Stage 4: Building The Fuselage - Model Airways SOPWITH CAMEL F.1 Instruction Manual

Although it is possible to construct the fuselage atop the full-size
plans, as you did with the wings, several construction jigs are depict-
ed on plan sheet 05 to facilitate assembly. If you opt to build the
sides without a jig, it is important that you are consistent in aligning
the wood strips with the same edges of the drawing. For example, if
Fuselage:
Laminate pairs of parts CAF03 to form the
two cockpit base structures. Laminate the
two parts CAF06 to make the single nose
frame. Form the two diagonal mounts by
laminating a solid laser cut CAF04 to one
with lightening cutouts for each.
Using Plan 02.2 or Jig 4 on Plan 05 glue up
the fuselage sides using CAF03 and 3/32" X
3/32" wood strips. The top and bottom
longerons are continuous strips that will
bend easily. Take measurements from Plan
02.2. Glue in the diagonal mounts
(CAF04), making sure that the sides with
the lightening cutouts face outward, then
glue on the rigging eyes (CAF05) so the flat
backs of the eyes face inward.
NOTE: It is crucial that the three small
holes on CAF04 line up across the fuselage
later on when installing the engine mount
and plumbing. If you opt not to use Jig 4, it
is recommended that you install parts
CAF04 after building the complete fuselage.
Dry fit the parts and insert a rod or dowel
through one pair of holes and then adjust
the fit before gluing so the rod is both level
and perpendicular to the fuselage centerline.
Using Plan 02.1 (helped by Jig 5 on Plan 05
if desired) attach the two sides by first join-
ing them to the doubled nose frame CAF06
and then reinforcing this with horizontal
formers at position "A". Attach horizontal
formers at positions "D", noting that there
are no top formers at positions "B" and "C".
The remaining horizontal formers should be
cut to length to match the spacing of the
associated false frames at positions "E"
through "H". When the glue is dry, glue
together the two tail ends before fitting the
horizontal formers at position "I". Use the
3/32" square kit lumber to make the final
fairing support CAF22. Attach this across
the top of the fuselage and round the cor-
ners. Make the fairing stringers out of 1/16"
square kit lumber and fit them to the notch-
es in the false frames, gluing the tail ends
atop CAF22.
Referring to Plan 02.3, attach the angle
braces (CAF12) inside frame "B" and the
fairleads/angle braces (CAF13) inside frame
"D". The inside corner of CAF12 and
CAF13 support the seat rails which are cut
from 3/32" square stock of about 3 5/16"
length. Before gluing the rear seat rail
support (3/32" square wood) across the

STAGE 4: BUILDING THE FUSELAGE

Parts List For Stage 4
CAF03 Cockpit base
CAF04 Diagonal mounts
CAF05 Rigging eyes
CAF06 Nose frame
CAF08 False frame "E"
CAF09 False frame "F"
CAF10 False frame "G"
CAF11 False frame "H"
CAF12 Angle brace on frame "B"
CAF13 Fairleads/angle brace on frame "D"
CAF15 Front machine gun support
CAF16 Rear machine gun support
GS4-7 Tail skid socket
WP3625 Longerons, vertical & horizontal
fuselage formers, CAF22, seat rails & cross pieces
WP3618 Fairing stringers
WP161K Bungee retainer
Misc. scrap wood building board and jig parts supplied by modeler
vertical of frame "E" make sure that the fuel
tank (CAF18) will fit snugly between the
rails. Referring to Plan 02.5, cut and attach
atop the seat rails the two fuel tank sup-
ports (just behind frame "D" and 5/8"
behind that) and the two seat supports
(between frames "C" and "D"). These
extend to the outside edges of the seat rails,
not the full width of the fuselage.
Locate the rear machine gun mount
(CAF16) atop the longerons at frame
position "B," then use a machine gun to
position the front mount (CAF15), and
you lay out the vertical frame members for one side along the left
edge of the vertical frames in the drawing make sure you do the
same for the other side of the fuselage, otherwise milling differences
in kit lumber and different printed line widths could cause discrep-
ancies between the two sides.
glue CAF15 in place. Leaving off the rear
mount at this stage will make it easier to
insert the ammunition boxes/chutes later.
To create the bungee retainer, refer to Plan
02.1 & 02.2 and drill a 3/64" hole through
the longerons just forward of the doubled
vertical formers at the fuselage tail and
insert a length of 3/64" brass rod so that the
ends are flush with the longerons.
Referring to Plan 02.5, glue a brass eyelet
(GS4-7) into the joint at the end of the tail
to make the tail skid socket.
13
4 laser-cut plywood
4 laser-cut plywood
64 Britannia metal
4 laser-cut plywood
1 laser-cut plywood
1 laser-cut plywood
1 laser-cut plywood
1 laser-cut plywood
2 Britannia castings
1 Britannia casting
1 Britannia casting
1 Britannia casting
1 .219" x .121" brass eyelet
3/32" x 3/32" basswood strips
1/16" x 1/16" basswood strips
3/64" brass rod