1/3 Scale Sopwith Triplane

[Dave Wood]

Stunning workmanship Alan, What did you make the landing wires from?

regards Dave.

[Alan Bithrey]

Dave,

The flat wire is from Mr Reeves and the clevises were made by that nice Mr Poyser (that slowed the DH2 refurb a bit!)

Alan

[Alan Bithrey]

Some more progress recently mainly centred around the undercarriage department.

U/C metalwork is finished including lots of fiddly bits like the bobbins around which the bungee chord is wrapped, the bracing wire attachments and the axles. At the backend I've made the steering arm for the tail skid and it mounting. I've also finished off the mounting for the Rotheram Pump.

Legs.JPG (29.75 KiB) Viewed 14279 times

Axle Pivot.jpg (19 KiB) Viewed 14279 times

UC 1.jpg (43.03 KiB) Viewed 14279 times

Suspension.JPG (21.34 KiB) Viewed 14279 times

Taill Skid Yoke 1.JPG (20.11 KiB) Viewed 14279 times

Trotters1.jpg (32.62 KiB) Viewed 14279 times

Pump 1.JPG (15.25 KiB) Viewed 14279 times

Pump 2.JPG (16.17 KiB) Viewed 14279 times

One day I'll remember what size the photographs have to be to avoid the scroll bars. Maybe next time!

Alan

[Mike Booth]

Beautiful work Alan.
It's the real thing, only three times smaller.

[Alan Bithrey]

The Tripehound had the chance to get its wheels on the grass at Old Warden last Sunday and it spent the morning with its friend until they wheeled it away to fly it .....

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Two Tripehounds 2.JPG (134.35 KiB) Viewed 14153 times

The Shuttleworth Uncovered display was absolutely cracking!

Alan

[Alan Bithrey]

Well, some of you will have seen the beast enjoying a day out at Gaydon a few weeks ago but if not, here it is.

Despite what some cheeky person said (a Jez :-p) quite a lot has been done in the last 12 months albeit mostly detailed stuff that doesn't show at first sight.

Since Gaydon I have, at last, started on the tailplane. Completely scratch built along the lines of the fullsize it is mounted using a pivot off of the front spar and an adjustable attachment (still to be devised) at the rear to enable the trim to be set although, unlike the fullsize, only on the ground. Probably be the elevators next. They will be a very similar to the rudder, fabricated out of aluminium tube and sheet.

Alan

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

You do know it will be a crime to cover this up dont you? tell you what, make another, just for flying,

[Paul Williams]

"tell you what, make another, just for flying,"
Don't say that, we can't wait that long.

[Alan Bithrey]

"tell you what, make another, just for flying,"
Don't say that, we can't wait that long.

Ha ha, that's given me an idea Paul. We can look at mine and fly yours anyway, if I built another the next one would be quicker (wouldn't it?)

Alan

[paul needham]

That looks really nice Alan, I must praise your attention to the detail that you've put into this model. It sure will look good in the sky.

[Alan Bithrey]

Started rustling up the elevators the other day. Outline fabricated from round and streamlined ali tube with C section ribs folded up from thin sheet. The whole lot was then Alutited together.

Going to need some more soon! Where's that chap from Sweden?

Bonzey - Can I pop round sometime so that you can give it and the tailplane the once over?

Alan

[Ken Bones]

Give me a call Alan to arrange.
Bonzey

[Alan Bithrey]

Went to see Bonzey a while back. He was happy with the tailplane and elevators. We decided that the trailing edge to rib joints needed a bit of re-enforcing with carbon tows so that was done.

Elevator Hinge.jpg (115.94 KiB) Viewed 13619 times

That nice Mr Redstraw made a rather excellent suggestion of using re-shaped steel split pins for the elevator hinges. Their use minimises the size of holes drilled in the trailing edge and once the tails are folded back around the trailing edge and then bridged with solder they aren't coming out. I have to say they work a treat and look just like the real thing (because they pretty close to how the fullsize was done).

I've at last covered the tailplane and one of the elevators (must do the other one) and it's moving on a bit.

Covered Tailplane (2).JPG (148.6 KiB) Viewed 13619 times

Covered Tailplane (4).JPG (146.45 KiB) Viewed 13619 times

Many Sopwiths; Triplanes, some Pups and, I think, 11/2 Strutters make use of a device to adjust the incidence of the tailplane by means of a rotating jack type device operated remotely from the cockpit via a hand wheel and wire rope. The rotating part of the adjuster forces a vertical rod to which the elevator's trailing edge and upper and lower rear bracing wires are attached thus adjusting the incidence without effecting the bracing wire tension - very cunning!

Anyway, I needed to replicate this albeit only semi functional. Turned from Ali rod with as much material removed as possible for obvious reasons. Seems to have turned out OK. The Ali plates with holes are the lacing plates to which the fuselage covering will be attached.

Incidence Adjuster (6).JPG (173.53 KiB) Viewed 13619 times

Incidence Adjuster (16).JPG (152.19 KiB) Viewed 13619 times

And here is the real thing ....

Dsc06067.jpg (152.68 KiB) Viewed 13619 times

Alan

PS Wish I could get rid of the scroll bars on the photographs!

[Alan Bithrey]

A bit of an update on the progress on the Tripehound. I'm trying to finish off the fuselage, things like the top decking, interplane strut mounting, sorting out the control runs, mounting servos, oh yes and the mounting the engine. Here's an assortment of photographs of some of the recent activity and a couple of photographs of it enjoying the Camel's company at Old Warden during the summer - even if it was in the rain! All being well, it should be trundling up the M40 to Gaydon next month too if you want to take a look.

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Update 10.JPG (55.94 KiB) Viewed 13381 times

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

Only one word, Stunning,

[Rob Buckley]

It's ok I suppose, but those servo wires aren't quite the right scale shade!

Those instruments look like they will actually work...

[Dave Parry]

Only one word, Stunning,

I seconded that

[Richard scarbrough]

Wow, well done Alan.

[Alan Bithrey]

Ken B visited the PupCam Aeroplane Factory the other week to inspect the fuselage and I'm pleased to say that it passed muster.

So, I've made a start on making it look a little different (at last!)

Covered Fus (6).JPG (47.86 KiB) Viewed 13021 times

Covered Fus (5).JPG (49.27 KiB) Viewed 13021 times

I've also been doing the rib stitching on the tailplane - seemed silly to not make it functional so a happy hour was spent with a needle and thread.

Covered Fus (11).JPG (15.04 KiB) Viewed 13021 times

Covered Fus (7).JPG (27.64 KiB) Viewed 13021 times

Covered Fus (2).JPG (31.84 KiB) Viewed 13021 times

Still a long way to go!

Alan

[Alan Bithrey]

I thought it might be time for a bit of an update!

So, first up is a cooling duct as the cylinder head is right up tight against the firewall. A hole in the firewall and sheet duct to get the air past the servos and venting out of the cockpit. The duct is in two halves and sandwiches the firewall.

Duct 7.JPG (344.33 KiB) Viewed 12064 times

Next up was mounting of the throttle and choke servos. Folded up out of yet more sheet steel, silver soldered and bolted in position.

Throttle & Choke (5).JPG (373.49 KiB) Viewed 12064 times

I've managed to shoe horn the standard Z62 exhaust in and added an additional cowl mounting ring to support the cowl and the side cheeks.

Cowl Ring (11).JPG (51.94 KiB) Viewed 12064 times

Along with other DP aircraft it's had a couple of outings to the Shuttleworth Collection fullsize air displays this year and most enjoyablle they were too.

OW July 15 (1).JPG (74.07 KiB) Viewed 12064 times

I've tidied up the wing panels (all six of them!) and tried to get them all up to the same state and started on forming the ailerons prior to cutting them free.

Wings 5 (1).JPG (58.38 KiB) Viewed 12064 times

The cowling side cheeks and top have been formed out of 18swg aluminium sheet and have made a big difference to it's appearance (at last!) I think.

Top Panel (4).JPG (43.69 KiB) Viewed 12064 times

Top Panel (5).JPG (42.27 KiB) Viewed 12064 times

And finally, I've started making the Vickers machine gun. Fabricated from Litho plate for the barrel cover, Nickel silver sheet for the back end and aluminium turnings for the front and rear of the barrel cover.

Front Ring (12).JPG (42.64 KiB) Viewed 12064 times

I've built up a bit of momentum at the moment, who knows, if I keep it up it might even be finished next year (I can but hope!).

Alan