Sopwith Snipe Project

[Jim52]

Nick,
Getting back to your question on the footsteps for a moment.
In the Models Forum, there is a thread titled "Help with RAF FE-2b".
the first post has a link to a very well done 1/4 scale Snipe. Enlarging
the cockpit photos, it seems that the aileron cables run through/under
these footsteps. The round spacer in your drawing makes sense as a
bearing for the cable and the whole assembly to keep the pilot from
stepping on the cables. I'm interested in your thoughts.

Jim

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Jim52

Nick,
Getting back to your question on the footsteps for a moment.
In the Models Forum, there is a thread titled "Help with RAF FE-2b".
the first post has a link to a very well done 1/4 scale Snipe. Enlarging
the cockpit photos, it seems that the aileron cables run through/under
these footsteps. The round spacer in your drawing makes sense as a
bearing for the cable and the whole assembly to keep the pilot from
stepping on the cables. I'm interested in your thoughts.

Jim

Jim,
You're absolutely right. I had forgotten that aspect of it. Here is the plan of the counter shaft, I've pencilled in where the aileron cable goes to the control column. It would as you say have a dual purpose, to step on getting in and out of the cockpit and to protect the cables. It would be interesting to know if they have done this on other Sopwiths.

Another mystey solved. Many thanks,

Nick

[brinesharks]

Originally Posted by Nick

Jim,
...It would be interesting to know if they have done this on other Sopwiths.

The Sopwith Triplane has a very different set up. No lateral tube. The control cables are also much higher up the control column (or at least look that way - not sure of the relative scales).

[Ricardo Reis]

I've read this thread from start to finish and nothing has excited me more (girlfriend excepted) in a long time.

[robby88]

Originally Posted by Nick

Just had a go at climbing into the seat after standing on a step ladder next to it. Not that easy getting in that's for sure (and this is supposed to be a large cockpit compared to the Camel!). Squeezing in between the Vickers even with no stick there at present is tight. Okay I did make a few engine noises whilst there and let loose a few pot shots at a passing DVII
The Snipe to my knowledge never had a wing mounted MG, so I guess, unless someone comes up with another use, they're to stand on getting in and out.

Cheers, Nick

Nick I think they are for protecting the aileron cables and perhaps stop them fouling on the pilot's feet. Here's a WIP pic of my interpretation in the cockpit of the FSX model, from a while back.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by robby88

Here's a WIP pic of my interpretation in the cockpit of the FSX model, from a while back.

Hi Rob,
Thanks for that, we got there in the end. That's a great drawing you've done there. Drawing it all out like you have really does give you a good understanding of how it all goes together.

Cheers, Nick

[Nick]

Talking about drawing it sure would have been nice to have had the skills to do what Joe is doing with his Sopwith Baby project, and draw it all up in CAD first. Anything that doesn't quite add up then can be resolved before finding things don't fit
Here's an example. I'm in the process of making the centre section spars and have just noticed that there is a difference between the tie strap measurements and the spar of 1/4". On the Spar drawing the distance between the joint rod holes is 51" and yet on the Tie strap it is 51-1/4".





The drawing was done in April 1918 and has no signatures in the alteration section but has a note at the bottom along the line of "to original blueprint 8th Oct 1921".



Snipes were used right through to 1927 so occasionally parts were modified but annotated in the Alteration column.
So unless there's a reason I'm missing (as usual) why the difference I'm not sure which dimension is correct.

Nick

[Ricardo Reis]

Maybe you can download and try google sketch. I think it's quite intuitive and could be of assistance.

[Nick]

Originally Posted by Ricardo Reis

Maybe you can download and try google sketch. I think it's quite intuitive and could be of assistance.

Thanks Ricardo,
I've downloaded it as looks like a handy program. I've probably
discovered this problem a bit late and may well have to plump for one dimension or the other. It may not make that much difference hopefully

Cheers, Nick

[j ferguson]

Nick,
these are tough drawings to work with. Is it possible that the upper drawing is showing the limits of the flats on the top of the wood members where it says 52 inches less 1/2 inch? and that this dimension has nothing to do with the hole locations which are NOT shown on the strap, either?

A symptom that this might be correct is that none of the other hole locations are shown - just wood dimensions. the hole locations must be indicated on the bracket drawing. All of them.

When the drawing says to drill the hole in position as it does on the aluminum drawing, wouldn't you assume that means with the wood parts in place? of course then, you can't see the aluminum where you put your prick marks for drilling. Or maybe this is like Joe's Baby, where the hole gets drilled on the plane with brackets in place?

Generally, it is good practice in manual (non-CAD) drawings to try to show a dimension only once. this not only reduces confusion. but avoids possibility of exposing an error - such as the one Jeff showed on his thread where there were two dimensions for a hole location, i think on the throttle quadrant, and clearly only one could be right - but which one??

I liked the 1 25/64 +.010/-.000 on the control drawing. I know what the intention is but are you going to be able to work to those tolerances when you weld this up?

keep at it. I'm delighted that you are sharing so much with us.

best, John