Sopwith triplane kit 460mm

A multi-winged marvel

 

Sopwith’s Chief Engineer, Herbert Smith, developed the Triplane on the orders of owner Thomas Sopwith as a private enterprise for a new scout (fighter) aircraft, with superior rates of climb, roll, and better all-round visibility than current designs. Smith believed that three staggered, narrow chord wings, set wide apart, each with its own set of ailerons would fit the bill. The prototype flew in May 1916 piloted by Sopwith test pilot Harry Hawker (later to form the Hawker Aircraft Company of Hurricane fame). Astonishingly for a maiden test flight, Hawker successfully looped the aircraft three times. Subsequent flights proved that Smith was right and that the "Tripehound" as many pilots came to know the aircraft, had far better rates of climb, manoeuvrability and visibility than any other domestic or enemy aircraft of the day (although this was tempered by slower dives than German aircraft of the same period).

In the box:

Three balsa sheets with precise laser cut parts and strip wood

PVA glue for building the wooden frames

One Ø 150mm plastic propeller

Pre-bent motor hook and shaft

Three low friction plastic nose bushings - one for the propeller and two for the undercarrage and tail wheel legs

Vaccuum formed canopy and spinner

Piano wire for the main undercarriage and tail wheel legs

Motor peg

Rubber motor strip

Tissue to cover the model

Parts reference sheet

Full size summary plan sheet

Scheme diagram sheet

Scheme markings