kaksnapper

I'm carrying this over from S.E.5a Biplane thread because of allot of interest in a project I started a few weeks ago with 1/4 scale Balsa USA Sopwith Pup. It will be easier for others to find and follow under it's own name.

This thread is for all, not just me to post interest in the plane, pros and cons welcome about building/flying/etc. I've gotten allot of good tips in these forums.

Last March 2004 in RC Modeler there was an article titled Sopwith Camel in Halves where a guy named Ken Perkins cut his 1/4 Sopwith Camel behind the cockpit so he could transport it with wings and guide wires intact. I had just purchased my kit from a friend and thought about it over the summer. I only have to travel 10 miles to our Club's Field and I don't want to spend my flying time assembling and disassembling these planes. I just started this project and we'll see how it goes.

Laying out the fuselage I made another F-6 Former which will be mounted just behind the cockpit and wing saddle...With the aft F-6 glued in place the next step will be to cut. I've added extra doubles and tri stock for support....ken

kaksnapper

...I'm trying to work on this and cook Thanksgiving dinner cause my honey works until 7pm.
Both F-6's glued in place....I've had a few questions about weighing the tail...we'll worry about that when the time comes...I've received a few interesting comments like mounting a firewall battery box, good idea. I am mounting the throttle servo on the outside firewall...ken

kaksnapper

cut completed, four 1/4" line up dowels installed...I will think about how to screw the halves together from the bottom...the article didn't mention that, ken

rcbilly

My Feedback: (9)

Hey Ken, The project looks like it's coming along. Great pic's on the details. I too mounted my throttle servo on the firewall, nice having all that room under the cowl. I had read some on radio interference with the battery / radio gear in close proxcimity to the gas engine but I havn't experienced problems, but I also use a PCM reciever.

rcbilly

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What are you doing for wheels and guns?

Chevelle

My Feedback: (2)

I built the Pup last year and did a build alone. Here is a link:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_14...tm.htm#1484388

There is also a movie of the maiden.

[link=http://www.wings-of-valor.net/uploads/PupFlight1_256.wmv]"The Pup's Maiden Flight"[/link]

I am now building their DRI. The instructions for that plane show the throttle servo mounted on the fire wall which surprised me given all the concern about interference. (I have the feeling that that concern is overrated but there is not reason not to be cautious.) Your thoughts about this are appreciated.

I have never built a plane that was split at the fuselage but I have designed one. I will eventually be building a 1/4 scale 1910 AVRO Triplane. Since it has three very thin wings and is a wing warper and with lots of functional rigging, I thought it would be a nightmare to set up at the field. I intend to disconnect the rear of the fuselage just behind the cockpit area. Doing that for this plane is a bit tricky because the fuselage is an open structure. I will be using a similar technique to your approach. There will be an extra former. For added strength, the longerons are also extended and attached to the front section.

Link to AVRO thread:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_12...tm.htm#1246210





Good luck with the Pup. I am sure you will be very happy with it.

kaksnapper

Hey guys thanx for the pics and links...got my 1/4 vicker's the other day locally here in N.H....the wheels and engine have to wait until after christmas.

Chevelle, I hope my pup comes out half as beautiful as yours, check his link out...I'm seriously considering your landing gear concept...gotta have a cross axle.

I'm not giving a step-by-step detail of assembly cause it's already been done. I agree with others, Balsa usa kits are top quality...but after this kit I want to get into scratch biulding...I have the time and it's cost affective. I already have the wood and plans for a Ziroli P-51.

That guy from Sweden in the scale thread should have gotten an award for that 1/4 pup tail skid...my god!

Okay today...lower wing sanded and mounted, ken

kaksnapper

Here a link for our local club...Chevelle, a few of the guys went to the Neet Fair but got rained out after day one...if any of you are in our area stop in, ken



http://home.comcast.net/~trailduster/GFF.html

jeffEE

My Feedback: (5)

They do turn out nice. And fly so well. I have a Saito 150 f in the front of this one. More than needed? Perhaps. But the other choice was a 91f. Love the WWI birds. Next is a 1/4 scale DVII to chase each other. Should have pics of that this week.

kaksnapper

Another great pup, jeffEE....Thanx for the pics. You guys are inspiring me.

Low key day today, will work on it more tomorrow....Picked up some 10/32 blind nuts and 10/32x1 1/2" screws.
I cut 4 spruce blocks, 2ea., 3/4x1/4x1" and 3/4x1/4x1 1/2". Cut into the F-6 Formers on the sides, will epoxy them in tomorrow. I think two will do it but if not I'll put another on the bottom.

I read the article and scanned the pictures again thinking that it would say how he mated the halves...just said he used 4 screws. I'm satisfied how I aranged it.

He's got a O.S. 160 4 S in his....any of you all got a 4 stoke in yours?

kaksnapper

...a couple of questions??? Any one got any pics of pup cockpit detail?

and...

Over a month ago I ordered a quart of water base flat clear from Nelson Hobbies for my S.E. 5a. I just got an email saying It was just shipped...Another one else receive such great service or is it just me? Thanx, ken[:@]

Chevelle

My Feedback: (2)

Here ya go!...

kaksnapper

Thanx, I can almost hear the engine running and taste the castor oil....

Check out the WW1 photo archives under wwi-models.org...




http://www.wwi-models.org

BobH

My Feedback: (2)

Ken, I think Nelson is a little slow but reliable. What color did you use for PC10 for your SE5a?.. Thanks.

kaksnapper

...

kaksnapper

I used Olive Drab Solartex and had the color analyzed at my local hardware
for latex for the wood parts...Will use Nelson's Flat Clear Polyurethane over that. Hope this answers your question, ken

BobH

My Feedback: (2)

Ken, thanks .. yes it does.

kaksnapper

Okay, I'm back...I made another F-7 Former (fore) out of 1/8 lite ply for more support, ken

kaksnapper

Getting ready for decking...I got to find me a snoopy pilot, polar bear standin in..... Been looking on ebay but nothing under $50.00 yet...should be plastic, around 7-10 inches high w/ flight helmet, scarf and goggles ken

kaksnapper

I got a question for fellow tail draggers...have you had much problems smashing rudders flipping over? In the article Ken Perkins experiended demage to rudders on other bi-planes and reinforced his 1/4 sopwith camel rudder w/ brass and aluminum tubing....I realize this is a Pup and not the unstable camel but If you had problems let us know, as did the originals, thanx ken

Chevelle

My Feedback: (2)

There is real simple way to avoid busting the rudder when flipping it over..... don't flip it over

Seriously though, I must have close to 100 flights on my Pup by now and I put it on it's back only once. For whatever reason, I brought it in VERY slow and made a perfect three point landing. That was the problem. There is no control. There was very little forward momentum and the tail just hopped over the nose.

I know it may sound weird but just fly the plane in and you will be fine. (Look at the landing in my movie again.) When you bring the throttle down, the Pup slows down like you threw out an anchor. You don't have to turn on final waaaayyy out and slide her in. Make standard turns from down wind leg to base and then to final dropping from fifty feet to twenty. Final will be at around 1/4 throttle. When you cross the edge of the field, adjust the throttle and elevator for the plane's natural decent rate but where the plane is still in a normal flight attitude (level). Just before touch down, cut the throttle and a little up elevator will flare the plane gently. You can almost hear and see all that air piling up under the plane. Touch the mains down and let the plane roll out naturally.

It's quite easy actually. Just don't "glide" it in and stall it on the ground. And if you do put it on its back, it shouldn't hurt the tail. When I glued mine in, I used pieces of small bamboo skewers as dowel pins for the vertical stabilizer. Of course, there are the braces too.

kaksnapper

Thanx for the advice Chevelle...

I found a 12" snoopy pilot, will let you know how it comes out, ken

SNOOPY AS THE PILOT Item number: 5940370768


Winning bid: US $18.50


FROM THE PEANUTS GANG, HERE IS SNOOPY THE DOG ACTING LIKE A PILOT. HE'S DRESSED AND READY TO GO......
WEARING GOLD FLIGHT PANTS, A BLACK LEATHER LIKE JACKET WITH FRONT ZIPPER AND A BOMBER TYPE HAT TO MATCH... HIS RED FRINGED SCARF COMPLETE HIS OUTFIT. HE HASN'T FORGOTTEN HIS LEATHER LIKE BOOTS AND PILOT EYEGLASSES HE HAD ON TOP OF HIS HEAD... ALL SNOOPY'S CLOTHES ARE REMOVEABLE ....WAIT TILL THE GANG SEES HIM. FOR THE COLLECTOR OF SNOOPY A BIT OF NOSTALGIA. IN GOOD CONDITION. LIVED IN A SMOKE FREE HOME

kaksnapper

....Decking, elevator, and rudder complete, ken

Prop Nut

My Feedback: (3)

Hey Chevelle, How about a round of RB3D? :>

Chevelle

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks for the invite Prop Nut. Honestly, it has been a long time since I've been in the RB skies but I'll get back there eventually. I still keep my hand in it through WOV.

Salute!