Much unlike the F.1 Camel, this two seat side-by-side aircraft is quite budget constrained and just a 'fun' replica airplane. No pretensions. The fuselage is near completion as are the tail feathers. This will be a late model Sopwith SS3 Scout "Tabloid" with the 4 ailerons and metal interplane and cabane struts, so quite convienient. Side by side SS1 seatng will be retained. Here is where we are and a photo of the target aircraft. Hopefully up on gear next week. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Engine choice. The cowled Tabloid engine allows for a wide choice of possible motors. While the larger replica community likes the VWs with the belt reduction redrives, I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on using a good ol' O-235 from a C152. I realize it is a bit heavier, but something about it seems more bulletproof. I am hoping this plane weighs in at about 600-700 pounds or so, obtw.
If it were me, I would definitely go with the O-235. More durable, certificated, proven reliability, and it wouldn't be pushed to death to do the job.
Sorry for quality, but up on gear. Although it would go against my 'do project this low-bid' for a change, I keep thinking of doing a Sopwith Baby style airplane with the small Rotec 7 cyl radial on the front, except as a landplane. There were landplane versions of the Baby seaplane, one being the 'Hamble Baby Convert' as shown below. Still planning on a simple panel. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I've pretty much ruled out a VW engine with redrive as a power source. Looking at o-200 or bigger Thought about using the smaller 7 cylinder Rotec and doing a Sopwith Baby on wheels. Just want very simple. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I think that the Sopwith Baby with the Rotec radial would be my choice. Unique, nice looking, and a beautiful period piece. Man I wish I could go PIC again in one of those shown in your latest photos! That's going to be too much fun! !
You know, there is something to this fun airplane thing. I am still trying to decide on the Tabloid vs. a Baby on landing gear (uhoh, here come the Far Side cartoons...) Image Unavailable, Please Login
With center cection and reinforced spar carry throughs. This plane, a side-by-sidetwo seater, is actually a bit bigger than the F.1.; between as wide as a 152 and 172. More headroom, of course. As I may turn this plane, I am thinking a more familiar engine, perhaps even an O-200, 235, 290 or 320, which would be tons of power. This thing is only going to weigh like 700 pounds. Bob, looking forward to going for a ride with you. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Ummm. The power of temptation exceeds that of an O-290 or an O-320. How can you be so enticing as to mention flying a WW1 Sopwith Tabloid or Baby? That might even quicken the pulse of one who recently got a re-timing. From my experience with WW1 replicas ( Boeing B&W) the most important thing was not power but thrust at moderate RPM. The old kites operated by moving vast amounts of air. The B&W originally had a 90HP Hall-Scott and would barely fly with a 260 HP Lycoming running a smaller prop at high RPM. Thanks for the offer, Russ. Bob
Yes. The originals had 102" props with a similar pitch tuned for generally around 100 hp, but produced with whopping torque at around 1200 or so rpm. Engines are a problem. The reduction drive vw has a great output torque, but one is really spinning up the motor to get it, and I am distrustful of belt drives. Warners are all time bombs now. A Ken Royce impossible to support Jacobs just too big and heavy. A Kinner R-55 might not be too bad, but the base circle is pretty big. The Rotecs are ok, but could use a better PSRU. That is why I went with the larger Rotec for the F.1. I do not make full rpm, but am content with the higher torque at lower rpm with a small weight penalty. Am reminded of the old Groucho routine "What this country needs is a good 5 cent cigar. Scratch that, what this country really needs is a good 5 cent nickel..."
Ok guys, head's up here: WANTED: Replica or de-milled aerial LEWIS machine gun and Foster mount. Less than Repligun if possible, please.
Slow progress - hope to fly and trailer to SunNFun. Again, the goal is to have a very inexpensive (<$20K) two seat full-scale "light replica" that replicates the original performance and experience safely, usable in modern airspace/airports, and is fun to fly for not alot of $$ (and for my ham handed construction and flying skills) The last photo I low-tech colored in to give an idea of the coloring of a RNAS Sopwith SS3 Tabloid circa 1916 Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
To give another perspective, here is my bud Rob with the plane. The Cockpit is about the same dimensions as a Luscombe, except longer and WAY more headroom. And slower. We are making this plane as a 1+1, that is, it can be flown by two pilots side by side (ala Luscombe) or a single central pilot. Image Unavailable, Please Login
That's me in the previous post. If it looks like I'm hanging on for dear life... I am. I'm sitting on a few 2x4s which in turn are sitting on a 1/2" piece of plywood that just barely stretches between the front and rear spar. I was afraid I'd bounce on the plywood, cause it to fall between the spars, and destroy all the fuselage structure below me in the process... As I was climbing around on this thing I was remembering my days as a Tanker and having to maintain "3 points of contact" at all times... I'm sitting pretty much dead center of the cockpit. My elbows just reach each of the longerons. It will be a snug fit much like this Norwegian two seat Sopwith Baby: If you notice, the pilot's arm is hooked around the rear cabane. I wonder if we can rig the throttle so I can reach it from around the cabane?... hmmm... Rob Image Unavailable, Please Login
Based on some recent developments, the Tabloid build is spinning off into a later Sopwith derivitive, the Sopwith Baby. The Baby was a floatplane derivitive of the Sopwith Tabloid, with many simularities in build, thus allowing all of the current Tabloid structure so far to be used. The plane will be developed over the first year or so as a landplane, then placed on floats as the original Sopwith Baby was primarily a floatplane. Engine will be another Rotec. More soon. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Slow modest progress. Have had some luck again in finding some original instruments, and am laying out the instrument panel per the references I have. Spruce cabane and interplane struts are done. Continuing to plan for a two seat with the option of single pilot from the middle. The cockpit has similar dimensions to a Luscombe, so two big people will be tight. Still, it will be nice to involve more folks inexpensively in a peek at this kind of flying through giving rides at venues such as Kingsbury. Looking for a suitable Lewis gun replica. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The 2x4s connecting the upper and lower spars are interesting... do you know why he did that? I don't recall doing that on mine. Rob
the plane was originally built with metal struts - to keep the trim while the metal struts were replaced with spruce the scaffolding was made to keep everything in relation.
Well, rats, I was hoping to see a RR Merlin bolted on to the front of that thing. Rather, a Tabloid bolted on to the back of a RR Merlin.
