Sopwith Camel in 1/16th

[JohnReid]

Model Airways provide the complete instruction manual ,on Adobe reader ,on their website which is great for the prospective buyer of this kit.They should be commended for this degree of openess which I think is quite rare in the kit world.No surprises as to the quality.Having said that I am afraid that my fears about this kit may be true.
First ,the model as depicted in the instruction book was built and the instruction manual prepared by ,the same person who did the Nieuport.In looking over the manual a lot of the same problems that the Nieuport had seems to have been repeated here exut of scale parts etc...
I only hope that they used the same quality of metal that they used for the Jenny.
To be fair I will reserve any further judgement until I actually build this kit.
The Jenny as far as I can see is still the best 1/16th kit on the market and my personal recommendation would be to spend the extra $100.00 bucks and buy it.I know the manufacturer is trying to provide the best kit for the money but I beleive it is false economy both on the buyer and the manufacturers part to go the cheaper route.
The Camel kit I think will prove to be a good starting point for the semi-scratchbuilder who will use it as a starting point for a more complete build.Unfortunately the extras required will easily eat up the $100.00 saving that would been needed to bring it up to Jenny quality in the first place and it would save the builder a lot of frustration in the process.
Bottom line-build the Jenny first and then have a go at the others.
I hate to be too critical of a company that I owe so much to for giving me and others a start along the 1/16th path ,but that is my honest opinion.
Cheers! John.

[David_Layton]

I really wished that they had made the cowlings, spinners and external engine panels.

[StephenLawson]

Originally Posted by JohnReid

"Jeez Stephen...On the other hand nothing would make me happier than to have the privledge of even one circuit in a Camel.(provided I survived it,of course) Cheers! John. "

Hah! always a stipulation eh?

[mgtaylor]

[QUOTEbuild the Jenny first and then have a go at the others][/QUOTE]

Dear John Ok I get It ! I apreciate the advice and most likely will take you up on it. Yes as I mention it looks from the photos the fuslage longerons and vertical members look too thick for scale ? One of a few other problems which like all of them might make it quite a project to skin.

I apreciate the Scratch warnings. Still suffering from PTSS Post truamatic Stress Scratch building Snydrome from the BattleAXE DVIII (Still in progress and on hold) I take ot heart these warnings.

Bob Landon on the WWI Modelrs page does a great job of not only documenting but made graphic photos with text warning of each pitfall and or correction needed.

I understand the Kudos to Model Airway for bringing us these certianly unique and complicated builds most certainly. I am not sure they consitute a new standard and/or popular scale but they are very nice.

I think the online intructions are a new trend brought about by advances on the net and universal pdf files. Eduards been doing it for some time I suspect other web savy manufactuers will follow. It is smart cause one of the first things besides the Part Spruces that we want to see under the box cover of a new kit as Modellers is the Instruction Sheet, Decals and any special material parts ie rubber, metal, PE, resin etc.



YOurs mike

[JohnReid]

Originally Posted by StephenLawson

Hah! always a stipulation eh?

Darn right! the Camel wrote off more pilots training than actually bought the farm while in combat.

''I even buy my kits through a local hobby store(Hobby World in Montreal)''

Do you really mean to say that there are still people actually buying things at Hobby World? I thought it had been turned into the N.D.G. Museum of Hobby leftovers and unwanteds years ago! Just Kidding!

F.X.D.

[JohnReid]

Actually they closed their doors about 6 months ago!

Well, I didn't know. That is actually a rather sad news.
I can remember spending quite a bit of time in that store when I was younger.
I suppose that Udisco right around the corner didn't help.

F.X.D.