BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Barry Vogel and I (Paul Westrich) from HPA garage came up with a idea to build a sport 1/3 scale Sopwith Camels. So we decided to take a BUSA PUP KIT and "bash it" with Mick Reeves CAMEL parts.
This idea started back in the Spring of this year @ Toledo R/C Expo when we bought 2 pup kits from Mark . We never really started a build forum because we had so many projects going on and truth be told ....we didnt know if "epic fail" was waiting for us at the finish line.......... BUT as some of you guys already know, I finished the proto-type this past summer and flew it at several events and meeting the "Balsa Gods" in Fond Du Lac. As my good friend Art Shelton once told me.."As long as you learned from your mistakes...its never a total loss" Well Barry and I have discussed all the areas we need to address and we are going foward with 2 BUSA Mick Camels build thread......

Here is a photo of #1









HPA

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

This week I have be dis-manteling the "carnage" and I found out there was not much left! LOL!
Heres what I have left ......tail section, 4 ailerons, dash, some wing mounts, 2 wheels, most of the landing gear..
The one pic is the "Barry Vogel design" new rib profile
The other pic is the new power plant for the Russian Camel........the DA150 was alittle anemic.......MOKI 215!
Barry will be posting his powerplant soon.

HPA

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Pics continue

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Good morning, Paul

Glad to see that the HPA Mk II Camel is forecoming - the prototype flew most excellently!!

For those one or two souls who missed it in action, here's a link to the maiden flight, Saturday evening at the IOK Dawn Patrol last Spring:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXdZYs_6byk[/youtube]

Best regards,

Lee McD
ye olde WinterHawke

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Nice build and nice flight. What engine did you ultimately use? Doesn't sound like a Moki.

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

So are you going to be calling these McCamels? :D Guess I didn't hear about what happened to the prototype.

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Anemic..... DA 150 :):)

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Well I was at Fond Du lac warbird this summer and the short verson was...."Hey watch this!....................OOOOOOHHHHHHH Shiet!":eek:....[&o].....:(...........

I'm sure we can find some pics from that event (LEE?)


It was flying great all week....about the 3rd flight on that Saturday it acted wierd on the controls............I brought it in and found the r/s cabane had pulled apart at the end of the struts.
I did a good field repair. Installed my video camera on the plane and sent it up to film the noon time gaggle and apparently the L/S cabanes broke lose and and pulled right to the ground![:@][:@]
I have this project on 3-4 different forums, I will try to gather them all up and put them here for people that would like to see the history as well as the updates.


Cheers,
HPA

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Yes way underpowered.. I can tell! lol

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

I'm going with a twin.......

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Abu,
These are pics back in August @ Fond Du Lac Wi.

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Ahh, yes - Fond du Lac - remember it well . . . .

Here's some more pictures of the HPA Sopwith Camel at the 2012 Warbirds and Classics Over the Midwest:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...t/IMG_9951.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...t/IMG_9879.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...t/IMG_9857.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...t/IMG_9883.jpg

And as mentioned, it was during the Noontime Mass WWI Gaggle that the Sopwith went west. I was flying a BUSA 1/4 triplane, and midflight asked my wife Helen, who was spotting for me, "where's Paul's Sopwith Camel", as I intended to try for a bit of on-camera face time. I was real confused when she answered "I don't see the Camel . . . " Didn't find out until after the gaggle was over what had happened.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...t/IMG_9979.jpg

Paul's picture in his post #11 above shows the remaining bits about as good as any - All I can say is that I can't remember ever seeing an airplane more used up than that HPA Camel!!! Actually didn't have the heart to take any pictures of the remains - let's just say it's would've easily fit back into it's kit box, if'n it'd had one!!!

But I will say that Paul's Sopwith DID make it's presence felt during it's all-too-brief life this summer!!!

Best regards,

Lee McD

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Hi Paul,

Great to hear you are going to do it again, build it that is. LOL Look forward to seeing the pictures along the way.

Wild Bill

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Hey Paul

Glad to hear something from you......and you too, Barry. Thought you guys fell into a black hole or something.....[X(][:o], but now happy to see you both alive and well and "at it again!"

Cheers,
Art

ps Barry does that twin run on mags or electronic ignition?

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Not an uncommon end for a great many Camels, and their unfortunate pilots, back in WWI.

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Sorry to hear of your McCamel Paul, but good the hear that there will be a double rebuild [8D]

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

HPA, Barry,
Your bashing idea sounds great. Idea never occured to me. Im subscribed.
Problem appears to be the bad russian spelling on the top wing. it should read
HPA.

R, mike

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Michelle....gonna need alotta PIZZA this winter!

Good Luck Paul and Barry...we'll be watching....and commenting, of course.

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Indeed Paul, glad to see you are back at it. Like I said, one of the neatest schemes I have seen on a WWI bird. Thanks for the artwork patch too:D

Jeff

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

I just got back from a kick ass Chrismas party from my mentor King Arthur! ...........Wow those old farts really know how to party!

Anyway.....There was some discussion on the progress of the BUSA MicCamel.... Here is what I have done now.
Note, the build will be alittle slower because I am making double sure that there is no repeat failures in the airframe....
The frame is 3/8 hardwood longerons, followed up with 1/4 uprights in hardwood and finished with these gussets the Barry Vogel had cut for me. This is a "super strong structure"


HPA

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

PICS CONT

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

I'm in! Knew you had built one before but didnt know of its demise. Glad you and Barry are having a do over and happy you're going to let us watch. Lots of pix please.
Uh "Anemic DA 150" Thats an oxymoron where I come from. How much did it weigh? I have a DA 100 on my 1/3 N28 at 40lb performance is spirited.:D
Doc

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Hey Doc,
It weighed 37 lbs and @ 16 1/2 HP DA 150.....I never went above 1/4 throttle[&:].......I was concerned if I opened up the throttle too much then the airplane would start rotating faster than the prop!:):):)

HPA

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

Paul, you mean this Barry?

The fuse is looking very well engineered.

RE: BUSA MICK CAMEL
 

One in the same!:D