1/32 WNW Sopwith Triplane or ?

[Petie2nd]

I haven't been very active in here for a very long time, for various reasons. I was saddened to hear of Dave's passing. He did an incredible job of keeping the Forum going in the spirit that Des intended. I am sure that Brad and the other moderators will continue in the spirit that they created.

This post is a bit of a placeholder,as well as a test to try uploading photos from Flickr. Here is the current state of the kit:

DSC05341 by Richard Hicks, on Flickr

DSC05345 by Richard Hicks, on Flickr


I guess it works! The 5 bags are sealed. On the sprue that isn't bagged, I had cut one pair of engine side panels off the tree. I had wanted to check an idea I had about modifying the inspection panels on both Pups and Tripes, but never did anything with it.

I have the Pheon decals. I have decided I would like to do Flt. Lt C.D. Booker's "Maud", N5482. I will use some of the Pheon markings, but never really cared for the original zig-zag stripes. My idea of this particular Tripe changed the first time I saw this book cover, and the profile inside:

DSC05352a by Richard Hicks, on Flickr

DSC05350a by Richard Hicks, on Flickr

I also have the HGW full set for the Triplane, but did not get it in the photos.

All that said, I need to try to complete a project that is very personal to me. I had planned to build a particular subject for many years, but only recently found out about a new conversion set that would actually make it much simpler. It is my own memorial tribute to my late father. This is why the Tripe (or something else, hence the "?" in the title) has to wait for a bit.

I will keep checking in to follow all of your tributes to Dave and this great community that Des built. I hope I will get a chance to join in with my humble efforts.

Pete

[NigelR]

Good choice, and it's a great reason to get back into being active on here.

[RAGIII]

Great choice. I am sure Dave would love this one.
RAGIII

[AngryJazz]

Im very excited for this one! Will be a lovely build 

[Petie2nd]

Checking in, to show I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. It's been sort of crazy here lately, including my wife returning from a trip to New York, bringing with her a nasty cold, which I was fighting for the last week or so. I have managed to follow others' progress, with some very good projects coming along nicely. This is still one of 2 projects I'll be working on in the next few months; I've decided to hold off on the other one for a while, and try to get back to it in time to complete it by next May (there's a personal reason for that timing). For now, I want to focus on the Triplane.

I got a new toy a few months ago, and have been learning on it slowly. It's a Silhouette Cameo 4 cutter. I've purchased a few inexpensive pattern files for parts, and for camouflage. For examples, you can check out https://www.hawaiianairdepot.com/ I've also been trying to use the Silhouette drawing program to make a few parts myself.

For example, on the Triplane (and Pup), the original, small square access panel behind the engine was often modified, so that the hinge was forward, with the latch toward the back. I know I read at one time that this was so that, if the latch came undone in flight, the panel would not fly open in the airflow. I haven't been able to find where I read that, but it was obviously done on many Pups and Tripes in service. It seems to have been done mostly on RNAS machines. Here is an example from the internet, of N5438

N5438 by Richard Hicks, on Flickr
 

There is also a panel on the right side, in front of the cockpit. I believe it was painted over in the original markings, but does show up in the photo with the late markings. There's a great photo on the first page of the Triplane Datafile. It's a closeup of N5468, "ANGEL". This panel was larger on Pups, and is molded on the WNW kit, (it's too thick, in my opinion). Neither kit has the option to display the engine panel as it is in many Pups and Tripes, even for marking options included in the kits.

Anyway, I have been experimenting with drawing and cutting these panels for my kit. I've already cut out the opening on the right panel behind the engine. I've also tried slightly different sizes and shapes for the latch opening. Here are a couple parts, cut from 0.005" (0.13 mm) Evergreen plastic sheet. Nothing is glued yet; they are just placed on the model for the photograph.

DSC05353 by Richard Hicks, on Flickr

DSC05354 by Richard Hicks, on Flickr


Sorry for going on so long. I'm about ready to begin painting. There are still several things in this build I haven't tried before, so I'm sure I'll be asking for suggestions as I proceed. I just have to avoid getting too far in to the weeds of details!

Pete

[AngryJazz]

Very interesting with the Silhouette cutter, it's a tool I have been thinking about getting.
Look forward to the build 

[Rafael Berlin]

Hi Pete,

I'm currently finishing my triplane. Especially the internal rigging was really tough, at least for me, doing all the stuff without cheating.

Maybe a helpful hint: for me it turned out to be a good idea, not to directly glue the parts with the access panels (in my case parts F10/F11) onto the big fuselage parts. This provides you 2 perfect areas for holding your model with your fingers during later working steps.

Best regards
Rafael

[RAGIII]

Excellent start and really great research!
RAGIII

[NigelR]

Great subject and very interesting to see all these new toys like pattern cutters being used.

[Petie2nd]

I have to apologize for the lack of updates. It is obvious that I will not complete the Triplane on time. A lot has happened since I posted this thread.

Among other things, I went in for an eye exam in early April. I got the new glasses in a couple weeks. I knew they weren't right even while driving home that day; it was actually scary how bad they were. I was able to get a follow-up appointment in early May. The optometrist seemed to resent that I questioned his prescription, but he did eventually make a slight adjustment after further testing. Then, because of the difficulty getting lenses, the new glasses took 9 weeks to arrive. At first, they seemed "better" (at least I felt safe driving). I gave them a chance, from July 8 to August 23. However, they just seemed to get worse over time. If I spent any time on the computer, reading, or tried to do any close-up work (like modeling), my eyes would get very tired and watery, and I often had headaches. I was exhausted by the end of the day. I finally gave up on them, and went back to my old glasses. They aren't as good as they should be for close work (which is why I decided to replace them in the first place), but my eyes don't get as tired any more.

Since I used up my benefits, I will need to wait to get another exam and new glasses - from a different Optometrist!

This may sound like an excuse, but it just wasn't working for so long. I need to try to work on some other, simpler projects for a while. I did get a couple of the wooden die-cut projects done, including a marble run, for my granddaughter. I will get back to the Tripe, which I've wanted to do for a long while, at a later time.

I am truly sad I couldn't complete this in time, as a tribute to Dave, but it will eventually get done. For the reasons above, I have not been on the Forum much during this time, but will always be grateful for what was built by Des, with the spirit maintained and built upon by Dave. That same devotion is shown, and lives on even now, thanks to Brad and the other moderators.

Pete   

[NigelR]

Sad news but if the eyes ain't up to it, there is nothing you can do. The thought was there, which is the important thing.