1/3rd scale Sopwith Triplane

[Prop Nut]

I thought I would share this here as it is getting really close to completion. About a year ago I started this project with a completion date set as August...of 2007! One thing after another has come up and it is only in the last couple of months that I have gotten back into this project.

I will post all the pictures in chronological order with comments as I remember them. Please comment, even negitive comments are welcome as that helps to correct errors that I might have made (who me?!).

This is meant to be a HUGE funscale plane, I wanted somthing that was recognizable but easy to build. This is a scratch built Tripe with ideas stolen from many sources, including Alan's 1/3 scale build in RCScalebuilder (his is a masterpiece and I highly reccomend going there and looking it up) and Del Johnsons 1/3rd scale Fokker DR1.

Here it is in the bones, I started with the fuse and figured I would make the wings fit to whatever I ended up with.




The landing gear was made for me by a buddy, thanks again Rob. They are 1/4 and 3/8 inch aircraft grade moly steel tube. Each axle half works independant of the other with bungies in the scale fashion. The engine is a Quadra 50cc, I have since changed my mind and purchased a G62 as I wanted to turn a bigger prop for scale looks.

[Prop Nut]

A few pictures of the wings clamped onto the fuse for a quick size up. I wanted to see where the best places for mounts would work out.




And some pictures on the wing mounting system that I came up with. They are not very scale but I liked the looks and it is strong.

[Prop Nut]

My pull pull control system for the rudder and elevators.



Balsa USA 1/3rd scale wheel kit, covered with SuperCoverite. I like how these turned out.



The monster assembled with the wings covered, G62 mounted and the cowl (also BalsaUSA) istalled and polished.

[Prop Nut]

The fuel tank is mounted on a removable hatch for ease of access.


I wanted to be able to install the 1/16th ply control horns after covering the control surfaces so I devised a hardwood slot mount for them.



The tail surfaces, I have a tendancy to break the vertical stab on nose overs (again, who me?! nose over?!) so I made this one out of lightened 1/8th inch ply. The pull pulls are hooked up and work great.


My working tail skid, pretty much ripped off from Del Johnsons much better version on his DR1.


More to come if there is an interest, let me know.

David

[Olson]

I've claimed to be a scratch builder for some time, but always envy those of you who truly qualify for the title, nice work. By the way, I'd KILL to have your workshop. Congrats and keep it up.................John

[Prop Nut]

Thank John, this is my first experience building from the plans in my head. I had a rough outline that I did on DesignCad (mostly a blown up electric model that I scaled up and heavily edited) but the nuts and bolts of building the plane turned out to be much more difficult that I had hoped.

[gipsymoth236k]

Prop Nut,

Nice 1/3 Sopwith Triplane! I look forward to seeing more!

If you are referring to Alan Yendle's fine work, I now have his 1/3 Sopwith Camel and S.E.5a. I acquired both from Alan a few years back. They sure are BIG!

I just love seeing these large R/C WWI types flying.

Regards, Gary Sewall

[Prop Nut]

Gary, yes it is Alan Yendle's awesome plane that I am refering to. I would have like to have seen pictures of its first flight though. Maybe someday I will develope the patience to do such exacting work.

[DJ]

Very Cool! A very nice shop also. Man, what a stout landing gear! I doubt even I could break it. Where are you from?

[Prop Nut]

I am from Michigan Dave, we spoke a bit at Hoosiers last year. I am the guy with the blue and white DVII and Sopwith Pup. Taller and larger than both Steve Perciviel and Mike Bealmear

The shop is actually my production cabinet shop. I do custom cabinets and countertops. I really should not have put my planes out there...very distracting when I am trying to get a customers order finished