Sop 1A2 {Sopwith 1/2 Strutter}

[boom.boom]

I am planning  to buy a Sopwith Strutter in 1/32 to make one of the Serbian machines on the Macedonian front. By looking at the excellent book of the Wings of Serbia {Крила Србије-Борис Циглић; Krila Srbije-Boris Ciglić}, realized that the Serbian planes were the French version of the Sopwith 1/2 Strutter, or correctly, the Hanriot Sop 1 A2 {specific aircraft of interest}. With that in mind, I have a few dilemmas:
1. The picture shows that the plane was equipped with a French version of the Vickers machine gun, but I cannot determine whether it is with or without the upper cocking handle  {characteristic only for French Vickers}?
2. What was the windshield like on the Sop 1A2?
3. Which seat is installed? Like on Hanriot machines {HD1 or so} or Wickers one {and eventually which Wickers exactly}?
4. Which belts are installed? French or RFC?
5. The mount for the observer's machine gun is French {Nieuport type?} but which machine gun is mounted on it?
6. Is silver coated linen more likely {usually for Hanriot?} or CDL?
7. What exactly did the marking of the device number on the tail of the plane look like?
8. Which engine would be installed on Sop 1A2?
9. Are there any other specifics in relation to the British Strutter?

Sorry for the amount of questions, but I hope that and the others will benefit from this topic.
Greetings from Belgrade.

[NigelR]

The simple answer is you need to get as much information as you can from the photo of the plane you are building, because there was a lot of variation.

A few thoughts:

- The windshields varied. Some had none, some had a little square one in the W strut at the front. Here's a picture of a Hanriot machine and I cannot see a windshield on it: https://i21.servimg.com/u/f21/11/42/56/87/sopwit10.jpg

- Seat? No idea, I have never seen a photo of the inside of a French-built machine. Likely if it was built by Hanriot they may use their style of seat.....

- Seat belts? Again, no photos as far as I am aware. So as it was French-built, French belts are more likely IMO.

- Silver or CDL? Yes. Your choice. It's a subject of much discussion. Restorers at the Memorial Flight stated that the French Sopwith Strutter handbook specified aluminium dope, but many people feel CDL is likely based on photos. The photo I attached seems to have shiny (aluminium?) wheel covers but the fuselage looks a different colour.... Look at the restored example in Le Bourget: https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/5925644. You should base your model on your interpretation of your photo.....

- Tail markings - on the photo I attached of a Hanriot it says S OH-TYPE1 . Not sure what is under that.

- Engine. It varied, could be Clerget, Le Rhone or Gnome. Clerget 110s were most common on British machines, again if you can see the engine on your photo that would help. The original Strutter in the Brussels museum appears to have a Le Rhone engine.

Can't help with info on guns I am afraid.