Author Topic: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel  (Read 5255 times)

Offline kensar

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Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« on: October 11, 2017, 10:50:37 PM »
I am considering this one of my 'rite of passage' kits - the Academy Sopwith Camel.  I have been building model cars for many years, but this is only the third airplane kit I have built.  It is a learning experience as I am new to using common aircraft building techniques (multiple washes, rigging, using oils to paint woodgrain, pre- and post-shading, etc.).  I added some detail to the engine, but didn't add spark plug wires (forgot to).  The decals in the old kit would not react to setting solution, so I ended up painting the roundels on the top wing.  Overall it came out pretty good and I am satisfied with it.  Thanks to Del and others in this forum for sharing their knowledge and techniques.









Since this was a 'learning' kit, I didn't correct some of the kit's shortcomings like the exaggerated wing ribs and the strut ends.

Thanks for looking.  Comments and items to improve are welcome.
« Last Edit: July 18, 2018, 04:34:07 AM by p9o1r1sche »

Offline Borsos

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2017, 01:59:05 AM »
If that's your learning kit, you learnt your lesson really fast. Very nice Camel!
Borsos
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Offline Juan

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2017, 02:30:25 AM »
Very nice, if that is your learning project, I'd love to see what follows.  Congrats.

Offline RLWP

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2017, 03:01:59 AM »
That is a very nice piece of work, well done

Have you seen the plug leads on a rotary engine? they're tiny!

Richard
Hendon for flying - the fastest way to the ground!

Offline Des

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2017, 06:37:07 AM »
You have done an excellent job on this old Academy kit, the rigging turned out looking really good and the overall finish is superb, well done.

Des.
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Offline bobs_buckles

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2017, 06:55:13 AM »
Looks like a mighty fine Camel to me - well done!

von B  ;)



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Offline pepperman42

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2017, 08:28:29 AM »
Man you got the old Academy kit all gussied up!! A  true silk purse!!

Steve

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #7 on: October 13, 2017, 01:13:02 AM »
Nice Camel, good work!
May be there is a small mistake: it looks to me, that you mounted the Vickers guns topsy-turvy? The muzzles are normally down, and in the middle I can see the mounts showing up.

Cheers,
Frank

Offline lone modeller

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #8 on: October 13, 2017, 02:59:49 AM »
Only your third aeroplane? What will number 10 look like? The wood of the propellor could be a little different - try using oil paints and laminations or if you are really brave carve one in wood or paper as described on this site.

Looking forward to more of your models.

Stephen.

Offline kensar

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #9 on: October 13, 2017, 04:46:32 AM »
Hey Bughunter, I think you are absolutely right!  Not a small mistake, but a big one.  I believe the guns did have a mounting pin on the other side, so that is what I put downwards into the holes in the cowling.

I did use oils to paint the wood grain finishes on the fuse and prop.  I don't remember seeing props on Camels that had laminations with different wood grain colors, though.  I primarily used reference info from the WNW website.  I suppose props were changed all the time and some probably were multicolored.
So, if I wanted a laminated prop, how would it be done?  Paint the light color first, let it dry thoroughly, then mask and paint the darker color?

Good stuff, guys.  Thanks to all that commented.

Kensar



Offline RLWP

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2017, 05:09:26 AM »
IF you try and sort the guns out, remove them and throw them away. The Gaspatch ones are much better and will set your model off a treat!

Yes, the Academy guns do have that pin - heaven only knows why

Richard
Hendon for flying - the fastest way to the ground!

Offline jeroen_R90S

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #11 on: October 13, 2017, 05:43:44 AM »
If not for the guns, it's hard to tell that's the Academy kit! Really good looking :)

Offline dr 1 ace

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #12 on: October 13, 2017, 08:41:09 AM »
Nicely done !

Ed
Life is short, enjoy it, nobody gets out alive.

Offline RAGIII

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #13 on: October 13, 2017, 06:09:12 PM »
Lovely build of the crude kit! I am impressed. Mine still sits in a box with the PE from Part... Never started  :-[
RAGIII
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Online PrzemoL

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Re: Academy 1:32 Sopwith Camel
« Reply #14 on: October 13, 2017, 06:57:26 PM »
Lovely, clean and crisp Camel you have built out of this mediocre kit!

Incidentally, I have just had it in my hands, in parallel to my current work on two WNW Camels. And I could compare the kits in the flesh. So if I may give a piece of advice - do not waste your time and talents on such poor kits, but rather go and grab a WNW or at least a Roden kit and enjoy modelling. And then, please, do not hesitate to show the results to us, we are looking forward to such great modelling pieces as your Camel is :-)

And two things you might consider as amendments. First, the guns seem to be placed upside down, maybe there is a way to correct them. Second, you still could add that teardrop fairing at the cabane lines crossing - a semisphere at the front and a cone at the back could just be glued to the lines, I think. In my view it is such a Camel-like feature :-)

Overall - a great model, thanks for sharing!
« Last Edit: November 29, 2017, 11:17:16 PM by PrzemoL »
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