Sopwith Baby Project

[John McKenzie]

Hi Joe, If I'm not mistaken , the web site does say that the floats are of Hanriot manufacture (so they would look different to Sop' profile .).....
.Or is this what you meant anyway ?.If so ,sorry to repeat.
Regards John.

[Joe Perkel]

Originally Posted by John McKenzie

Hi Joe, If I'm not mistaken , the web site does say that the floats are of Hanriot manufacture (so they would look different to Sop' profile .).....
.Or is this what you meant anyway ?.If so ,sorry to repeat.
Regards John.

Hi John,

Thank you for your analysis, I'm afraid my French is limited to Oui Oui, and (Pepe Le Pew)!

I did notice the Hanriot reference, but could not determine it's relevance. My interest is in the aircraft itself in what is an apparently documented two-place float configuration.

One can easily envision a hearty modernized version with a steel tube fuselage and an M-14.

Thanks again John.

[John McKenzie]

Hi Joe , Bit of a " round about " posting , but hope it will be of some use .
1) Firstly , Sopwith 1 1/2 strutters were made in france and included the manufacturer " Hanriot "...Many were built , but cant help with # details
2)After early 1918 the 1 1/2 was generaly withdrawn from service (French) and saw widespread usage in flying schools as trainers .
3) On the web link you posted , ref. "Avions utilises....."Aeroplanes used by the gunnery school at Cazeau/seaplane section :"...There is a listing of the machines used ( Just above the 2nd RED heading of "Entrainement au tir aerien a Cazaux"....This listing says..(5th. down )."Sopwith 1A2 with Hanriot floats ( converted to seaplane ) (4)".....This note (4) underneath says .."convertion realised (made ) at the school ( number unknown) "
4) From the photos , the floats look like the later (2nd) type of float used on the Hanriot HD-2.(Earlier type was shorter and more like Sop.Baby type )..
These floats , being longer (at the rear ) allowed the aircraft to sit more tail high in the water than previously , and had a definate step .
5) Good photo of HD-2 ..No 241 with these floats is Imp War Museum photo #Q66288
6) US Navy took delivery of 10 HD-2 machines and took them back to the US Naval Aircraft Factory at League Island, Philadelphia, for conversion to land planes....(sometime mistakenly believed to have been built by N.A.F. )..
These given US Navy numbers A5620--A5629 & given Clerget motors .
7) It may be that some photos /Drawings or even parts of these floats may still exist...Who knows ?.....They are of course the same type that you would be looking for to replicate the French "school" 1 1/2 's at Cazaux .
8) US Navy did purchase also some 1 1/2 's.......Whether any of these machines ever met up with the above (ex) HD-2 floats is anyones guess....? But it "could" be...ie. Sop. 1 1/2 on HD-2 floats in US Navy markings ! ?
9) IMPORTANT..When the HD-1 was converted to 1st vertion (Sop Baby type floats ) to a seaplane , it was necessary to extend the Rudder and to add an under fin...Later , with the revision to the longer HD-2 (later version as per #241..It was found necessary to revise the whole shape of the vertical surfaces and a new combined upper and lower fins/ rudder assembly was used ..All this due to the increased side area of the floats as replacing the wheels .
10) From above , it is possible that the standard Sop. 1 1/2 Strutter Fin / Rudder combination may be inadequate as a Seaplane ...I cannot say if the "school" machines have been altered ( as I'm not Sop. expert ,just to look at it ) , or indeed if they were after the photo was taken , or IF they needed alteration at all ...You'd have to explore this one on safe handling grounds .
Hope some of this is of help or interest.....Regards John.

[Joe Perkel]

John,

You've been at this a while, haven't you?!!

In the two some odd years that I have been delayed for commencement, I have noticed that while my commitment to the Sopwith Baby has wavered, my passion to construct any one of three Sopwith models, has not. On the very eve now of starting, I have to make a decision which will determine which of the airfoil profiles I start cutting for. At that point, the die will be cast and I will follow through.

Chief among the decision factors in order of importance are.....

-One or two place

-Logistical practicality of use and storage

-Selection of power (new technology as available / appropriate, or overhauled older equipment).

-Degree of authenticity

Your reply is very useful to me as it adds a few more pieces to the overall puzzle.

Thanks John!

[Joe Perkel]

I thought that I might note the 30th anniversary of my private pilot rating by keeping my thread alive.

Project status: Awaiting delivery of floor tile for the shop. (by order of the boss).

[RAF56_Ball]

Happy 30th, Joe!

Made me think how long I have had mine, so special congratulations to you.
Glenn

[Joe Perkel]

Originally Posted by RAF56_Ball

Happy 30th, Joe!

Made me think how long I have had mine, so special congratulations to you.
Glenn

Thanks Glenn, Life is going going by awfully quickly. This why the sense of urgency and frustration in getting the ball rolling here despite the obstacles.

Thanks!

[Joe Perkel]

After a monumental struggle of two plus years, and several months of looking at unpacked boxes, I was finally able to assemble my CAD station and workbench yesterday!

It may not seem like much, but this is a milestone for me. This space has but a single purpose, to manufacture Sopwith components on this bench after drawing them up in CAD.

Yes, we will all be geezing by the time I finish this project!

That's one small step for Joe, one giant leap for a dream!

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Joe Perkel

After a monumental struggle of two plus years, and several months of looking at unpacked boxes, I was finally able to assemble my CAD station and workbench yesterday!

It may not seem like much, but this is a milestone for me. This space has but a single purpose, to manufacture Sopwith components on this bench after drawing them up in CAD.

Yes, we will all be geezing by the time I finish this project!

That's one small step for Joe, one giant leap for a dream!

Good stuff Joe,
The dream is getting closer to reality now. Looking forward to seeing the first parts roll off the Sopwith Miami production line.

Cheers, Nick

[snj5]

Great work!

Looking forward to some hard core CAD!