Wing Root Panels and Elevator Trim Installation on My Full-Size Homebuilt Sopwith Camel Aircraft

Dive into the heart of craftsmanship as we progress in constructing my full-size homebuilt Sopwith Camel aircraft. In this episode, we focus on two crucial elements: the wing root panels and the elevator trim. Join me as I meticulously install the wing root panels, ensuring a seamless fit and preserving the authenticity of this iconic World War I aircraft. Then, witness the attention to detail as we perfect the elevator trim, balancing aerodynamics and aesthetics for optimal performance. Follow along as I share insights, techniques, and challenges faced during these intricate stages of the build. Subscribe for future updates and be part of the journey as we honor history with each meticulously crafted component.

[@christopherspindler6328]

The level of detail it takes to build one of these is incredible, Thank you for sharing this experience with us. You are doing an incredible job.

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thanks for the kind comments

[@po1ly414]

It’s so cool seeing this project come together. Good luck moving forward

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thank you

[@ianbeeson5100]

These are great videos for someone considering a Aerodrome kit. Thanks for this.

[@scottmatthews5280]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ptonpc]

Imagine flying this in war with the technology and build quality of the time. Brave men.

[@scottmatthews5280]

Yep and only a few years after the very first flight of man

[@sanchopanches]

​@@scottmatthews5280 I have attended couple days ago RAF museum and was fascinated by Sopwith Dolphine. It is wonderfull masterpiece of the English engeneering❤. I did not find any traces for the Dolpfine model yet but found the very similar Sopwith Snipe....I think that is one I want to be involved with. As I realized you are building your Sopwith replica from Aerodrome Airplanes kit, are you? There are factory plans for Sopwith Snipe at Replicraft. It is a huge challenge, but anyway I guess to go this way.

[@model1issue138]

I'm enjoying your videos, Scott! When covering, water soluble "neutral" color adhesive can be tinted with a few drops of water soluble blue food dye, like for cupcakes. This allows visualization while applying adhesive. It will also fade with time - to avoid blue color on interior surfaces. Keep up that good work! John, building an SE5a from Airdrome Aeroplanes

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thanks for the info!

[@67hr74]

More progress Scott 👍, Have a good break and don't forget to put the "clunk" in the tank before fitting 😉. Cheers !

[@scottmatthews5280]

Will do

[@BruceTGriffiths]

I am so glad to see this project. I was planning to build one myself but I have heart trouble now so probablly not. No worries, I did a good bit of flying over the years. My Grandfather flew the Sopwith Camel and my ealriest memories of him were sitting on his lap when I was about 5 and he would tell me about the spin and other things that I don't really remember. He went down behind the line and was POW for about a year. I found his flight log in the archives recently. Glad to see this beautiful project coming along. Should be a Hoot to fly.

[@scottmatthews5280]

Great but if history thank you. I may have heart issues myself at the end of all this.

[@guff3163]

Nice memory. If Biggles taught me one thing - in order to get out of a spin, full right rudder and pull back hard on the stick (although the rudder might depend on the direction of spin, I don't recall). Maybe that was something your grandfather shared with you?

[@BruceTGriffiths]

@@guff3163 I can't remember very much specific but he told me that some men couln't get out of the spin however he left out what would happened in that case purposely. A man conveying something very difficult to a 5 year old without being too specific. Mostly jolly memories with a measure of seriousness with those stories. Another vague one of a cylinder flying past his head as it fell to earth with his eyes tracking it out of pure reaction. Gliding, then POW. Heck of an aircraft though.

[@donwtsn]

Hehe, JMSU, yep that’s how we roll with Frankenstein….with a whole lot of TLAR…That Looks About Right thrown in too!

[@scottmatthews5280]

Nice.

[@stevechopping3021]

It's interesting that the more you build the bigger the cockpit seems to get. I was under the impression that you were going to fit ground adjusted trim tabs. You maybe could use a rod in the elevator instead of a cable? It's coming on and the rear deck looks great. Thumbs-up

[@scottmatthews5280]

Yes, it will look great when all the sheet metal is formed up forward. A fix tab will work, I’m just worried about initial test flights in case trim is way off.

[@guff3163]

Looking good! I can't believe you have to pull it apart to cover it 🤷‍♀

[@scottmatthews5280]

Me neither

[@56jpg]

I look forward to these update videos. I was wondering about all the little holes in the wing skins. Not a concern with airflow blasting in there?

[@scottmatthews5280]

Time will tell, there is also a very big hole in the top of the fuselage!

[@bclark6716]

Hi Scott, nice build thread. Have you considered using a heavy duty RC servo for your trim tab? Cheers

[@scottmatthews5280]

Yes definitely, but then how do you control a servo? I have a servo tester, but I would not trust that, also servo can drive full one way or strip a gear, so I ruled that out.

[@dntower85]

For your elevator trim how about a high torque metal gear servo, I know its not period correct, but very easy to do. I know the ilevel uses them for auto pilot.

[@scottmatthews5280]

How would you then control a servo? Trouble is they can strip gears or drive full deflection.

[@DennisMortenson-wf5fh]

I am covering Cessna 40 wings and found that by putting supper glue at the base of the 1” brush it keeps the brush from shedding

[@scottmatthews5280]

Like it

[@dandurkee1372]

Should the aircraft be inspected before it's covered, like when you had the fuselage frame inspected? Maybe I missed that.

[@scottmatthews5280]

Yes, I am waiting n an inspection prior to pulling it apart. I’m sure it will pass, if not better to fix it now.

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day, Um, Regards the Flight-adjustable Elevator Trim-Tab... That's goanna add considerable Mass to the very outside Extremity of the "Moment-Arm" of the Elevators ... Camels were designed well before the concept of Control-Surface Flutter or Mass-Balance was ever thought of... I'm not an Aerodynamicist..., but I'd be very very wary of adding anything like that amount of Mass to the Trailing Edge of an already Unbalanced Control Surface. How's about you reconsider the possible merits of gently graduated increasing speed Tail-up Straight-Runs, into a perfectly aligned gentle straight Breeze, or a dead Calm..., and - in Ground-Effect, carefully feel it out..., to see what if any adjustments are indicated, firsties...(?). And, then, IF it really needs a (semi-) permanent Up/Down Tweak...; then that can be readily effected by adding a length oh Cordage attached to the length of the Elevator Trailing Edge's upper or lower Surface - to thicken it, on top of or below the Surface's Centreline - effectively Reflexing the Trailing-Edge as a Stealth Trim-Tab, with more or less effect achieved by use of more or less length of Cord, or thicker or thinner String - kinda thing...; glued in place with Something like Duct Tape while adjustments are made - then sewn in place and doped-over with Pinked-Tape... That's how Neil Cottee's Sopwith Pup had it's Ailerons trimmed, when it came from Transavia, who built it at Camden. That's how Everything with Fabric covered Controls was was once rigged to fly in Trim at whatever Airspeed was desired, permanently ; before either Bendable-Tabs of Sheetmetal..., or in-flight adjustability was a thing, as I understand it. The Fokker Triplane Replica was trimmed the same way too, as I recall it. Another option, if you really do crave adjustable Elevator Trim..., is a pair or Light Tension-Springs each pulling on one Elevator Cable- with the Springs anchored (ground-adjustably...) to a Bellcrank featuring a Lever/Handle, controlled across an arc of fixed "detents" so as to relax one Spring while tightening the other - across the full range of Stick-travel. Effectively thereby changing the Elevator's Trail-Angle with an adjustable Stick-Force from the Springs, applied internally (unseen), and without risking Giving the Flutter Gods the Shits with both you, and your Beefed-up Elevator Trailing-Edge...(!). As I understand it, that particular mob of Demons are a very very bad-tempered style of Gremlins indeed - fast acting and unforgiving ; best not to risk pissing them off, if at all possible, kinda thing...(!) ? Such is life, Have a good one... Stay safe. ;-p Ciao !

[@scottmatthews5280]

Yep I’ll use tape etc as I did to get my Cruzer to fly hands off.

[@WarblesOnALot]

@@scottmatthews5280 Excellentical ! Stay safe, ;-p Ciao !