This is Steve's Sukhoi in the building stage. Ya gotta love his workshop...Is that a glider I see on the wall!?

The Sopwith Tabloid is done, thank God. The water take-off part is all theory, however, but with the wheeled undercarriage (so that's what "u.c." in all those English kit plans meant!) in place, I had to run for it on my cellar floor when I gave it a burst of full throttle and didn't have it secured enough.

There's a separate 1/32" plywood cover that seals up the front when the floats are used.

It has two scale undercarriages, one with a separate water rudder. They mount from the same drilled screw holes (except for one row of three).

So the brushless motor setup and prop (9/8) combination may be right. At least for the wheeled u.c., the floats and heavy wire setup may be just too much for water takeoff. .Time will tell. Come on Spring!!!

Here's the beginning of the Sopwith Tabloid project

Dave Hewett

 

Here's one of my winter projects, maybe about two weeks away from finishing. It's a 1914 Sopwith Tabloid, the biplane that won the 1914 Schneider hydroplane race. It was on the cover of the Christmas 1964 British magazine Model Aircraft, and actually won that year's British National Meet for scale free flight.

The British example had pendulum control, I've used a radio and a brushless electric motor, probably with an 8" or 9" prop. The top wing is finished, but not in any of the shots. Since the photos were taken, the oval rear float with steerable rudder linked to fin was completed, plus I had to plank the bottom of the fuselage with 1/32" balsa with grain running horizontal for strength (because in a moment of wild abandon--as wild as it gets on this street in the winter-- it got knocked off the bench and a bottom longeron broke!). Actually, it was probably a blessing, I'd rather find a weakness now than in the air.

If anyone would like advice, or needs help, on various building, altering of kits, etc., I'm happy to offer whatever I can. All they have to do is send email or even call me at 802-257-7427. I'm still working for the magazine so I might not have a lot of time during regular business hours, but they can try.

Dave - Feb/08

Dave's Winter Project propped up on the workbench (note the magazine cover featuring the Sopwith Tabloid).

At last months meeting we talked about a float fly off the set-back near Cersosimo's lumber yard.

Elliot offered to let us use his boat.. This would be a treat to see fly off the water.

Above is the British M.A. cover featuring the Sopwith Tabloid.
Below is last year's project of Dave's scratch built Waterman Aerocar.

Here's the business end.

This shot gets us right into the cockpit. Nice photography, Dave! I can check the oil pressure.. The steering wheel looks like something you'd see in a car and not a plane. How did it work, Dave? Did you solder it up from music wire?

This little blue and white Waterman Aerocar is a clone of the original 1940 Megow kit, about 18" w.s., with a CO2 motor.

Everybodies favorite barnstormer byplane!