1/48 Sopwith Camel F.1*** FINISHED Pg.4

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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Awhile back, a friend of mine on another site proposed to do a buddy buiLtd with me of a pair of WWI Dogfight opponents. He wanted to build a Fokker Dr.I. So my entry into this buddy build is a Sopwith Camel. It only seems natural to oppose the Fokker Dr.I when he first proposed this buddy build of duelist biplanes awhile back.

I have had the old Monogram issue of the classic Aurora kit in my stash and had been pondering building it for awhile. My friend’s idea of a buddy build was the kick in the pants needed to get this one from an abstract concept into something of an actual plan. The next step was to get other projects wrapped up so that I could give this build the attention that it deserves.

I had the kit

and a set of decals

Off of the decal set I selected this particular subject aircraft.

With a new year, and now all previous builds on my bench wrapped up, it was time to start.

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I built that when I was a kid. Looking forward to this build.

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Thanks John. Same here on when the last time was that I built this particular kit. It is definitely something of a “nostalgia build”.

Last night I began construction. Actually though it was mostly just paint work.

First I took a razor saw along the seat to give it some texture to suggest that of the wicker seats actually used. Once painted and with a wash it should look more the part.

Then I painted up other cockpit components, and the interior of the fuselage halves. Just getting the base colors on for now. I’m not gonna use the kit pilot, so behind the seat is a glaring empty space. I searched thru my spares/salvaged parts and came up with a fuel tank to fill the void. It somewhat resembles the real thing. I’m not going for 100% accuracy, just stuff to suggest what should be there. I’m sure that must sound like blasphemy to some modelers.

I’ll get to work on detail painting and washes over the next few days, plus whatever mods I intend to scratch up for the cockpit.

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I’ll peek in on this

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Good to see ya here TJ. I should have some decent progress in a couple of days. First trick will be fitting that fuel tank in there… and painting up the IP.

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That was a cool idea on the seat. I’m going to enjoy following along.

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Another vintage classic gets new life! There’s something satisfying about putting effort into an old kit.

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Knox and Chad thanks for looking in on this project.

Knox, it’s a nice simple old school technique to dress up an otherwise bland part.

Chad, you are quite right on that point. Giving these old kits some extra attention and TLC can really be enjoyable.

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Always great to see another Camel on the production floor!

[BTW, I have that same decal set, which I got for the USN markings; I’ve done 2 others off the sheet…but have yet to do the one I actually purchased the decals for! Ain’t that always the way? [:D]]

Great work so far.

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Thanks Greg. That is too funny that you have built two other subjects from the decal set, but not yet the one that you bought the set intending to use. Funny how those things happen.

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Hey Stik, I’ll be riding along on this build too.

Know what you mean about the empty pit. Started a WIP the end of Oct. on a Monogram SBD Dauntless that had a rectangular box for a pit. Pilots seat, pilot (ugly), rear gunner (also ugly) and machine gun. That was all, not even an IP. I absolutely couldn’t leave it that way. Haven’t worked on it much over the holidays but I’ll bring it up to date soon.

Jim [cptn]

Stay Safe.

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Thanks for tagging along Jim. I know what you mean about the Monogram SBD. I have one of those as a sidelined build. I added a bunch of stuff mine salvaged off of a trashed TBD build. Those parts helped a lot!!!

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Today’s update. Lots of painting and drilling and sanding and measuring & cutting… and not much gluing. So here we go.

First up, I was not happy with the filler points on the top deck behind the cockpit, so I drilled those out.

Before and after

Then I repainted the cockpit floor based off some photos of preserved Camels. Different custom shade of wood that I mixed up compared to the sidewalls

Then I modified the salvaged fuel tank into the piece affair that the real one had. Not to mention lots of sanding to get it to fit into the fuselage behind the pilot seat. I also painted the seat cushion and edging, again based off of photos of Museum Camels

And lastly, base colors finished on the IP and control yoke, plus I scratch built up a rudder bar with control linkage rods, again based off of Museum Camels

A bit more stuff to do like instrument decals, washes and perhaps an attempt at wood grain before I can put it all together.

Until the next update…

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Today’s update: I took a shot at using oils for a wood grain appearance.

First step, I mixed up a brown shade and then applied it over the interior wood surface areas

Next step I used a thinner moistened brush to remove much of the oil paint and leave a streaking that resembles wood grain

The final look… any resemblance to actual wood grain is more luck than anything else.

This technique is actually going to take lots of practice to get a handle on it.

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One small update from yesterday’s work:

I forgot to get a better shot to show the sidewall wood grain effort

and now that the oil wash on the engine has dried and I do not need to worry about it staining my photo booth, here’s a photo of the engine

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Ooo, how fun, a Camel.

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Right? You know me Steve, I’m a sucker for kits from the old days of Monogram.

Today’s progress report: So today I completed my intended goals for yesterday. I added instrument decals to the IP, RAF WWII type, rather than the WWI type that I had planned to use but were invisible because they needed to be applied over a white background.

Then I drybrushed and touched up the seat

And lastly, I touched up the inside colors.

Next session I can install all the interior parts and close it all up.

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Coming along nicely. It’s amazing what talent and some tlc can do to old kits. It’s why I build Tamiya kits. :smiling_face:

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Thanks Knox. Although in all honesty, old Tamiya kits of this vintage are not that hot either.

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That’s a fact