss a lot of updates somehow.

Impressive work, Stik! Really looking great.

Wow Stik, nice work on that ancient kit.  Looking good.