Sopwith Triplane

[pb_guy]

  I recently finished cleaning up a plan for a Sopwith Tripe designed by C.A. Kukuvich and published in the July 1945 issue of Model Airplane News. The plan is actually 0.3 inch larger than the standard 13" W/S because it was drawn to 1/2" to the foot in scale. If the plan is printed out at 97%, then it falls just under 13" W/S. The side view is of his model, as published.

  I decided to go with laminated wing tips and rudder outline - 1/32 x 1/16". Forms are thin cardboard with the outer edges sealed with candle wax. Half done now, half yet to go. I cut out the LE and TE parts. Now for all of those ribs!

ian

[dputt7]

Watching with interest.

[pb_guy]

Wow! That was a lot of ribs!. The inner rib ends were upgraded to 1/16 from 1/32", as were the ribs on the upper wing at the dihedral breaks. They will be glued in place after the dihedral is set. Fortunately, I have some detailed pictures of a Sopwith Tripe that I took years ago at a museum in Calgary. I will install the wingtips next after they are sanded in X-section.
  My nephew was just at an airshow, and he gave me a picture of a P-51 that he painted. (Yes, I know - no stab. Think of it as a tailless version.)

[malc]

Waiting with bated breath to see where you put the motor peg

[OZPAF]

Also following with interest, Ian.

John

[pb_guy]

I plan on anchoring the motor peg at Former D.
ian

[Kelly]

My nephew was just at an airshow, and he gave me a picture of a P-51 that he painted. (Yes, I know - no stab. Think of it as a tailless version.)

I recognized it straight away, stab or no stab. Mighty fine painting!

[pb_guy]

Wings sanded. Top wing center ribs to be added later. I am going to make pockets for the struts. Current weight of the wings is 2.0 grams.
ian

[Jmk89]

Looks very well made.

I suspect that the original plan was "light on" with ribs.  The 3-view in Bruce Robertson's "Sopwith - The Man and His Aircraft" suggests about double the number of full ribs and quite a few riblets.

This was a common feature of early flying scale models, so your model is authentic in being accurate to the original plan, but maybe not up to the standards that currently are being used in making scale models.

[dputt7]

Nice work!

[THB]

I reckon if you are using more than 6 ribs per wing you're not trying hard enough to add lightness!    It's always a choice and I always lean toward getting a good flying model. Nice model and look forward to your progress - Tim

[pb_guy]

Thanks. There is always a limit to how close to scale construction you wish to go. There is a lot of detail in the fuselage and engine that is left out, as well as in the wing. All model construction is a compromise on appearance, weight, expense, and how many years you wish to spend in construction. This is supposed to be fun, not work.

ian