1/4 Scale D B Sport Scale Sopwith Pup Build

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[Newalan]

77" 1/4 Scale DB Sport & Scale Sopwith Pup

I have previously built the DB Hurricane and Spitfire and now moving on to WW1 for a change and possibly the SE 5 next year. The kit box is smaller and lighter compared to Spitfire and Hurricane box.  Very well packed balsa and ply parts with superb laser cut parts as is now the trade mark of D B Sport & Scale.  The laser cut parts are easy to remove from their hold and as usual very accurate over the plan.

Three large plans are supplied with comprehensive booklet which takes you stage by stage through the build.  All balsa parts are easy to identify since they are numbered.  Tip:  if there is a bunch of balsa stock and only one has the ID mark I suggest you mark the rest with pen so that you can identify them after removing them from the bunch (usually taped together with blue tape).  

Also do make sure you double check items, I was looking for fuselage longerons 1/4 " square and found some balsa that size, but further digging around revealed the correct item which are not balsa (spruce I think they are).

1/4 Scale D B Sport Scale Sopwith Pup Build

1/4 Scale D B Sport Scale Sopwith Pup Build

1/4 Scale D B Sport Scale Sopwith Pup Build

[Pup Cam]

Looking forward to this build, might encourage me to get another one!

Does the latest version of the kit still have one piece wings?    If so, you might consider modding the build to the more 'modern' approach of separate port / starboard panels - makes storage and transportation so much easier!      If you want to stick with one piece versions I've got a little used roof top coffin box specially built for DB Pup wings that is currently surplus to requirements

Alan

[Mudflap]

YAY 

Subscribed, I love me ole Pup, lovely to fly 

Mud

[stueysheep]

YAY 

Subscribed, I love me ole Pup, lovely to fly 

Mud

and hopefully will share the sky tomorrow with a d7 and a camel...

[Pup Cam]

and hopefully will share the sky tomorrow with a d7 and a camel...

Yes, yes

[R101]

I'm following this build with interest as well as I'm doing the Dove from the same plan (no kit) for electric power.

[Newalan]

Looking forward to this build, might encourage me to get another one!

Does the latest version of the kit still have one piece wings?    If so, you might consider modding the build to the more 'modern' approach of separate port / starboard panels - makes storage and transportation so much easier!      If you want to stick with one piece versions I've got a little used roof top coffin box specially built for DB Pup wings that is currently surplus to requirements

Alan

No the latest version kit has split wings and quick rigging  system, no fiddly turn buckles to worry about, a simple push the wire in in a special attachment and it locks where you want it and to release push on relerase mecahnism and it's off (this will be shown later during the build). 

Also has a very clever system of joining the wing panels to the centre section (bottom wing) and two panels together on top wing without the use of screws or other conventional attachment,  again this will be covered during the build.

Alan 

[Pup Cam]

Also has a very clever system of joining the wing panels to the centre section (bottom wing) and two panels together on top wing without the use of screws or other conventional attachment,  again this will be covered during the build.

I seem to remember someone saying that DB had some new device, a sort of spring steel tab with a hole in that slides on wire joiners now you come to mention it.  Look forward to seeing how the ol' girl has changed over the years - I understand that the one that I had was a review model from years back when the kit came out in the '80s but I've never seen a review socan't be certain

Looks like I'm stuck with the coffin then ........

Alan

[Newalan]

I seem to remember someone saying that DB had some new device, a sort of spring steel tab with a hole in that slides on wire joiners now you come to mention it.

That is it exactly how you described it a sort of spring steel tab with a hole in which  slides a steel rod joiners   The angle of the spring tab allows the steel rod joiner to slide in but if you try to pull apart it jams (sort of point loaded friction bind) and as soon as you press on the spring steel tab, it alters its angle and thus the steel rod joiner is then allowed to slide back out.  Very simple but very effective allowing a push fit the wing panels.

Hopefully later on during the build the pictures will paint thousand words.

Alan

[NSS]

This from the DB websie......


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http://www.dbsportandscale.com/auster-J1.htm

[Newalan]

Fuselage Left Frame

The basic fuselage left frame work done it will  now be removed from plan turned over and the fuselage doubler glued on the inside.  As usual you have to ensure you make one left and one right frame (to ensure right and left are created some attention must be paid to the tail end and how certain uprights and diagonals  are fitted on which sheeting sits. these are hidden under the sheeting at tail end in this photo)  The right frame has been started and should be dry by tomorrow.

1/4 Scale D B Sport Scale Sopwith Pup Build

[Pup Cam]

Those spruce (or whatever) longerons are a very beneficial improvement.   Mine were balsa and suffered some damage over the years, and of course, its very difficult to fix them without open fuselage surgery.   
I could do you a nice live video camera system specially designed to fit in the cockpit ........... You are not allowed to view links.
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PupCam

Keep up the good work.

Alan

[Newalan]

I could do you a nice live video camera system specially designed to fit in the cockpit

Hi Alan,

Looks very imprresive, unfortunately I have already placed an order for scale cockpit interior complete with the WW1 Pilot, however I may be interested in one after the Pup.

I am hoping to build large Petrol Carden Yak (ARTF unfortunately)  so it should be a fun device for that?  What sort of cost are we taking about?

Alan

[Mudflap]

Ay up Alan, that rotary ain't so far away   

[Pup Cam]

What sort of cost are we taking about?

How about £2000?    No, no, that's a joke.  I really haven't thought about it and as it's all my own work I haven't really got any idea.  I'll give it some thought and get back to you.

Alan

[Newalan]

How about £2000? 

Hey that is cheap for people with money (I ain't one of them unfortunately) 

[BrianB]

How about one of these to pop on the front Alan?......

[Pup Cam]

How about one of these to pop on the front Alan?......

Many a true word ........

All these Alan's - it's starting to confusing

Alan

[stueysheep]

How about one of these to pop on the front Alan?......

nah, it don't spin around.....

[BrianB]

Yes Alan, isn't it?

We could do with a few Reggies, Sids and Berts to avoid confusion.

[Pup Cam]

nah, it don't spin around.....

nah, but some do .......

Yes Alan, isn't it?

We could do with a few Reggies, Sids and Berts to avoid confusion.

Anyone remember the Bruce sketch?

Alan

[BrianB]

Well this one certainly did Stuey......

[stueysheep]

Well this one certainly did Stuey......

Is that the same as your first photo Brian?

[BrianB]

No, not the same engine Stuey. These guys were at the OW Scale weekend a few weeks back. They're not there every year, but seemed to be out in force this time round. One of them had built a superb replica of a 24 cylinder Napier Dagger aero engine to about 1/4 scale. You can just see it in the background in one of the pics (fourth pic).

And here it is......

There used to be a chap who lived near me did something similar. Someone commisioned him to build a scale Rolls Royce Merlin engine. So he did, and made a superb job of it. Only cost the bloke who commisioned it about £30,000 too. (Gulp). He then went on to do a Daimler Benz 601 engine for the same guy. Jeez, it must be nice to have money.

[Pup Cam]

a superb replica of a 24 cylinder Napier Dagger aero engine to about 1/4 scale.

It certainly is.    This You are not allowed to view links.
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website

is worthy of a poke around for similar works of art.

Alan

[BrianB]

Hi Alan

The engines by that Lee Hodgson chappie bear a remarkable similarity to the engine I photographed in the back of that estate car. Perhaps he's the same bloke?

Absolutely stunning model engineering.

[Newalan]

How about one of these to pop on the front Alan?......

Now that is what I call an Engine, wouldn't want to put in a model, it will go in a glass showcase if I had it  To stop confusion I will call myself Alan H

Alan H

[Newalan]

A Little more work done now that both the side fuselage sides are dry, fitted cowl blocks to the firewall and the ply surround which will support the cowl lip.

Al thought not in the instructions I added balsa gussets behind the firewall for added security as I will be using a Petrol engine.  I also prefer to glass cloth the firewall to the main frame.  the only thing that survives in a crash normally

At this stage before I glued the firewall to the fuselage sides I took the opportunity to mark out the shape of the firewall on a large sheet of lead (no doubt at all I will require a lot since it's such a short nose).

1/4 Scale D B Sport Scale Sopwith Pup Build

1/4 Scale D B Sport Scale Sopwith Pup Build

1/4 Scale D B Sport Scale Sopwith Pup Build

1/4 Scale D B Sport Scale Sopwith Pup Build

1/4 Scale D B Sport Scale Sopwith Pup Build

1/4 Scale D B Sport Scale Sopwith Pup Build

[tekiM]

Good move with the gussets and the lead 

That kit looks a world away from the original that I had, in terms of parts fit/finish!

rgds,

Mike

[Newalan]

That kit looks a world away from the original that I had, in terms of parts fit/finish!

Hi Mike,

Eddi Stocker and his Wife Judith have put in a lot of effort into improving the the original D B kit as most know it.  When I built the D B Spitfire (now also with split wings) some of the construction if not most was free hand only placed on the plan to square things up and weighted to cure.

Apart from that Eddie is a very helpful guy nothing is too much trouble, his re-engineered kits use some very unconventional but easy to do providing a strong and practical construction.

Alan H