Sopwith Triplane prototype reflective coating?

[phattrev]

I am preparing to make the SMER (Eduard) 1/48 Sopwith Triplane and have been reading up on the Prototype aircraft.

It appears to have been given to the RNAS in a clear doped linen factory finnish, with a 'reflective' underwing coating?

Can anyone shed light on what this was, why such a finnish was used and how it may have looked? I am guessing it could be replicated by a coat of gloss varnish.

Thanks

[StephenLawson]

The clear dope was reflective but flattened out pretty quickly over several weeks when regularly exposed to sunlight. The undersides did not get as much direct sunlight.

[phattrev]

ok thanks, I thought maybe it was some kind of experimental camo finish? well I will take this into account when I finnish it.

cheers

Originally Posted by StephenLawson

The clear dope was reflective but flattened out pretty quickly over several weeks when regularly exposed to sunlight. The undersides did not get as much direct sunlight.

[albatros1234]

I did not know that,huh,I have anold eduard black flight,I wonder if this group had the reflective coating?

[stevedrew]

Originally Posted by phattrev

ok thanks, I thought maybe it was some kind of experimental camo finish? well I will take this into account when I finnish it.

cheers

A "reflective" finish could never be for camouflage purposes, as it would make the aircraft much more visible. I guess it would be to make the aircraft more visible from the ground to enable engineers, designers etc to more easily observe the flying characteristics of a prototype aircraft.

Hmm....wonder if they would put up "chase" planes to more closely observe it in WW1. I know it is standard practice today, but I've never heard of it being put into practice in those early days.

Also, the designers could not have done much better than giving the aircraft to Stan Dallas to put it through its paces. An outstanding pilot, and a great man.

[bristol scout]

Originally Posted by stevedrew

A "reflective" finish could never be for camouflage purposes, as it would make the aircraft much more visible. I guess it would be to make the aircraft more visible from the ground to enable engineers, designers etc to more easily observe the flying characteristics of a prototype aircraft.

Hmm....wonder if they would put up "chase" planes to more closely observe it in WW1. I know it is standard practice today, but I've never heard of it being put into practice in those early days.

Also, the designers could not have done much better than giving the aircraft to Stan Dallas to put it through its paces. An outstanding pilot, and a great man.

Hi Guy's--

There was NO 'reflective finish'---just clear doped linen! It IS very bright, shiny and therefore 'reflective'.

Stephen has already nailed this---the uppers would have tarnished and dulled just a bit faster than the lowers.

Clear Dope guy's------that's the 'reflective' finish.

Dave.

[phattrev]

How about creating the 'swirl' pattern finnish on the metal cowl? any ideas.

[bristol scout]

Originally Posted by phattrev

How about creating the 'swirl' pattern finnish on the metal cowl? any ideas.

That finish--known as 'engine turned' was produced by a wire brush spinning and touched on the aluminium (lot's of model makers mistakenly do it on Fokker monoplanes also---but it was not used by Fokker) I can tell you how to do it in larger flying models----but in plastic kit sizes I have never had much success---nor, as far as I know, has anyone.

Paint the cowling and side shields etc. silver with a touch of white added. When really dry go over it with a silver pen ---it is NOT perfect--but the best I could come up with over many years trying.....

It really cries out for a decal----like Revell did recently in their 'Spirit Of St. Louis' kit (although not perfectly) Incidently--if you have that exquisite film you can see 'engine turning' in operation.....

Dave.

[Brez]

Originally Posted by bristol scout

That finish--known as 'engine turned' was produced by a wire brush spinning and touched on the aluminium (lot's of model makers mistakenly do it on Fokker monoplanes also---but it was not used by Fokker) I can tell you how to do it in larger flying models----but in plastic kit sizes I have never had much success---nor, as far as I know, has anyone.

Paint the cowling and side shields etc. silver with a touch of white added. When really dry go over it with a silver pen ---it is NOT perfect--but the best I could come up with over many years trying.....

It really cries out for a decal----like Revell did recently in their 'Spirit Of St. Louis' kit (although not perfectly) Incidently--if you have that exquisite film you can see 'engine turning' in operation.....

Dave.

Hi Dave,
As you know Harry Woodman (I know you have the book) done a superb job of an 'engine turned' cowling on a Strutter in his 1975 Scale Model Aircraft in Plastic Card using kitchen foil. However that's Harry Woodman, I've tried and I'm just too ham-fisted. You're spot-on when you say a decal is the answer, if someone would produce sheets of silver 'dots' that could be cut out and placed over a coat of aluminium paint they would make things a whole lot better for anyone who ever stuck a plastic Sopwith together.

Tony.

[bristol scout]

Hi Tony,

Harry woodman's little book was my mentor in the mid '70's when I used to spend weeks thinning struts and 'super detailing' (they must have been awful) Aurora kits ---only to always fall down at the insurmountable (for me then) barrier of no decals---although then and even now , in my head, I still call them 'transfers'

But happy day's indeed mate---then Eduard (so prolific in those early day's) set the bar with brass---their early plastic was only so so-----but having said that, the Albatros C111 was just superb---crying out to be re-visited---and now---well me old peepers are no longer happy with 48th.--and I NEVER got used to magnifying......

Dave.