HOW TO BUILD AIRCRAFT DIORAMAS

JohnReid · 27 February 2007, 01:23 PM

JohnReid · 27 February 2007, 01:34 PM

G-W factory 1912,I wonder if these hangars were still there in 1917?

JohnReid · 28 February 2007, 08:31 AM

Looks like it may have been Gotha bombers that would be the more likely target for the sea-Camels, this late in the war, over London.

JohnReid · 28 February 2007, 01:42 PM

Hendon in the WW1 era?

JohnReid · 1 March 2007, 06:30 AM

Hi guys! While working on the somewhat repetitive business of installing the main hangar lighting I have kept busy planning for the sea-Camel conversion of the Model Expo kit.As far as I can see there were 3 different versions of the airframe.The Camel 1F.1(RFC/RAF),the 2F.1 Sea-Camel(RNAS) and a 2 seater training version with no armaments.(the 2 seater would also make for an interesting build if good research material could be found)Sea -Camels had the 130hp Clerget,other models also had that same engine installed in addition to the 150hp Bentley BR:1 and the 230HP Bentley BR2.
The conversion does not look to be too difficult .The main differences seem to be the 2 part fuselage,shorter wingspan and smaller tail surfaces.Most other minor changes in rigging and bracing are due these changes.One other major change is the flying controls.The controls on the Sea-Camel are rigged the same as the 5F.1 Dolphin.
I have already had some experience in the modification business by converting the Jenny to a Canuck which was not too difficult.I will list some of the other minor changes later.
I plan to build a Camel for the "Memories of Flight School" diorama but I don"t know if any of them shipped to Canada after the war were Sea-Camels.More research I guess...........

JohnReid · 1 March 2007, 07:26 AM

Another revision,conflicting info! it seems that the standard engine on the 2F.1 may have been the 150HP Bentley BR1.

JohnReid · 1 March 2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnReid

I thought that maybe you guys would like to follow me through the research involved in doing a diorama from scratch.I will at sometime down the road start a new thread on the actual build.The build will definitely be built around a WW1 storyline.Wish me luck! Cheers! John.

Wow!this is fun.

As you can see this research business leads you down many different roads and at times is quite confusing due to conflicting information. I have found that even the experts get it wrong at times.This is another learning experience for me.As you can see I really know very little about the Camel or its history at this stage ,so please bear with me in this research adventure.

Another thing I just learned was there also was a version called the Camel"Comic Night Fighter".Evidently the pilots seat was moved aft and the twin Vickers were replaced by 2 lewis guns fitted to the top wing and it served with the home defense squadrons againt airraids.It could also be fitted with rockets attached to the wing for balloon busting......very interesting!!!!!!!!!!

JohnReid · 1 March 2007, 12:27 PM

This would also make a good storyline,A Camel nightfighter being repaired at Hendon ,while defending London during WW1.It would also be a nice piece, dedicated to my dad , who found himself doing the same thing out of Auckland airfield in Beaufighters and Mosquitoes during WW2.
This would be one of the first ,if not the first fighter aircraft, to be dedicated to the defense of a city, at night, during wartime.Now if I could only find some drawings or plans or pictures of the Camel "Comic Nghtfighter".I would suspect that it would be a lot like the trainer version with the pilot seated aft and the fuel tank where the student pilot would be, because of CofG considerations.Must have been awfully tail heavy on empty tanks though!

JohnReid · 2 March 2007, 11:59 AM

JohnReid · 4 March 2007, 06:45 AM

In an effort to try to make bulb changing in the main hangar a little easier I have been trying ,every which way ,to design something that is easy to get at once the roof is on.I have designed the roof and the rafters to be removed as one unit.The problem is to get at the screws that hold the wires in place ,in the light fixture ,in case the whole fixture needs replacing.Maybe I am carrying this a little too far but after the problems I had with the Albatros hangars lighting arrangement ,I wanted to be sure I got it right this time.I think that I have solved the problem by separating the light fixture unit from the wiring box and inverting the box so the wiring screws can be reached from the hangar floor side of the rafters.(What?)Anyway when I get one built I will take a pic to show you.