01 Guillows Sopwith Camel unboxing - balsa RC model conversion

[@davew3130]

Hi Tim, and greetings from West- Central Pennsylvania. I enjoyed your video and it was a trip down memory lane. I built this same Guillows Sopwith Camel in 1976. I was 19 years old and home on a week long school break. I managed to complete the model within the week, and set it up to fly U-control with an 049 Cox. Something went terribly wrong on its first flight and it didn’t make it more than 1/2 lap before it piled into the macadam and was completely destroyed. Fast forward 47 years later and I still build stick and tissue rubber free flight as well as RC

[@timtheplaneman]

Thanks so much for watching Dave. I thoroughly enjoyed this walk down memory lane myself!

[@timtheplaneman]

Oh I just realized I once visited your neck of the woods. I had some relatives who lived in State College and I drove by from Detroit where I was working. Awesome place to live!

[@mikecarbone828]

Salutations Tim! These older kits have plans that are printed on that was made with wood pulp, and over time it deteriorates and will discolor. This should not affect your build. The dark plastic piece that you removed from the box, and are not sure what it is, is the handle in the event that you would like to build the plane for U-controlled flight, however, since you are planning to build this plane for RC electric flight, it will not be needed. It will be interesting to see how this model turns out and to see how it flies. I would definitely recommend that you use some kind of newer covering material instead of the tissue, this would help to contribute to the overall strength of the aircraft and will improve it’s performance, hopefully, you can find some in a suitable color. If you’re not really happy with the decals, then you could make your own with a good printer and print them out on some special material for just such a purpose. Good luck on the build! Happy flying! Thank you for posting and for sharing your experience with us all! Please have an excellent and awesome day! ☀️✨✈️

[@timtheplaneman]

Thanks Mike, I had a blast building this kit. There is a whole series of videos on the build beginning to end if you want to watch it.

[@ThingsnotonMars]

Looks like you digged out a treasure box Tim, hope see you fly it soon

[@timtheplaneman]

When the weather co-operates - I'm hoping it will be soon! Thanks for watching!

[@themysticalunicorn9754]

Hello Tim, I just received my model Sopwith 1e1 Camel from a model seller in England where I hail from, and I just wanted to say hi and to say that they have taken out the ply sheet parts and replaced them with plastic pressing instead and they have taken out the "U" control stuff as well which they say they will not be putting in anymore. Enjoying your video a lot and hope to see yours fly at some point.

[@timtheplaneman]

Thanks mate! I definitely have a very old kit. If the one you have has laser cut balsa you are leaps and bounds ahead. Have fun with it!

[@themysticalunicorn9754]

@@timtheplanemannope still still not lazer cut was hoping it would be but no such luck lol

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

With the Nieuport I built I lightened the tail end as much as possible due to the short nose, you might want to do the same, I didn't use the wooden wheels either. With the decals Tim, if you spray them first very lightly with clear lacquer they'll hold together better, try experimenting on the Guillow's word in the corner. 12:45 Eureke moment ... love it!

[@timtheplaneman]

Thanks Cliff, I've watched your Nieuport videos end-to-end in preparing for this. I really appreciate your advice. Thanks for the suggestion about the decals. The wheels are very heavy, but they are so beautiful, I really want to use them if I can make it work.

[@Graff-Art]

@@timtheplaneman a bit late, but yellowed water slide decals can be fixed by exposing them to sunlight for a few days.

[@timtheplaneman]

@@Graff-Art Good to know - it might help others who read the comments. Thanks for watching!

[@CLIVEGRAHAME]

I like your T - Shirt Do you sell them on your website ?

[@timtheplaneman]

Absolutely! Take a look at store.timtheplaneman.com

[@collinmccallum]

thank you for the tips! i love that plane! checkout my build video of the guillows trixter beam if your bored.

[@timtheplaneman]

Thanks, will do!