Sopwith Pup 1:1 scale.. This Pup will fly.

[vikingBerserker]

Awesome!

 

[nuuumannn]

Worth getting in contact with the RAAF museum about their Pup in the photos above, since its powered by a similar Rotec engine to the one you guys intend on using, Nightfighternut. There is a 1 1/2 Strutter project being undertaken in Scotland, that has been going on for years, which volunteers have been working away at for one day a week. They are also using a modern powerplant instead of a rotary, but do try Tony Wytenburg at Classic Aero Machining Services through the link that Aaron (Gumbyk) provided.

Here are a few Pup images for inspiration. The first is this Pfeifer-Sopwith Scout built in the USA in the 1960s and imported to new Zealand in 2007:

One of the Vintage Aviator's Pup repros:

And lastly, the Shuttleworth Collection's Pup in the frock she was wearing in the 1990s. This aircraft was formerly a Sopwith Dove civlianised Pup, but was converted back into a military configuration:

All these aircraft are powered by rotaries.

 

[Peebs]

A link to the RAAF page talking about the restoration of the pup above

https://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/exhibitions/restoration/sopwith.htm

 

[Peebs]

A YouTube clip of the pup during one of the museum's bi weekly flying displays


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqYZcYh3cC0

 

[Night Fighter Nut]

Thanks guys, I've been busy with class for some time working on composites and... how to cover a clothe plane. Great stuff, I learned a lot that I will be using on the Pup. Here are some photos of where we currently are with the ribs.

 

[Night Fighter Nut]

Recently submitted a bid to get some tools made. The tools will be used to form many of the metal parts on the plane. Last check, the bid was accepted and the parts are being made and should be ready within a week. Thanks for all the references guys. We have heard back from a couple and found a few more that will help us with the fuselage. Moving along. Next class is on sheet metal and riveting. Need this to assemble other parts on this plane.

 

[javlin]

I count 16 almost 1/2 of the wing right?

 

[Gnomey]

Excellent work so far!

 

[Wurger]

Agreed.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Awesome!

 

[T Bolt]

Looks very time consuming, Very nice work

 

[Night Fighter Nut]

The ribs you see are called the A ribs. There are also B's, C's, and D's. Total 14 A ribs, 6 B ribs, 12 C ribs and 2 D ribs. The differences are in lengths and areas routed out. A's and B's are the same length but different routed out areas to accommodate the wires that control the ailerons. C's are cut out like the A's but are shorter because those Ailerons are at the ends of them. D's are short but rounded off. These two D's are on the upper wing just above the pilot to allow vision up and forward of the aircraft.

More photos to come as parts are made. Just went over the blueprints and identified several other parts that need to be made.

Trivia question, what is considered the standard of wood for wooden aircraft?

 

[vikingBerserker]

I am not going to cheat but guess birch?

 

[s1chris]

Aviation grade spruce, primarily from Canada to be precise? No cheating just past knowledge.

 

[Night Fighter Nut]

Sitka Spruce is correct. The wood from this tree has very little variation when it comes to the ring lines over distance. That's why it was chosen.

 

[Wurger]

Sitka Spruce...

 

[Night Fighter Nut]

The wood is also cut differently than normal wood. A process called quarter cutting.

 

[Wurger]

 

[meatloaf109]

Will be pleased to see this fly. Best of luck in this endeavor!

 

[vikingBerserker]

That was pretty interesting.