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bughunter
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Work in Progress: Sopwith Camel Comic

Comments

117 27 May 2022, 19:34
bughunter
Thanks to Eduard for providing the sample kit and the 3D printed weapon set!
It would be nice if some of you would follow my build.
27 May 2022, 19:37
Robin (WhiteGlint)
👀
27 May 2022, 19:42
Thomas Bischoff
We follow - whatever you build …
27 May 2022, 20:12
David Taylor
Would not miss.
27 May 2022, 20:41
bughunter
You are welcome!
As the Comic was never available as injected molded kit in 1/48 (only a long gone resin conversion) this is for me the kit of the year 2022 ❤️️ 👍
If only I could decide on a marking! 🤔
27 May 2022, 20:48
Moritz Fentzahn
Count me in Frank, looking forward to see this come together. The kit looks very nice and I am sure tjis eill turn out as nice as your first Spit from this mold.
27 May 2022, 20:55
Robert Podkoński
Let me watch this talent show too 😉
28 May 2022, 05:49
Greg Baker
Sign me up. I have seasons tickets to this show.
28 May 2022, 06:16
Thomas Espe
👀
28 May 2022, 08:17
Spanjaard
Sign me in too!
28 May 2022, 08:42
bughunter
Welcome to the show mates! With the finished Nieuport Triplane this one could enter the bench.
9 June 2022, 17:56
Kyle DeHart
Here for it
10 June 2022, 05:50
Boris B
I'm in, as usual. Looking forward to more enjoyable learning, before getting one of those kits.
14 June 2022, 09:18
Lochsa River
sittin in!
14 June 2022, 10:59
bughunter
Thank you mates!
After a short holiday I'm back on the bench. The airscrew is in shape and primed. A lot was done for the interior.
14 June 2022, 17:52
Spanjaard
you just did when you entered a comment in this build, for example. now, you will be notified when there are new comments or updates 😉
14 June 2022, 19:55
Boris B
Hi Karl, not a naive question, as it's not as obvious as it could (should?) be. And just so you know, you can 'Disable Notifications ' (that is, stop following the thread) by choosing the option under the 'wheel' icon at the top of the discussion.
14 June 2022, 20:39
bughunter
Next batch of pictures - with successful engine test run 😉
Now I have to take care of the fuel parts on the left, the floor with the control stick etc. and the instrument panel, then the fuselage can be closed.
Unfortunately I have not found a photo of the cockpit of the Camel Comic, so there is a lot of guesswork involved. So if you know one, please tell me!
15 June 2022, 16:45
Alec K
Another amazing build from the resident master. Following, of course.
16 June 2022, 13:03
David Taylor
What makes it a comic fighter??
16 June 2022, 14:49
bughunter
David, good question!
I added a description to the Album, so that it is more prominent on top and is not got lost in the comments here.
Feel free to ask if something is not clear.
16 June 2022, 15:23
David Taylor
Always wondered about comic conversions e.g 1 1/2 strutter etc.
16 June 2022, 18:42
Michael Kohl
like it. superb prop and engine, very realistic wood rendition too.
17 June 2022, 11:34
Bruce Huxtable
Another inspiring step-by-step insight into your world of fine craftsmanship, and artistic painting too 🙂
17 June 2022, 11:52
bughunter
Thank you Michael and Bruce, I'm glad that you like those parts!
Now pictures of two new stories: instrument panel (here I found a bug in the kit - I'm bughunter 😉 ) and struts.
Have fun!
17 June 2022, 21:38
Lochsa River
Bugsy (or iz that Mr. Bugsy, to you?) .....

.....your strut technique with the two pieces of wood glued over a wire and sanded down is a great idea!

However, most (if not all, but a very small number) of us mere mortals have your skill set or tool set...how hard would it be to mold those wood pieces in plastic from a kitmaker like Eduard?

They could include "regular struts", which they already do...just add these as an option...how hard is it to glue two pieces of styrene together with a wire inside....not very hard....I'm in!

Thank you for sharing this technique!

BTW...also thanks for the rigging diagram of that crazy Nieuport Triplane....Nieuport Triplane "RFC/RNAS" | Album by Lochsa_River (1:72)
18 June 2022, 01:46
bughunter
Not sure if this will work. The struts are already 0.7mm thin, I don't know if it possible to mold them in half size.
I showed my struts more detailed in the DH-2 work in progress album.

And the Ni Triplane - I had to create my own "rigging diagram". Every time I checked the high res pics on Imperial War Museum web site, I found new rigging lines 😉 So with adding them all I understand slowly how it works.
Nice to see some new kits of these old birds in 1/72 lately.
18 June 2022, 10:58
Daniel Klink
Wow! The buttons and switches look like they could be used immediately 👍
18 June 2022, 11:10
Björn Svedberg
Another stunning build and comprehensive build log. 👍 Count me in! 🙂
18 June 2022, 12:51
Dick
Those little details.. amazing! Very realistic build, my compliments 👍👍!
18 June 2022, 21:49
bughunter
Welcome to the show and thank you!
The next batch of pictures uploaded.
22 June 2022, 17:06
bughunter
Does anyone recognise the fill level of the tank? Then you know my current mood.

Have I forgotten anything? If not, the lid can actually be put on as well!
10 July 2022, 16:34
bughunter
Have I ever mentioned that I love the new Eduard decals?
I can be blamed for anything, but in no case that carrier film would be visible here!
12 July 2022, 20:07
Ricardo Reis
Following! 👍
12 July 2022, 20:15
bughunter
While the oil paint of the simulated wooden parts was hardening on the fuselage, I worked on the landing gear.

As with the normal Camel, I wanted to replace the very soft struts. Unfortunately the same technique again, late Camels have a modified landing gear.

For good symmetry, it is best to always build both sides at the same time.
It was a lot of work, but is now an extremely robust and original undercarriage!
15 July 2022, 17:53
Bernhard Schrock
Mir sind leider die Superlativen & Belobigungen ausgegangen daher gibt es heute „nur" ein 👍 🙂
15 July 2022, 18:08
Marcin Snakowski
Amazing!
15 July 2022, 18:58
bughunter
Thank you mates!
Did anyone hear the punch? I hit my limit so hard, that's all I can do.
16 July 2022, 16:47
Marcin Snakowski
Limits exist only in the mind 😄
16 July 2022, 17:17
bughunter
Marcin, oh yes, sometimes you are standing in your own way!

In the meantime, the oil paint had also hardened so that I could continue working on the fuselage.
Unfortunately my camera always has a hard time with some colours, despite white balance it is not as red in the original as in the pictures.
Now allow to dry thoroughly and then re-mask and paint the front in aluminium.
16 July 2022, 18:30
Christian Bruer
As always an excellent eye for the detail and great craftsmanship. A pleasure to follow 🙂
16 July 2022, 18:36
bughunter
Thank you very much for your kind words Christian!
After the virus put me out of action, I'm feeling much better now. So I'm back on deck and can work full steam ahead on this little Camel (without humps) again!
17 July 2022, 16:11
Bruce Huxtable
Sorry to hear you caught the virus, Bughunter, but glad that you are on the mend. Enjoying seeing how you bring your creation into life 🙂
18 July 2022, 11:18
Marcel Klemmer
Very interesting paint job. The wings looks very good👍
18 July 2022, 20:18
bughunter
Thank you Bruce!
Marcel - you are the only mate who has been able to see this work with own eyes! Thank you very much for the visit 👍
19 July 2022, 12:55
Roland Sachsenhofer
It makes my eyes glaze over...! So much to learn!
19 July 2022, 13:04
bughunter
Thx Roland, but "So much to learn!" - for me from your fantastic builds and paint jobs!
19 July 2022, 13:38
bughunter
Next batch of pics added - beside some detail painting the fuselage is nearly done 🙂
19 July 2022, 13:47
Michael Kohl
Love to follow your progress.
19 July 2022, 15:22
John Ballman
Amazing work here. This is a How to do magazine. Your doing outstanding work. Thanks for sharing this.
JB
19 July 2022, 16:03
Andy Ball
absolutely stunning!
19 July 2022, 16:26
Gary Kitchen
Fabulous stuff 👍
19 July 2022, 19:47
bughunter
Wow! Thank you very much for such a great feedback 👍
Some new pictures added, with a lot of fasteners and some decals.
20 July 2022, 17:10
Robin (WhiteGlint)
Love the colours. 👍
20 July 2022, 19:57
Moritz Fentzahn
Frank, this build develops great. Again great craftsmanship. I am looking forward to the next update
20 July 2022, 20:02
Boris B
The detailing (fasteners, steel cable on alu panel) is near mad, litteraly ! And great work on the intricate painting... The funny thing is that I was puzzled about what I thought was some odd and somewhat overdone weathering on the fuselage's fabric until I saw it 'moved' depending on the pictures. Then I understood it was a reflection (of your flash?) from your trademark 1-cent coin ! I should have known better 😉
20 July 2022, 22:08
bughunter
Thank you mates for following and leaving comments!
Boris, all little details are also added on my first Camel last autumn. The problem is, if you have done it once I need to do this too on a comparable model. And this variant is for me "The kit of the year", so I want to do all, what is possible.
Sorry for the shadow of the Cent. I do not use flash (due to hard shadows), but the light comes from my roof window.
21 July 2022, 13:44
Guy Rump
Looking great! 👍
21 July 2022, 14:18
bughunter
Thank you Guy!
The next batch of pictures uploaded, worked on different things.
Now all the struts can be finalized, especially the shape at the end, and painted.
22 July 2022, 18:12
bughunter
The tail skid from the kit is only 0.5mm thin, so I don't trust the plastic to be robust enough for transport, exhibitions, etc. So a new one, like the other Camel.
5 September 2022, 17:59
Bruce Huxtable
Totally in awe at the gorgeous paint finishes 😃 Love how you totally play down the manufacture of the filler caps 😉
5 September 2022, 19:04
Greg Baker
bah... with bughunter's projects, we usually reserve comment until he does something TRULY spectacular. The run of the mill amazement just doesn't cut it anymore...
5 September 2022, 21:34
bughunter
Thank you very much!
Over time, some parts become "routine" after I find a way to make them reasonably. I have already installed such fuel caps on previous models.
So that colleagues like Greg are still impressed and it doesn't get boring, I try "something TRULY spectacular" every now and then. This will then become the standard for the next models, but this way I can raise the bar a little bit at a time.
6 September 2022, 06:04
gorby
Well...I was going to do some modelling this afternoon, but instead I decided to gaze in wonder at your lovely work. Certainly not time wasted. 🙂
Incidentally, could you please tell me what type of solder you use?
13 September 2022, 15:12
bughunter
Thank you very much gorby!
I'm still using my "old school" electronic solder Sn60PbCu2. The 2% copper are only to increase the working time of the copper soldering tip. Sn %60 and Pb %38 have the lowest melting temperature of 183 °C, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutectic_system
But I must admit, that I'm doing a other project of a french monoplane in parallel, with a lot of scratch work. Don't miss it! Full scratched cockpit from wood and metal | Album by bughunter (1:48)
13 September 2022, 15:28
Michael Kohl
Eutectic? Again what learned. 😉 Thanks for the link.
14 September 2022, 10:56
gorby
Thanks for that Frank.
(I thought I'd thanked you yesterday but obviously I must be madder than even I thought.) 😄
14 September 2022, 11:19
bughunter
Michael, I find the german Wikipage a bit better: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutektikum
The fascinating fact is that the melting point at exactly this mixing ratio is much lower than for both metals in pure form.
14 September 2022, 11:28
Michael Kohl
Yes. I have been flabbergasted by this fact - which was new to me - too.
14 September 2022, 11:33
bughunter
Now that other projects have crossed the finish line, I would like to resume my work on this project. Stay tuned!
12 January 2023, 14:16
bughunter
After finishing some other projects I continued on this Camel without humps (is that still a Camel? 😉 ) and some problematic things are solved. Looks not bad for a successful end this time.
4 April 2023, 20:34
Greg Baker
Yeah… not bad. 😉
5 April 2023, 05:11
Michael Kohl
Living in Frankonia (an area in nothern Bavaria) this is about the highest praise you might ever get on your life. 😉😂
5 April 2023, 15:01
bughunter
You are two funny guys 👍 Thanks!
I was out of the town for Easter holiday including some days more for hiking, but now I'm back and will continue to work on this one soon.
14 April 2023, 19:39
bughunter
Some more details are added and more parts mounted so we come closer to the finish.
I added again this most impressive Rotherham Air Pump by Eduard to the project and the model. I think that are the actual technology (and modeler like me handling) limits. The next level would be atoms in single arrangement, or what?
18 April 2023, 19:48
bughunter
For comparison (pic 145) here is a ref pic by James Fahey of a Rotherham Air Pump on a Camel flying today, here mounted on a upper strut.
[img1]
 
18 April 2023, 19:56
Alec K
Not sure what else could be added to your rendition of the pump. Simply amazing!
19 April 2023, 12:52
bughunter
Thank you Alec! We have to say thank you Eduard for producing such nice accessories.
After I have seen some pictures (typically in museums) I was no more sure about the wingnuts on the cowling, as the wingnuts are going into the fuselage on that pics.
But beside my references of a flying Camel I found a high res pic on Wikipedia: The wingnuts are on the cowling side! That pic is huge.
[img1]
 
19 April 2023, 14:33
Pietro De Angelis
Impressive details, master class work!
19 April 2023, 15:54
Roland Sachsenhofer
An incredible piece of modelling art, coupled with the highest level of expertise! This is simply great! It's hard to believe how beautifully you build!
19 April 2023, 17:41
bughunter
Thank you Pietro and Roland!
Roland, I hope you have the chance to see my new flood of models this year in Ried (and your booth is not empty again as last time). My plan is to finish one model a month, we have middle of April and this number 4 is on a good way to the finish 😉
19 April 2023, 18:37
Michael Jonker
Outstanding!
19 April 2023, 23:07
Andy Ball
I can't keep looking at your posts, my eyes are so sore from the all the dazzling skills!!
20 April 2023, 11:57
Greg Baker
I usually need to lie down for a bit after as well. Frank's projects have that dizzying effect on people. 🙂
20 April 2023, 13:32
gorby
The air pump is even more remarkable than your usual remarkable work Frank.
20 April 2023, 15:44
Slavo Hazucha
aaah, here comes that family-pizza-sized 1-cent coin again!!! 😉 😉 👍
20 April 2023, 15:59
bughunter
Nice to read you funny comments mates 👍 Thx!
@Andy and Greg - Believe me, I don't want to hurt anyone, not even myself (with sharp tools at the workbench).
@gorby The great thing about such nice accessories like the Rotherham Air Pump is, that Eduard sell it for the Camel, but you can use it in a more generic way. My first kit is empty because I equipped both Camels and the recent F.K.8 with such pumps, but I have more of this gem in my stash.
@Slavo I swear that the cent is real! The fake was in the pictures for a short time during the last project 😉

I will now edit pictures for another update.
20 April 2023, 18:37
bughunter
By far not ready, but some steps closer to the finish line.
Missing: Rudder (just removed decal) with control wires, tail rigging with 16 terminals, undercarriage rigging, Lewis MGs, detail painting, metalize rigging wires, weathering, may be night fighter equipment like lamps and Holt flares (kit provided) and may be more.
20 April 2023, 19:46
Andy Ball
There is such a thing as a "Rotherham Air Pump"? The folks of the South Yorkshire former steel town will be in awe 🫢 I wonder if there is a "Doncaster water injector" too!….
20 April 2023, 19:53
Kyle DeHart
Wonderful stuff, as ever.
20 April 2023, 23:41
bughunter
Thx mates!
Andy, your water injector is may be used in WWII (for increase power of engines) but your question invited my to google for "Rotherham Air Pump" and beside nice pictures I found this interesting video: Youtube Video
 
21 April 2023, 18:59
gorby
Aahhh! It was form Coventry – my home town. Remarkable what we used to produce – with the emphasis on 'used to'. 🙁
A lot of good things came out of Cov (and the usually stayed out). 😄
22 April 2023, 06:15
Ludvík Kružík
Although this is standard with your builds, again I admire your craftsmanship. I have followed the entire build from the beginning and again admire your craftsmanship and precision.
22 April 2023, 06:45
Simon O'Gorman
This is absolutely beautiful! Wonderful work.
22 April 2023, 11:28
bughunter
Thank you very much mates!
Thanks also Simon for commenting and following. There are many who follow but never leave anything. Very rude of these stalkers.
I think there will be a new interesting update tomorrow.
24 April 2023, 19:00
CaptGPF
Amaaaaazing! Such detail, and so nicely put together
25 April 2023, 18:52
bughunter
Thank you CaptGPF, yes a lot of details, but a downscaled original needs that 😉

Now WWW - Weapons, Weathering and some nice Weather for the final outdoor pictures are needed!
25 April 2023, 19:03
Ludvík Kružík
The details are very convincing. They look like real 1:1 parts. 👍
25 April 2023, 20:10
bughunter
Thank you Ludvík, also for the likes!
This Camel without humps is now finished and the weather forecast for tomorrow sounds good for the final outdoor pictures.

By the way, for those who now also want to build this Camel: the Profipack is currently available with a 50% discount as part of the SWEEP campaign: eduard.com/eduard/so..amel-comic-1-48.html
26 April 2023, 12:11
bughunter
So, this project has reached its final state! Please jump over to the album with the final pictures:
Sopwith Camel Comic B4614 | Album by bughunter (1:48)
Thanks for watching and all your interaction during the build!
26 April 2023, 18:58
Simon O'Gorman
Great build. Congratulations.
26 April 2023, 20:31

Album info

The Camel Comic is a night fighter version of the Sopwith Camel.

A few words about this variant: Why conversion to a night fighter?
It soon became apparent that the muzzle flash of the Vickers MG in the normal mounting position blinded the pilot in the dark. Therefore, it was decided to use two Lewis MG on the wing, similar to the SE.5a (for the Lewis MGs exists also incendiary ammunition, which was more successful against airships).
However, the pilot has to pull them down on rails to change the drums, and this was not possible with the Camel, as the cockpit was too far forward. Therefore the tank (which is behind the pilot in the normal Camel) and cockpit were exchanged. This eliminated the hump of the Vickers MG, the cockpit opening further back than normal. In short: this is an almost new model.

About the name:
First the Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter was used as a night fighter with weak armament. Pilots used to more heavily armed fighters found the Strutter "a joke of a fighter", so the name Comic came into being and was then retained for the Camel night fighter.

That is the first time we see this version in 1:48 as injection molding.
If you check the sprues carefully, we can also expect a ships Camel, with has some other modifications.

183 images
1:48
Completed
1:48 Sopwith Camel Comic (Eduard 82175)1:48 Sopwith Camel Comic Lewis guns (Eduard 648726)5+
Sopwith Camel Comic
GB Royal Flying Corps (1912-1918)
B Flight, No. 44 Sqn. RFC B4614
February 1918 - Hainault Farm, Essex
 

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