Hobby Craft Sopwith Camel

[Gerg]

I am not sure what I am most impressed with, your Camel or your very detailed thread. You have done an excellent job of both. The help a build thread like this provides the newbie is invaluable. I know it is a lot of work so I want to let you know it is appreciated. Now time to read more of your build.
Greg

[Suffolk Lad]

Thanks for your kind comment RAG and yours too Greg. You are so right in that it does take time but for me there's no point in joining a forum if you don't join in. If or when someone benefits from that action - or by doing so you learn from others - then it's time well spent. To hear it's appreciated specifically is always an extra bonus 

Well, we are at the end - nearly! The model is now constructionally finished but as usual it will now require a base and a cover so that will be a day or two or three especially as the French GB is exerting a pull

The underneath of the tail was finished off today and the tailskid fitted into the ali tube CA'd into the 'vee' of the fuse sides. The control cables to steer the skid were CA'd to a small piece of plastic card which was glued inside the fuse out of sight and the lines tensioned and connected to the skid horns


The engine was epoxied in place as I had noticed it was not actually concentric with the cowl in situ. The central pin was removed which allowed alignment with the cowl temporarily in place


By holding the base board of the jig in a vise it made this op very easy. This is the first time I have made a jig that can be used in this fashion and will definitely do so again on further builds


With the cowl on, the cowl fastenings were simulated with some parts off an Abrams tank etch sheet and the propeller, fitted with those excellent Taurus prop drive plates, was finally installed to complete the build.


Well this is it - the final pic of the build. I do need to weather the underneath of the tailplane to match the rest but will do that just before I set it on the base.


I shall leave it in the jig while the base is being made but once it is all complete will post a series of pics in the Completed Model section.

I'd just like to finish by saying a big thank you to all who have followed whether you have commented or not. If you have (you all know who you are    ) your input and comments have been much appreciated and given me a high degree of satisfaction to be able to contribute to this great community.
 
That's my first build over then so with the future looking very attractive - pass me that Nieuport!

Regards - Tug

[GAJouette]

 Tug,
She's a real awesome beauty my old friend. You've truly turned a sow's ear into a silk purse! Well Done. This thread is an excellent how to reference for anyone building the Academy Camel.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[lcarroll]

Tug,
    An absolute pleasure to follow along on your progress and, from these few last photos, a spectacular result. I'll be onto your completed thread as soon as it's posted. To repeat Greg's comment, you have done an absolutely superb job with a very challenging Kit, nicely done!
Cheers,
Lance

[Suffolk Lad]

Thanks for those comments Gregory and Lance, glad you enjoyed the thread 

I have to admit this was the most trying of builds so far done since returning to scale modelling but I really am pleased with the outcome considering the standard of the kit overall. Predominantly the fits weren't too bad but as you've seen it has had it's moments  . I'm hoping that the special Hobby Nieuport won't prove quite so challenging and definitely not the WNW version which despite having built this one I will still be up the front of the queue for one when their's is finally with us

Regards - Tug

[Des]

I followed your build from start to finish and would like to thank you for all the hints and tips you have given along the way, your build will be used by many as it is excellent reference material. This has turned out to be an awesome looking model and I look forward to seeing the photos in the completed model board.

Des.

[TobyCoulson]

That really is a spectacular build and it goes to show that you don't need a WNW kit to produce an absolute winner.

[bobs_buckles]

Tug-Tastic!
 

vB

[RAGIII]

Tug,
This has been an absolutely Awesome build to follow! Not only informative with great descriptions of how you did things, but also just  beautiful results! I am looking forward to the final photos and your next build!
RAGIII

[Pete Nottingham]

Lovely build Tug, the real dogs danglies,well done.

Cheers

Pete.

[radio]

Outstanding build Tug.
Cheers
Martin

[Pgtaylorart]

Beautiful Camel, Tug! As everyone has said, you have made a so-so kit into a top-of-the-line model. Now that you have finished, WnW can release their Camel!   But, I'm sure anyone building the WnW Camel will still refer to your excellent build!

George

[Alexis]

Beautiful build Tug , turning this into a spectacular work of art . Looking forward to the seeing her mounted on her base 




Terri

[Suffolk Lad]

'Guys' - I'm about to disappear to Norwich for the weekly sailing session but couldn't go without thanking you all for these kind comments. As a Newbie on here and this my first thread I've been very honoured and humbled by your constant words of encouragement and support throughout the build. I can only say Thank You but it's truly said with much appreciation 

Des - it's been my privilege to participate and I look forwards to being part of this terrific community for a long time to come - thank you for providing it for us.

I began the base yesterday and want to produce something that conveys a stony grassy area. Using 'grass' is a completely new aspect of modelling for me so another learning curve approaches - there's some experimenting to do so I'll keep you informed of the attempts.

Thanks again 'guys'

Regards to you all - Tug

[Suffolk Lad]

Hi again  The end really is nigh now as I now have a base to sit it on. Not quite what I had in mind though as I chickened out at trying to produce a 'stony' effect 

I bought this grass effect mat at Telford last year along with another with slightly darker and somewhat longer tufts. It's the first time I have used anything like this and was not sure how it would perform. It turned out good in some ways and not so good (for me) in another....

The mat was about 60mm longer than this - this was cut to fit the base .....


..and the residue used as test pieces, none save one anything near what I'd hoped for.

I had hoped the Polyfilla sub base would have seeped through the 'Scotchbrite' like sub surface of the mat to fill in between the tufts but this proved extremely resistant to that even when prodded. Soaking the mat improved things slightly but that in effect diluted the surface of the Polyfilla and the resultant very thin watery liquid soaked through and wicked up the tufts rather than just soaking into the sub surface.

This was the best result of a poor lot and close to what I had in my minds eye but still not what I'd hoped for.

I applied PVA on top in between the tufts sprinkling sieved cat litter over then shaking off the residue.  This looked good to begin with but the cat litter gradually soaked up the pva and holes began to appear as it dried. The litter dust also had a pigment effect on the tufts.

The decision was made to use the mat as is for effect rather than realism at this stage as more experimenting is required on this. A base was cut from the usual MDF and a pocket milled in to take the mat. 'Green Putty was then spread so as to give an undulating surface.


The instructions with the mat suggest painting beneath - this was vallejo acrylic primer


Once dry a thick coat of Titebond PVA woodworking glue was spread and allowed to semi dry before laying the predampened mat on top


The mat flowed easily over the low contours of the putty without lifting in the low areas but has shrunk a very small amount around the edges. Due allowance will be made in future 


At this stage I don't want to risk spoiling this with attempting to fill in between the tufts so will stick with this as is. I may just add a little colour here and there and perhaps lighten the tops of the tufts with a spot of dry brushing to break up the uniformity.

Next session will see this project finished - I had forgotten the air pump propeller so that has to go on, the underneath of the tailplane still requires weathering and there's a nameplate to do but it is at an end.

If anyone has any experience using this kind of product and has anything to add please, please do so - base work has never been a strong point particularly where any kind of 'foliage' is concerned so any thing you can add will be more than appreciated

That said however, I hope this little foray into the unknown will be of interest to someone

Regards - Tug