crash_cramer
Lego Sopwith Camel F.1 Clerget 9B
Lego Sopwith Camel F.1 - 1/9.2 scale (uncovered airframe)
I have been contemplating building an uncovered Sopwith Camel for a few years now after I acquired a 1/16 Hasegawa model kit of the same style. I built it alongside my Lego English Electric Lightning F.6, the two models together taking 1.5 years to complete. The scale was defined by the Lego 8x8 dish and 81.6 x 14.2 tyre and results in a model with a wingspan of 93cm. I have owned the two official Lego Sopwith Camel releases to date but the shape and proportions of those kits are very compromised so I liked the idea of producing a “UCS Camel”. The model has functioning control surfaces attached to the control column and rudder, a detailed cockpit and Clerget 9B rotary engine.
In order to make the wings strong enough with very little room for hidden structure I used aftermarket aluminium Lego style liftarms for the wing spars. The main wing, tailplane and undercarriage rigging is made from grey Lego string but the internal rigging and control wires are made from fine gauge steel wire as Lego string was too thick for a scale look. The internal rigging is not structural but the main wing rigging of the model serves a critical purpose as, much like real biplanes, it provides a lot of the strength to support the lower wing dihedral angle that in turn provides support to the upper wing via the cabane struts. Without the tensioned strings the model’s wings would sag considerably.
Many thanks for looking.
Lego Sopwith Camel F.1 Clerget 9B
Lego Sopwith Camel F.1 - 1/9.2 scale (uncovered airframe)
I have been contemplating building an uncovered Sopwith Camel for a few years now after I acquired a 1/16 Hasegawa model kit of the same style. I built it alongside my Lego English Electric Lightning F.6, the two models together taking 1.5 years to complete. The scale was defined by the Lego 8x8 dish and 81.6 x 14.2 tyre and results in a model with a wingspan of 93cm. I have owned the two official Lego Sopwith Camel releases to date but the shape and proportions of those kits are very compromised so I liked the idea of producing a “UCS Camel”. The model has functioning control surfaces attached to the control column and rudder, a detailed cockpit and Clerget 9B rotary engine.
In order to make the wings strong enough with very little room for hidden structure I used aftermarket aluminium Lego style liftarms for the wing spars. The main wing, tailplane and undercarriage rigging is made from grey Lego string but the internal rigging and control wires are made from fine gauge steel wire as Lego string was too thick for a scale look. The internal rigging is not structural but the main wing rigging of the model serves a critical purpose as, much like real biplanes, it provides a lot of the strength to support the lower wing dihedral angle that in turn provides support to the upper wing via the cabane struts. Without the tensioned strings the model’s wings would sag considerably.
Many thanks for looking.