I am primarily a model railroader (you can see some of my work at http://www.piedmontsub.com), but I’ve decided to take this summer and try my hand at some other subjects for a change and to learn some new techniques. I’m currently working on a couple of Hobbycraft 1:32 Sopwith Camels (one Clerget and one Le Rhone); the scale is so different from 1:87 and Camels are just - in my mind - cool. I want to add a bit of detail to the basic kit; I’ve made replacement instrument panels using some photoetch and decals from Tom’s Modelworks and Airscale. I’ve also added a bit of other detail using styrene and brass from my stash. I do, however, have a couple of questions I can’t seem to resolve and thought I’d come to the experts.
First, I also have one of the Eduard 1:48 Camel kits that I’ve been using as a guide for some of the details. It include 3 different gun sights - a ring (sometimes on the left gun, sometimes on the right), a ring with an arc out of the bottom (again, sometimes on the left and sometimes on the right), and a tube (the Aldiss gunsight? Did I get that right?). Eduard tells you which one to use with each of their decal options, but the Hobbycraft kit doesn’t include the sights, so no mention is made of which kind to use for each option. How do you know which one a particular aircraft was fitted with? I haven’t been able to find that information.
Second, did all Camels have windscreens? I’ve seen some photos online that include one and some that don’t. Again, how do you know?
Finally, I’ve chosen to decorate my Le Rhone Camel using the decals for a Home Defense Camel from No. 50 squadron. The sheet metal around the engine and the wood around the cockpit are shown to be black. It also looks like the landing gear struts are also black. How about the spreader below the struts? I have the impression the top of those is usually PC10 and the bottom CDL. For this aircraft would it be PC10 on top and black below, or would it be all black? I’m also assuming that the black would be matte finish - would that be a correct assumption?
Ok, that’s probably enough for one time. Thanks, all.
Larry, there is an interesting website that you may want to check out. www.wwi-models.org . Just go to their Gallery listing and start clicking on the builders names. You will see all kinds of cool stuff. There may also be some other links on that website that you can follow to get more detailed info. I hope that helps. Bob
The details on WW1 aircraft can vary quite a bit depending on the unit, operating area, and sometimes even the personal preferences of the pilot. The best guide to any plane is photographs of the particular aircraft or, failing that, of the same unit’s aircraft. Beyond that, it’s what can be found in photos in general. (Or, the fun part, sometimes just what would be interesting to model.)
From what I’ve been able to glean, most Camels had some sort of windscreen, though they’re sometimes hard to spot in pictures. Sometimes it’s just a small panel between the machine guns, sometimes a larger framed structure.
The wwi-models website Bob mentioned is excellent. There are also a number of WW1-related sites, such as theaerodrome.com, where these sorts of matters are discussed regularly (and exhaustively). The members there are also very patient and helpful with questions from those who aren’t quite as expert as themselves.
Enjoy your Camels, and, by all means, post pictures. We love pictures.
Thanks for responding, Both of the sites you mentioned are great sites; I’ve spent a lot of time on both and have learned some good stuff, especially about wood grain effects and rigging.
Here are some in progress shots. I’d love feedback.
Ok, not sure what happened to my photos. I used rich formatting and the “insert image” option, but they don’t seem to have come through. Here are some links:
Larry, it is lookin’ pretty good so far. Greg, thanks for the tip on the other WWI website. I wrote it down in my address book beside the other website.
Here’s another in progress shot of my Camel. I’ve added the machine guns and an Aldis gun sight. I found this arrangement - an Aldis gun sight with a backup ring sight - in a book on Google Books.
This is another shot of my Camel. I cut off the kit’s cocking levers and scratched my own from styrene strip. to make the “knobs” at the end, I dipped the ends of the levers into white glue. I used that same trick to make the magneto switches: the bases are slices of styrene rod with a bit of brass wire inserted. The brass wire was dipped in white glue to give them their shape. I still need to put the trim around the fuel fillers. I’m just not sure whether to paint it black or brass. Thoughts?
Bob, Bill, thanks for the kind words. My plan is to get the aircraft on her own “feet” tomorrow. Then comes the fun part: prepping for the rigging and getting the top wing in place.
Here’s today’s progress. I’ve got the first bird up on her feet. I’ve also done my first rigging. It’s ok, but I think I might need to readjust; the aircraft seems like it’s sitting a bit higher on the right than on the left. You can see my Clerget Camel in the background.
I do see what you mean about the right side being a slight bit higher. It’s better to fix it now than later. Over all the plane is lookin’ good. Thanks for the update. Bob
Bob, I couldn’t leave it alone tonight. I did get it straightened out. I’ll post more photos tomorrow. I plan to paint the “turnbuckles” and start rigging the tail.
