Problems with Wingnut Wings Sopwith Triplane cockpit/fuselage/ lower wing fit?

[Dave W]

Is anyone making the Wingnut Wings Sopwith Triplane experiencing lower wing/ fuselage fit problems when the cockpit tub is installed?

I am at this stage of the build and with the cockpit tub fitted as per the instructions cannot make the fuselage and lower wing fit properly. The cockpit tub seems to hang too low and prevents a snug fuselage? wing join.

I had exactly the same problem with the Wingnut Sopwith Pup and the only solution was to attack the underside of the cockpit floor with the Dremel and shave a goodly chunk of it off, and shave the lower sides of the cockpit framework too. I have done this now to the Triplane and the fit is better now.

The question is this- have I stuffed something up or is there a design/ engineering flaw in the Wingnut kit that has not been disclosed? I have been on the Wingnut web site page for the Triplane and there is no 'errata' or instructions correction note, so I'm following the kit instructions closely.

Before anyone accuses me of hobby heresy against Wingnut, let me state I believe WNW kits are the best in the world, but like any product designed and engineered by humans, there can be mistakes or shortcomings, hence my question.

For the record, it's a beautiful model and worth every cent as was/ is the Sopwith Pup. But I'm intrigued to find the same fuselage/ cockpit/' wing fit issue on the Triplane as experienced on the Pup.

So the question is- is this me or have others had an unpleasant surprise in an otherwise most joyful build?

Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia

[drdave]

Mine fitted ok, but I added the cockpit decking last and had to clamp that hard, then some parts pinged free within. It all worked out in the end.

I have seen 2 builds now where one wing strut is not in a straight line in the end, caused probably by a bit of flex shoehorning the cockpit in.

Hardly roden d111 though!!

[ALBATROS1234]

i havent gotten anywhere with the tripe but on the wnw pfalz i discovered this while dry fitting. i ended up having to sand the outer planes of the cockpit tub to get it in nice. ive always heard that wnw designs were done on the computer so they were an exact fit so a coat of paint caused issues with fit. i dont know for sure i coulda just built it a little wonky?

[Alan Roffey]

I had exactly the same problem. To get around it, I glued the cockpit assembly to the bottom wing first, and then glued the fuselage halves in place around it.

[Pete Nottingham]

It seems as though WnW has problems with the fit on Sopwith models, first the Pup, now the Tripe, has the Snipe any fit issues?

Cheers

Pete.

[gcn]

Dave

Do you think thinning the floor would have solved the issue just like the Pup. Just re-read your post and that's what you have done.

I remember when doing my Pup I was aware of the floor so I thinned mine down to about half its width and the fit after that was excellent.


Gary

[Des]

Pete - no problems at all with the Snipe, everything goes together beautifully.

Des.

[kornbeef]

Mine seems to fit fine though I didnt follow WNW's instructions and glued the cockpit tub directly to the fuselage bottom using the sides t set its position, Once set I pinged them off, theyre a nice slide on and click in place from the back, Everything seems lined up okay. Seems being the operative word. 

Keith

[Dave W]

Many thanks for the helpful responses gentlemen and I will try the tip of gluing the cockpit tub to the lower wing when I tackle another Pup and/ or Triplane.

It's disappointing that Wingnuts has not disclosed the problem and the suggested fix. Thinning the cockpit floor and shaving the framework sides has worked.

Regards

Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia