Sopwith 1B1

[Neptun]

Hi

I want to build the French bomber version of Sopwith Strutter. I am confuse , the 1B1 had vertical bomb stowage but the access panel don't match the bomb opening. Any adittional information will be very welcome.


Thanks


Costas

[coyotemagic]

Hi, Costas!  I think I might have something for you.  At first, I thought that the only references I had on the 1B1 were the Datafiles which you probably have.  Then I remembered that I also have French Aircraft of the First World War by James Davilla and Arthur Soltan which has a few Strutter photos.
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=11700163939&cm_sp=seedet-_-plp-_-bdp
I found a few photos that might help you, but due to copyright laws, I won't post them here.  I'll send you a PM.
Cheers,
Bud

[Zabu]

Hi Costas.

I don't have much... just one pic that i took from some forum years ago.



As you may see in this French 1B1 pic the bombs were loaded from below (there's a man under the aircraft loading bombs) and they are too big to fit in those upper holes of the bomb bay.

Probably this acess bomb bay openings were some kind of way of getting to a lock or unlock mechanism if any bomb got stuck or for maintenance purposes?

Sorry if i can't be more helpfull.

Cheers

[acewwi]

Hi

I want to build the French bomber version of Sopwith Strutter. I am confuse , the 1B1 had vertical bomb stowage but the access panel don't match the bomb opening. Any adittional information will be very welcome.


Thanks


Costas

Γειά σου Κώστα (Hi Costas)

Τhe French Sopwith Strutter had three versions, 1 recon 1 A2 and two bombers 1 B1 and 1 B2.
I think the Strutter in your post is  1 B2, not the single type bomber 1 B1.
The 1 B1 had a gas tank in the observer's site, 3 vertical bomb stowage on each side of the tank
and four bombs hatches (i think two each side not in the center of the fusalage)

Spyros

[Neptun]

Thanks


All the information are very helpfull , now the only thing is missing is a photo to show the aircraft from below!
Probably the aircarft had rectangural  holes but trap doors also is a possibility, Roden kit is sci fi in this.



Merry Christmas


Costas

[Zabu]

Hi Costas.

Well you already have that pic, if you take a closer look you will see something like this in the second pic you posted above:



They were 4 square holes (width) per 3 square holes (length), so you must imagine the pic i posted above rotated 90 degrees

Cheers

[Neptun]

Hi Zabu


I am afraid no. The geometry don't match .I believe that was holes or trapdoors but I don't have a picture.



Costas

[Captain Slower]

I would ask the Memorial Flight if they have any 1B1 data they may have come acroww while restoring their 1A2.