Before You Begin; Working With The Plans & Parts; What You'll Need To Start Construction - Model Airways SOPWITH CAMEL F.1 Instruction Manual

Before You Begin

The SOPWITH CAMEL kit is intended as a
structural, non-flying, model without any fab-
ric covering. It is about as close as you can
come to being able to hold the real thing in
your hand. Most every detail of the real air-
craft has been included as model scale permits.
Britannia castings and laser-cut wood fittings
eliminate creating many parts from scratch,
however, some final finishing is required
before they are suitable for the model.
Before starting the model, carefully examine
the kit and study the plans. Every effort has
been made to present the construction stages
in a clear, logical sequence. Nevertheless, it is
recommended that you think several steps
ahead and check the plans accordingly dur-
ing assembly. This will help clarify what you
are doing now and will ensure proper fit of
the sub-assemblies later. The instructions
will help, but a thorough knowledge of the
plans at the outset is essential.
Determine if all the listed parts are present.
Handling them will produce a better under-
standing of the kit's requirements and will
help you visualize how every piece will look
on the completed model. To avoid losing
small fittings and hardware, sort them into
labeled containers with lids to keep the parts
in and dirt out.
Although each Stage in the instructions
results in a completed sub-assembly, it is rec-
ommended that you begin at Stage 1 and
proceed in order to the finish. Certain mod-
eling techniques are described in full when
they first appear in the sequence and only are
referred to in subsequent steps. Always com-
plete one construction stage before moving
to the next. In addition to the construction
figures that accompany the instructions,
process photographs throughout will help
clarify construction. If things still go awry,
take a break, then consider doing them over.
View color photo on our website!
www.modelexpo-online.com
Plans
The Model Airways SOPWITH CAMEL is
manufactured to a scale of 1:16 or 3/4" equal
to one foot. In addition to the Figures that
appear throughout this instruction manual,
five full-size plan sheets are provided. Each
plan sheet is drawn to the actual size of the
model except for some areas that have been
enlarged to better show detail.
Dimensions can be lifted directly off the full-
size plans by using draftsman dividers, a strip
of paper laid on the plans on which you make
at dot indicating each end of a part, or simply
by laying wood strips directly on the plans and
marking where to cut them.
Parts
A parts list is included in each of the construc-
tion stages, noting the parts required for that
particular stage. A MASTER PACKAGING
PARTS LIST (separate from these instruc-
tions) is provided that lists the quantities
included in the kit. For wood strips, brass rod,
wire and rigging, one or several pieces are pro-
vided in the kit as noted on the master packag-
ing parts list. These are identified both by size
and by the names of the aircraft parts that will
be made from them. This material must be cut
to length or shape according to plan dimen-
sions. Even though Model Airways supplies
enough extra wood to complete the model
before running out, it is recommended that
you plan to measure and cut the required parts
so as to minimize waste. That way you are cov-
ered if you make a mistake.
Cast Metal Fittings
These parts will require final finishing before
mounting on the model. Remove mold joint
flash with a #10 or a #11 hobby blade, then
file or sand with fine sandpaper. Some of the
holes through which other parts fit, such as the
small eyes of a turnbuckle, may have filled in
during the casting process. Carefully clean
these out using a drill bit or reamer and check
the fit of the other parts. To ensure good glue
and paint bonds to these parts, wash off the
remaining traces of the mold release agent. A
spray of ammonia window cleaner and gentle
brushing with an old soft-bristle toothbrush
does the job nicely. Thoroughly rinse the parts
and allow them to dry.
Necessary Construction Tools
The following tools and supplies are recom-
mended for the construction
process. Modelers who have built before may
have their own favorites.
A. Knives and saws
1. Hobby knife with No. 11 and No. 10
blades
2. Razor saw
B. Files - Set of needle files
Flat, fine-tooth, mill bastard file
Round riffler file
C. Clamps and Pins
1. Assorted Bulldog clips
2. Wooden clothespins
3. Rubber bands
4. Package of T-pins
D. Boring Tools
1. Set of miniature drills (#60 to #80)
2. Pin vise
3. Standard set of twist drills
3
E. Miscellaneous
1. Tweezers (a few)
2. Small fine pointed scissors
3. Miniature pliers
a. small round
b. flat nose
4. Wire cutters
5. Mechanics rule graduated in 1/64"
6. Brass brush for polishing cast parts
7. Small block plane (for shaping wing leading edges)
F. Sandpaper
#120 aluminum oxide paper for shaping wood
parts
#200 wet/dry silicon carbide paper for
intermediate sanding
#400 wet/dry silicon carbide paper for fit-
tings and finishing
G. Glue
Yellow (tan) carpenter's glue for wood parts
Cyanoacrylate (CA or Super Glue) for metal
parts, metal to wood, and rapid assembly of
wood parts.
3. OPTIONAL
Cyanoacrylate De-Bonder (just in case you
have to take something apart)
Cyanoacrylate Accelerator for an instant bond
Five-minute epoxy provides extra strength for
gluing fittings.
H. Building Board
A soft, but stiff board such as acoustic ceiling
tile or insulation wallboard to easily take
straight pins for holding parts during assem-
bly. This soft board should be nailed or glued
to a hard board so it will be flat. You can use a
table, but a portable board is good for turning
it around to make the work easier. You will
also need assorted scrap lumber, as indicated
on Plan 05 to build some of the suggested
special jigs.
Setting Up The Plans
It is easiest to build flat subassemblies directly
on the full-size plans. Place the plan on your
building board and cover it with waxed paper
or plastic wrap. Be careful applying glue,
especially super glue. Although the waxed
paper or plastic wrap protects the plan
somewhat, you could accidentally glue the
protective sheet to the model parts, or even to
the plan itself.
An alternative, if you have a dedicated
modeling area, is to lay a sheet of glass over the
full-size plan sheet and build directly on the
glass, using tape and weights to hold the parts
in position. If you use this method, watch out
for sharp edges on the glass.