Sopwith 5F.1 Dolphin 1/32 Wingnut Wings

[AngryJazz]

Thank you all for the encouragement for both the model and kids 

I had to dryfit the interior many times and clean / sand all connection points to get a decent fit.
It does seem a little more complicated compared to my Albatros build.

Hopefully there won't be too many surprises later on.

I took some inspiration from Przemol and rigged the tail - just a little detail I thought was a nice touch.

Then closed the fuselage and applied CA glue to the seams.

[AngryJazz]

Beautiful work. Most of it does indeed disappear when the fuselage is closed up, I spent a long time on mine and then ran into loads of issues with the decals which meant it isn't going to see the light of day in any shape or form....

Really a shame Nigel!

Could your Dolphin be saved with some spare decals?
I may have some left over if it could help?

[Dutch522]

Gorgeous work, Ben, hidden or not. Sorry I missed out on this kit... along with almosr all the others!

Dutch

[uncarina]

I love the vibrancy of your colors, the detail, and your great photography!

Cheers,  Tom

[NigelR]

Could your Dolphin be saved with some spare decals?
I may have some left over if it could help?

Thanks for the offer, but sadly not. It is also covered in Aviattic linen decals and I can't face stripping those all off and replacing them to fix the decal issues. Plus I have some other issues like having a drill bit break off in one of the ailerons when drilling a rigging hole and that would take work to get out.

If I didn't have a shelf full of 1/32 kits I might be tempted but I have plenty of other stuff to do so I have moved on.......

[PrzemoL]

I feel honoured to be an inspiration
Great job on this one, watching with interest!

[AngryJazz]

Thank you Dutch, Tom, Nigel and Prezemol 

And yes must admit I go looking at older build logs and take some tips, tricks and inspiration from you all. So much to learn!

Dutch: I think with the recent WNW purge we will see some kits slowly finding their way back on the market... I'm still hopeful to get a DH.2 Lanoe Hawker at some point! So don't give up hope!

Nigel: Ahh yes I understand... Some kits just take away the modeling mojo and test us 


As for progress - The lower wings are attached and seams on fuselage have been fixed with clear CA. I've got a less than perfect fit on the bottom, so it will need to be addressed shortly.

Question for those who built the kit...

Are there supposed to be a small gap / slit beneath the tailplane? Seems strange, but I have done no sanding in this area and the fuselage sides are aligned... So maybe it's supposed to be like this?
Ive havent glued the part yet(unless filling is required).



The small gap





Top fit is looking good enough with a even spacing.

[KiwiZac]

Ben, that engine and compartment...WOW!!

[macsporran]

Echo what Zac said. Beautiful detail work.
Great to see a Dolphin on the stocks - superb aeroplane , now unjustly neglected.
Sandy

[NigelR]

Looking very good. I can't give you a definitive answer on the small gap but I can warn you to do lots of test fitting of the engine cowls before you paint and attach them (if you are attaching them). Mine needed a lot of fettling.

[PrzemoL]

Sopwiths generally had the one-piece tailplanes separated from the fuselage, so yes, the gap is mandatory.

BTW, great job so far!

[macsporran]

Oh yes, the gap question- sorry, meant to say earlier that, back in 1917 aircraft did not have trim tabs on the elevators as they do now. (Trim being the minor adjustments to ensure the aeroplane flew straight and level in normal neutral flight.)

Instead (on most RFC/RAF aircraft) trim was achieved by moving the entire one-piece tailplane (horizontal stabilizer) up or down in the fore/aft plane. Often this was attached to a wheel (Tailplane Actuating Gear) in the cockpit so, for example on a bomber, trim could be adjusted in flight. after the weight of bombs had been dropped.
Whether set on the ground, or in flight, this meant the gap between fuselage and tailplane could vary according to the trimming - so a gap could often exist. Similarly you'll frequently see a gap between the fin and the tailplane for same reason.

According to the Official Rigging Notes, the Dolphin would be trimmed on the ground after testing, but the SE5a could be trimmed in flight via cockpit wheel and here is the relevant bit for TAG setting from the SE Notes.
Sandy

[Tim Mixon]

Sandy,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this out.  I often wondered what the wheel was for in most early British aircraft. You have explained it very clearly to me. This feature is not often seen in WWI German aircraft design, did they employ some other method of trim?

Thanks,
Tim

[macsporran]

Hey Tim, not sure what they did on Albatros or Pfalz for example with relatively fixed empenages. Presumably finely tuned the elevators after initial rough setting. Somebody like Achim would know more about this I'd think.
S

[KiwiZac]

That's a good question about trim in German types...I've messaged Achim and have started a new thread about the subject so as not to derail Ben's thread and detract from his excellent build.