¹⁄48

Portfolio - Jackflash (part 6)

1 - 2. From the 185th Aero Sqdn. October 1918. This is the Eduard 1/48 kit #8057. I replaced the kit Clerget rotary with a modified Atlee resin Monosoupape ‘Gnome’ item. Simulating the interior rigging with fine wire. Interplane and Cabane struts had fine wire inserted into pre-drilled holes at their ends. The rigging is monofilament. The tail skid is modified brass. The sight is scratchbuild to match those installed on these aircraft. Otherwise it was built per the instructions. Decals for the national markings are from The ‘Aeromaster’ Fighting Camels Pt. I.. Personal and unit markings are from various sources.
 
This kit is built to represent a Sopwith F.1 ‘Camel’ F1445. It was first assigned to one fight of the 27th Aero. Around Aug.3 1918 it was sent to USAS depot at Orly for refit. Arriving at the 185th Aero at the beginning of Oct. 1918 it was assigned as the Commander’s aircraft. The 185th Aero was the only night fighter unit of the AEF in late 1918. Flown by Major Hartney on October 22, 1918 during a night patrol, he fired point blank at a Gotha Bomber. Hartney’s own account says that ‘...it was after the bomber had been located then lost by the searchlights that he found the machine again when the waist gunner of the Gotha shined a flashlight into the left nacelle to check on the motor’s operation...’ This enabled Hartney to sight in on his target. Several weeks after the war a Gotha was found in a wooded area with its left side nacelle and fuel tank riddled.
 
3 - 5. Roden 1/48 kit 402, Sopwith 1 ½ Strutter built as a lead ops aircraft from 54 Sqdn RFC. 6 April 1917 Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter #A.1093, 45 Sqn. RFC, 2/Lt. J.A. Marshall, KIA & 2/Lt. F.G. Truscott, KIA.
a. I'll be adding a flight crew to the final display.
b. Ete've' gun ring from scratch and modified kit part.
c. Some instrument switches from Copper State Models "PE" set.
d. Cabane struts are cut and shaped brass rod, 4 pieces per side.
e. Some motor wiring.
f. scratchbuilt fuel cell facades.
g. monofilament rigging.
h. Modified control horns for the ailerons, elevators and rudder.
i. Landing gear legs and axle parts are cut and shaped brass rod.

6 - 7. This is the Eduard 1/48 kit #8020. It was built mostly out of the box with the exception of the motor and the under carriage spreader bar. The generic kit motor was replaced with a detailed plastic copy of a Clerget 9B 130 hp rotary. I did use brass wire for push rods. I chose toinstall the kit resin horizontal tailplane. This would put the machine being represented post May 1917 when it was ordered all examples be replaced with a smaller version. The rigging is monofilament. The kit decals were used . The spreader bar/axle was modified to represent a split actuated type and I also opened up the area at the stern post as was seen on the original production aircraft.

8 - 9. This was the kit from Flashback. They used the old Eduard issue plastic and added resin and a smaller version of the PE. The motor was replaced and the landing gear was scratchbuilt as the kit items were too delicate. Built as N6438.

10 - 11. The Eduard weekend kit #8450 with resin motor representing a Bentley BR.1 150hp as flown by Flt.-Lieut. Lloyd Samuel Breadner, R.N.A.S on Sept. 1917.

12 - 13. Here is the Blue Max / Eduard kit crash. Built as the 2F.1 prototype N5. Since this and the others were taken I have added the simulated metal flash guard to the lower wings. (So the Le Prieur rockets would not ignite the wings fabric when launched).

  14 - 15. Here is the Profipack #8058 build with the 8059 decals. Done as N6602. Modified with resin motor representing a Bentley BR.1 150hp.

  16. Both Naval builds N6602 & N5.

17 - 19. Sopwith Camel F.1 B3834 was flown by Flt. Lt. A. F. Brandon of the Manston War Flight at RNAS Manston War School in August 1917. "Wonga - Bonga" was the phrase used to describe the sounds made by the engines on a Gotha Bomber. Manston started its aviation days as a Royal Naval Station in 1916, with a base at Westgate Bay for seaplanes. The early airfield was on the area now occupied by the passenger terminal. By 1917 Manston airfield had grown to include four underground hangars, its own railway line to Birchington, a power station to generate electricity, barracks for 3,000 men and even an indoor swimming pool. Using this machine Flt. Lt. Brandon helped destroy a Gotha in flames on 22 August 1917. "Wonga - Bonga" was damaged with a bullet in #6 cylinder, but landed safely.

20 - 21. Blue Max kit built as Sopwith 2F.1 N6301. Decals are from Aeromaster. Breadner's B6401. He flew this machine in late 1917 & early 1918.

22 - 23. Instructor’s aircraft  C242 at 7 TFS Netheravon 1918. Kit is early Eduard #8011 and decals are Blue Rider. Figures are white metal rail road ")" gauge.

24 - 25. Kit is Eduard, decals are Blue Rider figures are Mark Copplestone adventure series 23mm. This is the Eduard kit #8057. I replaced the plastic pushrods on the Clerget with the appropriate diameter metal rods. I also added a Copper State models etched metal Sopwith type fire wall. Simulating the interior rigging with fine wire. Interplane and Cabane struts had fine wire inserted into pre-drilled holes at their ends. The top wing comes cast in one whole piece but with separation lines denoting the panels like the production versions. The rigging is monofilament. The tail skid is modified brass. Otherwise it was built per the instructions. DIMPS III, E7232 and serial decals are from Blue Rider "Colourful Camels Pt II." All red portions were handmade for this kit.

26 - 27. Eduard 1/48 kit #8014 Sopwith Triplane built OOB except for the rigging. N5482 Maud was Flown by Naval 8 top ace Flt. Lieut, (act. Flt. Cdr.) C.D. Booker for most of his 29 victories.

28 - 29. This is the Eduard 1/48 kit #8073 . It was built mostly out of the box with the exception of the motor and the under carriage spreader bar. The motor is the detailed kit resin copy of a Clerget 9B 130 hp rotary.I did use the kit photoetch push rods provided. I chose to keep the kit horizontal tailplane. This would put the machine being represented 1917 when it was ordered all examples be replaced with a smaller version. The rigging is monofilament. The kit decals were used. The spreader bar/axle was modified to represent a solid type that was installed when the aircraft was fitted with skis. I also opened up the area at the stern post as was seen on the original production aircraft.

‘...On May 4th 1917 Sopwith Triplane N5486 left the Royal Naval Air Service depot at White City for shipment to Arkhangelsk. Presented to the Imperial Russian Government, the plane was intended for evaluation. Despite the excellent climb rate and maneuverability, no orders for more...were placed.’ Sopwith Triplane N5486 came to the Red Army after Oct.1917. In the hands of Russia’s Aviators the unconventional Sopwith Triplane was to take its place in the early history of Russian aviation. Her operational career in subsequent years provides unique reading. She was still intact and on display at the Air Force Museum at Monino outside Moscow in 1994. It is one of two original Sopwith Triplanes in existence. The other is of course N5912.