Sopwith Camel (2 Viewers)

[lancer]

Anyone out there got the Camel yet and what is your opinion on it? What is the material it is made out of? Is the color good, etc.? I'm still a couple of weeks away from getting mine so I would appreciate the recon info. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

I had heard of one person who was raving about it. He said the material was light, similar to the SCW tanks but that it was incredibly realistic. He had seen the K & C Warbirds, both wood and poly, and thought this was superior.

 

[lancer]

I had heard of one person who was raving about it. He said the material was light, similar to the SCW tanks but that it was incredibly realistic. He had seen the K & C Warbirds, both wood and poly, and thought this was superior.

Very encouraging. Wonder if it is resin. Maybe real canvas and wood. -- Al

 

[lenswerks]

Hey Folks,

I have one and it exceeded my expectations - lots of detail.
The paint is well done, very realistic with great weathering affects.

It appears to be some type of resin like composite – no resin smell; very light, but very sturdy.

Donnie

 

[45thdiv]

I have one as well. Same comments as Donnie, but wanted to add a bit more info.

The interior of the cockpit is very well detailed with the correct yoke for the control stick. The undercarriage and wheels seem to be made of metal, but everything else is resin. The "wire" between the two wings is a strong fabric cord (at least it feels like it to me), but I think it is the section to be carful with when taking it out of the box, or picking it up. I can see a finger slipping in and snapping the wire if not.

I love the paint job, even underneath is well weathered. I love the paint chips on the cowling for the engine and the fact the the rotary engine detail is so well done, and the prop can be turned. Which is a good thing for me since all the folks who have seen it ask, as their finger goes to press it, "Does the propeller turn?"

I really think this is a fantastic piece.

Matthew

 

[lancer]

Thanks to Donnie and Matthew for the info. Very much looking forward to getting mine, especially with such glowing reviews. That turning propeller thing is sort of like hanging a wet paint sign on something, as the first thing anyone does is try it out. A non-turning prop can be a rude surprise. -- Al

 

[45thdiv]

I like the analogy with the wet paint sign Al.

I use to do stop motion animation over 25 years ago and if I was working on a new sculpt (prior to casting) People would still come up and ask if it moved, as they pulled the arm off to move it. I never got too upset since it was at a stage where I was building up the sculpture so I could fix it again quite quickly, but on a finished model like this plane, I'd be really annoyed if it were broken like that.

Oh and my wife ended up taking the plane from me and put it in her study. It's the first plane she had as a kid and really liked the detail John put into this plane. So just beware that if you have a S.O. who is a pilot, you may not get to display it in your room. At least I can go look at it next to her Naval ships when ever I want to.

Matthew

 

[lancer]

I have another question about the new Sopwith that comes under rivet counting. When looking at the plane straight on, nose pointed at you, is the top wing a straight line from tip to tip or does it bow upwards in the middle? Same for the bottom wing, do they start at the fuselage and go straight out or do they start at the fuselage and angle upwards, very slightly, to the wing tips? Put another way, are the top and bottom wing exactly parallel to each other? -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

I like the analogy with the wet paint sign Al.

I use to do stop motion animation over 25 years ago and if I was working on a new sculpt (prior to casting) People would still come up and ask if it moved, as they pulled the arm off to move it. I never got too upset since it was at a stage where I was building up the sculpture so I could fix it again quite quickly, but on a finished model like this plane, I'd be really annoyed if it were broken like that.

Oh and my wife ended up taking the plane from me and put it in her study. It's the first plane she had as a kid and really liked the detail John put into this plane. So just beware that if you have a S.O. who is a pilot, you may not get to display it in your room. At least I can go look at it next to her Naval ships when ever I want to.

Matthew

Matthew,

Tough luck, but I think it's great to have a wife who's interested

 

[45thdiv]

Hi Al,

I will sneak into my wife's study so I can answer your rivet counting questions later today. She'll still be at work.

Matthew

 

[lancer]

Hi Al,

I will sneak into my wife's study so I can answer your rivet counting questions later today. She'll still be at work.

Matthew

Thanks Matthew. I appreciate it. -- Al

 

[lenswerks]

I have another question about the new Sopwith that comes under rivet counting. When looking at the plane straight on, nose pointed at you, is the top wing a straight line from tip to tip or does it bow upwards in the middle? Same for the bottom wing, do they start at the fuselage and go straight out or do they start at the fuselage and angle upwards, very slightly, to the wing tips? Put another way, are the top and bottom wing exactly parallel to each other? -- Al

My observation is that the top wing is parallel to the ground and the bottom wing bows up slightly – most noticeably towards the last 1/3 towards tips.

So no they do not appear to be exactly parallel to each other.

A second opinion would be recommened.

 

[lancer]

My observation is that the top wing is parallel to the ground and the bottom wing bows up slightly – most noticeably towards the last 1/3 towards tips.

So no they do not appear to be exactly parallel to each other.

A second opinion would be recommened.

Thanks. This is good news. Many model manufacturers have gotten the Camels ruler straight upper wing incorrect by putting a slight bow in it. This comes from an optical illusion when looking at photos. The lower wings should raise a bit towards the tips while the upper wing is straight. Good to know JJD got it right. -- Al

 

[45thdiv]

Hi Brad - I feel very fortunate that she is as interested in what I collect as I am. I told her about the red tri-plane and she said that we have to get it as well as the pilots, since she had both as a kid. Oh - ow, twist my arm. Yes Dear.


Al - Lenswerks is looking at the same detail I am seeing. The only thing I wonder about, is the two "holes" behind the cockpit on the fuselage. I don't recall those being there and wonder what they might be for. My father in law just saw the model and he commented as well.

But I do think John got this plane right. I am very pleased with it. I will have to get a display case to make an airfield for these planes.

Matthew

 

[lancer]

Hi Brad - I feel very fortunate that she is as interested in what I collect as I am. I told her about the red tri-plane and she said that we have to get it as well as the pilots, since she had both as a kid. Oh - ow, twist my arm. Yes Dear.


Al - Lenswerks is looking at the same detail I am seeing. The only thing I wonder about, is the two "holes" behind the cockpit on the fuselage. I don't recall those being there and wonder what they might be for. My father in law just saw the model and he commented as well.

But I do think John got this plane right. I am very pleased with it. I will have to get a display case to make an airfield for these planes.

Matthew

Hi Matthew. Thank you for the info. Those 2 holes are correct and are visible in starboard side photos and scale plans. A guess is that at least one is a fuel fill. I think the gas tank is either right behind or under the pilot's seat, but I might be remembering wrong. -- Al

 

[lancer]

Hi Matthew. Thank you for the info. Those 2 holes are correct and are visible in starboard side photos and scale plans. A guess is that at least one is a fuel fill. I think the gas tank is either right behind or under the pilot's seat, but I might be remembering wrong. -- Al

Matthew, one hole is a fuel fill as the gas tank is right behind the pilot and I think it likely the other hole is the fill for the oil tank. -- Al

 

[45thdiv]

Thanks Al.

I thought that might be what they were for. Interesting how model kits don't show this. I have a 1/35 scale plastic kit and the fuselage shows nothing behind the cockpit. Just fabric all the way to the tail.

Matthew

 

[PJDeluhery]

I got my Sopwith a few days ago. It's a fine verson of the aircraft and, while not a rivet-counter myself, it looks really great to me. I think John has another winner here.

 

[maddadicus]

Could anyone offer the actual dimensions of the airplane? Michael

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Matthew, one hole is a fuel fill as the gas tank is right behind the pilot and I think it likely the other hole is the fill for the oil tank. -- Al

Actually they are both fuel tank filling openings. The rearmost one is for the main fuel tank and the one just behind the pilot is for the small secondary tank.

Terry