ACE-30 - Sopwith Triplane - Raymond Collishaw (1 Viewer)

[ivanmoe]

It's hard to believe that we're up to #30 in the KotS series of WWI fighter aircraft replicas. True, there are some numbers that were skipped. However, I NEVER thought that this range would prove to have the legs that it has among collectors.

I perhaps falsely assumed that John Jenkins was simply using the models as a hook to get us interested in collecting it's terrific figure sets of pilots and ground crew. That's certainly what drew me into the position of becoming a buyer of so many of these pieces.

At any rate, ACE-30 arrived yesterday and I've taken some pics to show it off a bit. See below:{sm4}

 

[ivanmoe]

A couple of more overall shots and some detail pics:

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Certainly a visually interesting and attractive subject!

And some shots for the rivet counter in (most) of us:

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Continued below...

 

[lancer]

Great pictures, Moe. A superb looking model of Collishaw's tripehound. A very creative choice for JJD to produce. -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

Pics of the tail surfaces...

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And finally, some pics of the model on Jenkins' wonderful "Stand D:"

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There you have it, gentlemen.

Thoughts or comment?{sm4}

-Moe

 

[lancer]

Boy, John just continues to produce excellent models and it seems each model improves on the previous release. He's really got this aircraft model production down to an art. The subtle details of his planes really make them stand out, and I mean both the physical details and the various shading of his paint schemes. -- Al

 

[ivanmoe]

Great pictures, Moe. A superb looking model of Collishaw's tripehound. A very creative choice for JJD to produce. -- Al

Hi Al,

I was surprised when JJ decided to do the Sopwith Triplane. Apart from the MS-N, John has focused pretty much on the more iconic types of the war, like the Fokker DR.1, Nieuport 17 and Sopwith Camel. I was attempting to find a WW "Tripehound" kit to use as a gap-filler when ACE-30 was announced. I was not only delighted at this development, but saved myself $160 in the process!

-Moe

 

[ivanmoe]

Boy, John just continues to produce excellent models and it seems each model improves on the previous release. He's really got this aircraft model production down to an art. The subtle details of his planes really make them stand out, and I mean both the physical details and the various shading of his paint schemes. -- Al

Agree completely on all counts. An example of what Al is alluding to can be found in the form of the "air pump," the little propeller looking thingy, located on the right cabane strut in the cockpit photos above. JJ had modeled the part before in its Sopwith Camel model. This time, he's refined the part for use on his triplane. It appears finer and more sophisticated in its rendering. Dandy little upgrade for those of us who like nicely detailed models.

-Moe

 

[Corey121281]

It's hard to believe that we're up to #30 in the KotS series of WWI fighter aircraft replicas. True, there are some numbers that were skipped. However, I NEVER thought that this range would prove to have the legs that it has among collectors.

I perhaps falsely assumed that John Jenkins was simply using the models as a hook to get us interested in collecting it's terrific figure sets of pilots and ground crew. That's certainly what drew me into the position of becoming a buyer of so many of these pieces.

At any rate, ACE-30 arrived yesterday and I've taken some pics to show it off a bit. See below:{sm4}

Do these new Jenkins planes have different rigging. i thought one of the greatest drawbacks of the early models was the fishing line rigging.

 

[ivanmoe]

Do these new Jenkins planes have different rigging. i thought one of the greatest drawbacks of the early models was the fishing line rigging.

Hi Corey,

The rigging material has, indeed, been changed to a somewhat finer, brownish-tinted material. The upgrade was instituted with the Guynemer SPAD 13. I believe that all subsequent releases benefit from the change. Likewise, the cockpits have evidenced dramatic improvement in detail since the release of the Immelmann Fokker E.IV.

-Moe

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[Jack]

A beautiful model - but then again, they all are!

 

[ivanmoe]

A beautiful model - but then again, they all are!

Thanks Martin,

Its got a lot of little detail cooked into it, stencil markings and such. The model also has nine clear "Windows" on it, seven on the wings and two on the fuselage. I believe that those on the actual aircraft were installed to allow visual inspection of structural components that might need tending to. The constant inspections were necesssary, because the Sopwith Tripe had the same lamentable habit as its Fokker cousin...a tendency to shed its wings. One way or the other, we don't see these on other KotS replicas (and likely never will). Jenkins choosing to model them in his tripehound makes the model quite unique.

-Moe

 

[ivanmoe]

The model also has nine clear "Windows" on it, seven on the wings and two on the fuselage. I believe that those on the actual aircraft were installed to allow visual inspection of structural components that might need tending to. The constant inspections were necesssary, because the Sopwith Tripe had the same lamentable habit as its Fokker cousin...a tendency to shed its wings.

So, the seven small windows on the wings piqued my interest. I went looking for answers and learned that they were indeed inspection ports. However, the parts that were cited as requiring inspection were the aircraft's aileron-pullies. Now, we know!

Great "tripehound" restoration outlined here:

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/projects/sopwith-triplane/sopwith-triplane-replica

-Moe

 

[wayne556517]

Great review Moe and another great plane from John.

 

[TomNT]

Nice close up pic's of a superbly detailed bird Moe. If I had the additional funds I wouldn't hesitate in buying a few of his planes along with other items in John's WW1 range.

Tom

 

[Terp152]

Thanks for posting these great pics Moe. Another wonderful model by JJD. This one is on the list. Chris

 

[cnq]

JJ makes beautiful WW1 planes. These ones are best bang for the buck in terms of detail & painting.

 

[ivanmoe]

Great review Moe and another great plane from John.

Thanks Wayne, funny but the pics come out better when I've got a quality subject!

Nice close up pic's of a superbly detailed bird Moe. If I had the additional funds I wouldn't hesitate in buying a few of his planes along with other items in John's WW1 range.

Tom

I hear you on the $$$, Tom. Apart from a smallish collection of KC/EA, I'm all toy pilots. It's how I keep my spending under control. Well, sort of under control.:redface2:

Thanks for posting these great pics Moe. Another wonderful model by JJD. This one is on the list. Chris

Chris, this one took me by surprise. For a good while, JJ really kept KOtS limited to a handful of types. However, he's really branching out and expanding now. It'll be interesting to see what emerges over the next year or two.

JJ makes beautiful WW1 planes. These ones are best bang for the buck in terms of detail & painting.

CNQ, the models have improved dramatically in terms of detail. I always appreciated them for the paint work and weathering. However, JJ has continued to upgrade them, while keeping price increases to an absolute minimum. Viewed in that light, it's hard not to be fan.

-Moe