Replica Sopwith Camel Construction Process

greatwarpilot · 4 December 2005, 06:26 PM

Hello Everyone,

There seems to have been a pretty positive reaction to the DR1 Rebuild Thread, so I'm starting a similar one to show the progress on our Sopwith Camel project.

A little background on the project, we've been working on it on and off for a number of years now. It gets shelved every now and then for things like this DR1 rebuild, and completing the Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter project we picked up. But delays aside the Camel is a fair ways along in its own right (which you'll hopefully see as this thread progresses).

These pictures go back to some of the earlier stages of the project, and over the next little while they'll move through some of the stages with a little commentary on my part. Eventually the thread will catch up to the present day and from that point hopefully continue until the first flight!

Something important things to keep in mind are that this replica has a steel frame and modern engine (AI14). The goal is to make it appear as authentic as possible both externally, and in the cockpit; metal frame and radial engine aside.

Speaking of the Radial engine... here is our AI14 (thats right.. its not an M14).

In order to make the fit as authentic as possible we started with a wooden mock-up of the fuselage built according to the plans. On that we built the wooden pieces that we're going to use on the finished steel airframe (instrument panel, turtledecking, ply hump, ply side panels, etc).

(P.S. - As per the current discussion in the Camouflage and Markings thread, we have since corrected the blue colour on the tripe in the background! : D )

Another view of the wooden mock-up.

And a collection of ribs cut and waiting for assembly.

More to come, and feel free to ask any questions along the way!

Cheers

Edward

wolfenbill · 4 December 2005, 07:27 PM

Good luck on your project Edward. As always it will be great to watch it unfold.

greatwarpilot · 4 December 2005, 07:32 PM

Thanks Wolfenbill,

Just to clearify, its not my project. I'm just one of the many who has the pleasure of working on it around the museum. It just happens that I'm the one who is delievering the images to the forum!

Cheers

Edward

wolfenbill · 6 December 2005, 04:46 AM

Likewise, none of the projects upon which I'm working at Kingsbury are my own. I too just deliver the delights to the forum.

greatwarpilot · 6 December 2005, 09:10 PM

Here goes round two.

First we have a look at those ribs in a form slightly more recognizable as partially assembled stabilizer and wings.

And here is a closer view of the wood mock-up of the foreword fuselage. You can see number of fittings and members being fitted in this stage that will be used on the final aircraft specifically the tank and seat bearers, the step, and the beginnings of a fuel tank.

AchimEngels · 6 December 2005, 09:57 PM

It is a pleassure to have you delivering these great images.

I for one very much enjoy seeing all the things you work on.

Keep it comming!

Cheers!

Achim

greatwarpilot · 9 December 2005, 04:52 PM

Alright. So you've had a chance to see some of the internal supports for the main fuel tank and the seat. Below are a series of photographs to demonstrate some of the more involved pieces that were constructed on the wooden mock-up, specifically one of the plywood side panels. A similar process was used to construct the rear decking, and the defining "hump" over the guns. The hump took a little more persuasion in the form of steaming, but the results look great (although you'll have to wait for a future post to get a look at them).

greatwarpilot · 9 December 2005, 04:53 PM

In these next few you can see both side panels completed, the rear decking, and the beginning of an instrument panel minus hump (but complete with Vickers for confirming the size of the cut outs!)

More to follow!

baldeagle · 9 December 2005, 06:51 PM

What kind of glue are you using?

greatwarpilot · 9 December 2005, 07:48 PM

For the most part we're using good old T-88, 2 part epoxy. Thats what I used when I glued the ply on the hump anyways. And the ply was secured to the formers with small brass screws with slot heads (that like to break off if you don't drill the right pilot holes and treat them nicely!) to keep it in place while the epoxy dryed. Also adds a touch of authenticity.