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Sopwith 'Swallow 1:32 scale


sandbagger

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Hi all,
It seems the wing had an inspection window for the aileron control cable and pulley, similar to other Sopwith types, such as the Pup, Camel and Snipe.

inspection1.jpg

ail52.jpg

I've cut out the recess at two levels - one for the window and a lower level for the aileron pulley.

inspection2.jpg

The aileron pulley was made from the 'HGW Models' photo-etch set for the Sopwith Triplane.
The inspection window is a spare from a previous 'Wingnut Wings' Sopwith Pup build.

inspection3.jpg

inspection4.jpg

Mike

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Hi all,
Whilst 'working' on the resin front decking panel I spotted an error on both decking panels.
The rear decking panel has a pre-moulded fuel tank filler cap, which although in the correct position, is proud of the decking surface.
The actual aircraft had, like the Camel', an opening to gain access to the filler cap lower down inside the fuselage.
The front decking panel had a filler cap forward and between the gun troughs.
However on the resin panel this was just a stump of resin - not sure if it was a mis-mould?
Anyway I cut the filler cap from the rear decking panel and drilled out the location (the filler cap on the 'Wingnut Wings' tank will need to be moved to the other side to match).
I then drilled out the front decking panel location, filled the hole with modelling putty (from underneath) then inserted the filler cap from the rear panel.  
So two faults corrected with one filler cap!!

Mike

reardeck4.jpg

frontdeck1.jpg

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Hi all,
The resin set is intended for the Hobby Craft/Academy Camel kit, a'though I'm using a Wingnuts kit.
The sheets in the resin set state that due to differences in reference drawings, the front decking is too short (for the intended donor kit).
Now you can see just how short the length of the resin forward decking panel is, even on the Wingnut fuselage.
It's supposed to butt up against the rear decking panel.

Onward, upward,

Mike

primeddecking.jpg

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Hi all,
I looked further at the decking panels.
Missing is the rear of the front decking panel, which should join the rear decking panel.
However, this area is where the wing rear support strut should be located, which would account for half of that area.
I think this missing area can be filled with modelling putty, once the wing struts and decking panels are finally fitted, later in this build.

Mike

primeddecking.jpg

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Hi all,
Well I've been working away on modifying the various cockpit parts from the Wingnut 'Camel' kit to that of the 'Swallow' aircraft.
The whole cockpit was effectively moved rearwards to improve over wing visibility for the pilot.
For the better forward visibility the two machine guns were fitted farther apart than normal.
This basically entailed modifying the fuel tank filler cap to the left side, modifying the seat support frame and moving the throttle quadrant assembly rearwards.
The control column floor was slightly modified and an extra under shield (from the spares box) was added to bring the rudder bar rearwards.
The external fuselage sides are different on the 'Swallow' with the carburretor intakes located in a different position, no ammunition chutes (cut outs in the decking panel instead) and smooth side panels with no 'nail' lines.
The centre section of the kit lower wing was cut away to be used as infill under the fuselage (will need re-profiling after fuselage closure).
The next step is to modify the instrument panel and ammunition containers assembly so it's located farther back and to allow the two machine guns to locate correctly into it as well as the forward decking panel.

Mike  


trialfit1.jpg

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Hi all,
Well things are getting a bit cramped inside the cockpit now.
After a fair bit of cutting, sanding and modifying, all of the cockpit main assemblies are done.
The shot below shows it all loosely in place, including the two 'Gaspatch' machine guns (the decking still needs modifying to allow the guns to sit vertically).

I still have minor detail to add then obviously paint it all etc, as well as modify the outsides of the fuselage, which again are different from the 'Camel',

Mike  


checkcockpit.jpg

checkcockpit2.jpg

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Hi all,
Working now on modifying the forward fuselage details, which again are different to the 'Camel'.
The changes involve:

Removing the ammunition ejector ports on the fuselage forward panel.
Removing and filling the carburettor intake aperture on the fuselage forward panel.
Removing the fuselage panel detail - oval access panel, forward to rear panel joint, rear panel vertical ‘nail’ rows.
Removing existing elevator control line access points at the rear of the fuselage.
Removing the angled area at the bottom of the forward panel.
Re-scribe the angled panel line at the lower front of the forward panel.
Re-scribe the vertical joint between the rear and forward panels (further rearwards). 
Drilling out the new elevator control line access points at the correct positions.
Creating new carburretor intakes at the correct position.

The lower wing centre section can't be filled and profiled until the fuselage is closed up.


Mike  


rightfusmods.jpg

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Hi all,
The four stubby cabane struts are done.
I first drilled into the fuselage and cockpit side frames, at the appropriate angles, and fitted 0.8 mm diameter brass rod.
Then I created the outer coverings from 1.6 mm diameter brass tube (formed into aerofoil profile) and secured them onto the support rods using CA adhesive.
Much stronger than the conversion set resin struts.
Both the cabane struts and over wing pylon assembly are located in the four holes drilled through the wing.

Mike

struts7.jpg

struts8.jpg

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Hi all,
A few more changes required in the cockpit area.

1. Photographs show that the front decking panel had a cut-out on each side alongside the breech blocks of the Vicker's guns. These were filed out.
Also the decking panel was filed for clearance around the base of the four cabane struts.
2. The 'Camel' had the main fuel tank behind the pilot's seat and an auxiliary fuel tank above it, which also acted as a wind break, preventing too much airflow entering the rear fuselage as causing pressurisation damage. The 'Swallow' has only one fuel filler cap access aperture in the rear decking panel, indicating there was no auxiliary fuel tank fitted there. As such there would have been a large opening for airflow to enter. As with Fokker aircraft, I assume there may have been a linen wind break fitted above and behind the pilot's head, so that's been added to the inside of the rear decking panel.
3. The pilot's foot boards in the 'Swallow' extended farther forward than those fitted in the 'Camels' and ended just to the rear and below the rudder bar. These were added using 0.5 mm thick plastic card.
4. The 'Camel' aileron control cables were attached to a control lever on the forward end of the control column torque tube. These cables were routed outboard into the lower wing. However the 'Swallow' control cables appear to have been attached to the control column then routed outboard and into box section covers on the pilot's foot boards. From there the cables were routed around pulleys then vertically up and out of the cockpit into the underside of the wing centre section. These box sections were made from scrape photo-etch sheet.

Hopefully I be able to actually start painting soon,

Mike

modfloor8.jpg

modfloor9.jpg

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