Sopwith

Sopwith T.F.2 Salamander by Pegasus 1/72 scale short run injection mold

The Salamander depicted in this kit was used for camoflage trials, by the Ministry of Muntions in 1918. The color scheme, notes and references are based on Technical Department guideling CIM 733 of 3/9/1918.

This is an early Pegasus kit that was all plastic with the exception of the cowl and machine guns. The upper wing decals were also provided. The kit is OOB with some interior work.

Sopwith T.F.2 Salamander by Toko 1/72 scale injection mold

With 605 pounds of armor plate on all sides of the fuselage, fuel tank and with an armored headreast, the TF2 (Trench Fighter) was designed to protect pilots on ground attack missions where losses to pilots could be as high as 30%. After evaluation in May 1918, the Salamander was ordered into production. Only two were used on the Western Front before the war ended.
The plane depicted in the TOKO kit is 6602, one of the 160 planes constructed at the Sopwith factory in Ham. The kit goes together well and is built OOB.

Sopwith F.1 Camel B7380 by Revell 1/72 scale injection mold.

Sopwith F.1 Camel, B7380, built by the Ruston-Proctor Company of Lincoln, England. On January 4, 1918, they completed their 1000th aircraft and by special permission finished it in the colors depicted. Colonel Ruston, an avid student of Ancient Egypt instigated the color scheme.

With the exception of the yellow base color and decals, the model is handpainted. The kit is 100% OOB. The color reference material is from "The International Magazine of Armies & Weapons", July 1976, page 122 by Gray Barling. I built the kit about 1983 and took this series of photos in 9/2000.

Sopwith F.1 Camel with Bentley engine by Roden, 1/72nd scale injection mold.

The initial engine installation in the Camel was the 110 hp LeRhone engine but the majority of production machines had the more powerful Clerget 9B (130 hp engine). Engineer Walter Bentley improved the performance by 30 hp and was officially called the Bentley BR.1. The engine was later improved to 230 hp. The plane did not receive a distinct name, it was simply marked Sopwith F.1 Camel with Bentley B. R., 1 Engine. The engine was installed in all new Camels but any Camel that was sent in for repairs received a new Bentley B. R. 1 engine.

The plane depicted is B3894 of No. 9 Squadron RNAS (No. 209 Squadron RAF), piloted by FSL A. R. Wood, October 1917. The kit was built out of the box using color references in Windsock Datafile 26. All paints used are Gunze Sanyo. This is a very easy kit to build in under 10 hours.

Sopwith F.1 Camel (B6401) by Roden, 1/72nd scale, injection mold

In late 2009, Revell released their old war horse Sopwith F.1 Camel with a new set of decals, No. 3 Naval Squadron. This has always been a favorite color scheme of mine so I mated the new decals with Roden's Camel. If I must say so myself, I like the final results. The kit is built OOB in less than 10 hours. The Revell decals are excellent and fit the Roden kit perfectly.

The plane decipited is the F.1 Camel flown by Lt. L.S. Breadner, No. 3 Naval Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service, Walmer, December, 1917.

Sopwith F.1 Camel by Roden, 1/72 injection mold

In 1993, Blue Rider Models released a decal sheet for two very colorful Camels. I wanted to use the decals before they expired so a Roden F.1 was chosen and built. The decals went on flawless and the results are very striking. The kit is built out of the box in less than 10 hours.

This aircraft is E7232 built by Ruston and Proctor in 1918. Both wings (top and bottom), tail surfaces and half of the fuselage were painted white. The forward portion of the fuselage was painted red along with all struts and undercarriage. The aircraft carried national markings on the lower surfaces of the wings only.

An alternate color source suggests the background of the wings was orange and Blue Rider gives the builder this option. What came as a surprise to me was the decal sheet had a major mistake. The aircraft depicted is DIMPS III but the decal sheet has DRIPS III. This was not noticed until after the decals were applied when a feeble correction attempt was made.

The British Air Command frowned on colorful aircraft except in training squadrons which makes this aircraft very unusual with this colorful plumage.

Sopwith F.1 Camel by Roden, 1/72 injection mold

In 1993, Blue Rider Models released a decal sheet for two very colorful Camels. I wanted to use the decals before they expired so a Roden F.1 was chosen and built. The decals went on flawless and the results are very striking. The kit is built out of the box in less than 10 hours. Most aircraft in training squadrons were unarmed but I installed the machine guns.

This aircraft, serial number unknown, was flown by Major E. L. Foot, commanding Officer of 47 TDS, Doncaster, in late 1918. Some aircraft in training squadrons were vividly colored as can be seen in this example. This aircraft will be in striking contrast to most British aircraft in their olive over unbleached linen aircraft.

Sopwith Camel Two Seat Trainer by Roden, 1/72nd scale, injection mold.

To the experienced pilot, the demands of the Camel, especially during takeoffs and landings, did not present a problem. But to the new or inexperienced pilot, the consequences could prove to be fatal. During a six month period, over 100 accidents were recorded with 30 fatalities. An in the field attempt to make a two seat trainer failed as the plane was too unstable in flight due to center of gravity issues.

In early 1918, Sopwith developed a proper two seat trainer by adding a second cockpit a few inches forward and placing the rear cockpit very close behind it. The modifications worked and the two seater was able to maintain stability while in flight.

The kit is one of a series of Camels by Roden and is well made. Decals are provided for three different trainers. An extra tree of parts is provided for the two seater with two top wings. The kit goes together very well and took about 10 hours to build. I chose E9968 as I liked the red stripes on the nose.

Sopwith F.1/3 Camel 'Comic' by Roden 1/72 scale injection mold

The Sopwith Camel saw service as a night fighter in several Home Defense Squadrons over Great Britain in WW1. It was soon found out that the pilots were momentarily blinded by the flash of their guns. There was also concern over using explosive and incendiary ammunition in synchronized weapons.

Sopwith's solution was to move the fuselage further back and mount twin Lewis machine guns above the upper wing. This configuration came to be known as the 'Comic.' The 'Comic' and standard Camels were used in nocturnal operations over Great Britain.

The Roden kit was released in 1997 with four decal options. The kit was a pleasure to build and the only problem I had was the cabane struts were too long. This is a very minor problem and did not add five minutes to the build. The kit took less than 10 hours to build.

The aircraft depicted is B9287 of 44 HDS prior to 25 May 1918, when it was written off after a hard landing by Lt. H J L Taylor over Hainault Farm.

The color scheme is speculative.

Reference material: Windsock Vol 4, No. 2 Summer 1988 page 6 and Vol 23 No. 6 Nov/Dec 2007 page 24.

Sopwith Schneider Floatplane by Eduard in 1/72 scale.

The Sopwith Schneider was a variant of the Sopwith Tabloid that won the 1914 Schneider Race. It was ordered in quantity for the RNAS and was known as the Sopwith Schneider. The model exemplifies the small fin, warping wings, bullnose cowling and Lewis gun installation of the early Schneider.

Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter 1B1 Single Seat Bomber by Toko 1/72 Scale, Injection Mold.

Officially know as the Sopwith 9400, the 1/1/2 strutter first entered service as a reconnaissance plane and fighter. When used as a single-seat bomber, the observers cockpit was covered and four 50 pound bombs were carried. The model depicted is a 1.B1 No. 185 flown by the 107th - escadrille de Corps d'Armee, France, 1917.

The Roden kit offers two color schemes, one Russian and one French. The kid goes together well with no flash. the wing cabane holes were re-drilled about 1/16" outboard for a better fit. Building time was under 10 hours

Sopwith 1B 1 1/2 Strutter (Comic) by Toko 1/72 scale injection mold.

Some 1 1/2 strutters were converted into single seaters for Home Defense purposes. The pilot was located in what was basically the observer's cockpit. B762 had been reconstructed at the Southern Aircraft Repair Depot and on 08/18/1917 was allocated to Home Defense Group. By the end of 1917 it became clear that this plane could not oppose the new German bombers and all 70 conversions were declared obsolete and passed on to training squadrons.

This kit offered only one decal option plus the twin mounted Lewis guns. A very easy build less than 10 hours.

Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter by Flashback 1/72 scale injection mold.

The Flashback offers two decal options, along resin and photo etched parts. Either the French or British version can be built and all parts are included for both options. This was a very nice kit to build and took a little longer to build than the Toko kits. I estimate it took about 12 hours to build.

This plane was flown by RNAS FSL R. Collishaw, Luxeuil, France. While flying this plane during the Oberndorf Raid on 11/10/1917, Collishaw claimed to have shot down a Fokker.

Sopwith Dolphin Pegasus Models 1/72nd scale. Short run injection mold

The Dolphin was designed be the successor to the Camel and was distinctively different in more than one respect. This was the first Sopwith fighter with an inline engine, using the 200-hp geared Hispano-Suiza engine. Since the Camel had the worst field of view for the pilot, the Dolphin went to extraordinary lengths to give its pilot a good all round view.

The plane entered service in early 1918 and before production ceased on 08/23/1919, 1,774 plus four prototypes had been built. The plane was well liked by its British pilots and flew into the 1920's with some Polish and Ukrainian units.

This kit is the first of the second production by Sopwith. It is finished in the standard PC10 over CDL of the period.

The kit is one of the early offerings by Pegasus Models, being released before 1990. It was build about the same time and has withstood the years well. The build is out of the box with very little reference material. I have no idea how long it took to build but will estimate 10 hours.

Officially, the Sopwith fighter prototype that went to 'A' Squadron, No. 5 Wing, RNAS on May 28, 1916 was called the Sopwith Type 9901. But, early in it's existence the little Sopwith acquired the unofficial name 'Pup', inspired by a spontaneous remark made by Brig. General W. Sefton Brancker on first seeing the aircraft: "Good God! Your 1 1/2 strutter had a pup!" Apparently officialdom frowned on more frivolous appellations but to all of the young men of both services who flew the little Sopwith it was, of course, the Pup.

The Pup's operational career ended in the autumn of 1917 and it served in training until the war ended. This model is a standard built Pup, serial no. C242, of the No. 7 Training Squadron, Netheravon, 1918. The decal sheet is Blue Rider sheet no. BR243.

Sopwith Pup by Airfix. 1/72nd scale injection mold. (1980)

This is one of my early 1980's build. It is out of the box in every respect. I made an attempt at painting the personal 'Uncle Emblem.'

This model depicts a Pup of the No. 112 (Home Defense) Night Fighter Squadron, Throwley, U.K., 1917.

Sopwith Snipe by Pegasus Models 1/72 short run injection

The Snipe reached the front lines on Sept 23, 1918 with the No. 43 Squadron. Within five weeks there were 100 Snipes in France, replacing the Camels then in service. With the exception of Major William Baker's epic battle on Oct 27, 1918, the Snipe had few opportunities to show its abilities. After the Armistice, the Snipe served with a dozen RAF Squadrons. The plane was declared obsolete in 1928.

This is a very early 1983 Pegasus kit with no metal or decals. The engine, prop, guns and control stick are Aeroclub. I have no idea about the national markings. The rudder and fuselage stripes are hand painted. The Toko kit recently gave up its serial number. I know the Snipe Baker flew in his above mentioned battle did not have the heart on the tail, but I liked it and added it.

Sopwith Snipe by Toko Models 1/72 injection mold

This is an early Toko release of the Sopwith Snipe of the 1st soviet fighter Aviaotryad, 1920. The pilot was Georgi Stepanovich Sapozhnhikov, who died in this aircraft on Sept 8, 1920, in a flying accident.

The kit is built Out of the Box with the kit decals. Blue Rider decal sheet BR200 was used to add the stars to the top wing. The kit decals do not include these stars.

Sopwith Triplane by Revell, 1/72nd scale, injection molded

In a bold and radical departure from military convention, in May 1916, Sopwith designed the first fighter triplane to be created and go into action. The Triplane was powered by the 110-hp Clerget 9Z engine and was armed with a single fixed Vickers machine gun.

The prototype was in Dunkerque in mid-June 1916 and was instantly accepted by the pilots for its performance, flying qualities and exceptional good field of view.

By June 1917, the engine had been replaced by the 130-hp Clerget 9B and the tail plane had been reduced in size. The flying qualities were remarkable and its climbing capabilities were described as phenomenal.

Approximately 150 Triplanes were built, most of them flown by the RNAS with great success. One Triplane flew in the Aegean and one went to Russia, where it survives to this day. Six of the Triplanes were armed with twin Vickers.

The model depicted is Flt. Lt. Raymond Collishaw, leader of the all Canadian Black Flight of No. 10 (Naval) Squadron, N5492. It was built in 1982 and was cleaned up in Jan 2010. It is one of my very early models and the Triplane has always been one of my favorite WW1 aeroplanes. With the recent release of Pheon Models Sopwith Triplane decal sheet, it will soon be joined by the entire Black Flight. There are no modifications to the kit including no interior. The name and number are hand painted.