Articles

Wingnut Wings Sopwith Pup

WINGNUT WINGS 1/32 SOPWITH 'PUP' - RNAS version
Kit # 32016
Price $59USD

When Jim Hatch, the founding partner of this website, told me he was sending along the brand new, yet to be released, Wingnut Wings Sopwith 'Pup', well, to say I was excited would be an understatement. Already receiving rave reviews for the superb quality of their first releases last year, I feel they have upped the bar another notch or two with this kit.

As soon as it arrived, I poured over the contents marvelling at the expertise of the kit's designers and moulders. I believe this is clearly a case of 'by a modeller, for a modeller'. The whole contents exude absolute quality with 8 sealed clear plastic envelopes containing the sets of sprues, instructions, small PE fret and decals. The only thing lacking was the smell of doped linen and hot caster oil. Please rectify Messrs Wingnut Wings!

Let me start with the instructions. This is rather a misnomer - it is more of an A4 sized 'flying' manual'! Consisting of 24 gloss pages including the cover, packed from front to rear, not only with very self explanatory construction drawings in full colour and historical facts of the marque, but also with 29 World War I reference photographs to assist the modeller in producing the best possible example. There should also be no complaints from purchasers of this kit about the lack of colour information. Wingnut Wings have set out on Page 2 all the relevant colour equivalents of Tamiya, Humbrol and Misterkit reference numbers. Hooray!

Quickly scanning the booklet reveals that the time honoured system of starting with the cockpit and then moving on to the fuselage in modular fashion seems to be the order of things, followed by the tailplanes and then the wings. The undercarriage and engine construction concludes the build of the plastic parts followed by the rigging programme. This will probably be the way I shall go but I expect, as ever, other modellers will do their own thing relying on experience and their view of how things should be done.

A rigging diagramme is shown but there are no rigging materials included in the kit. Some modellers may wish to use Lycra thread or thin fishing line, but I have already done two things in advance of the kit arriving. I have ordered the relevant 1/32 scale flying and bracing wires plus terminals from Radu Brinzan in Ireland (www.radub.com - maker of those fantastic German and US WWII seat belts and other goodies). But please beware on this point! Radu produces various sizes of scale flying and bracing wires for different aircraft. I had reference to "British Military Aircraft of WWI - The official technical rigging notes for RFC and RNAS fighting and training aeroplanes 1914-1918", and for the Sopwith 'Pup' these are 1/4 BSF flying wires and 2BA bracing wires. Radu provides 1/32 scale PE flying wires of these and other sizes used by the RFC and RNAS. When they arrive I will post them on this site.

Sprue with RNAS type 9901a fuselage and top wing









Engine sprue

I know that bi-plane rigging is a bit of a 'hang-up' for some, and having recently built the 1/32 Trumpeter Swordfish, I can understand that - but I have heard very good reports about Radu's product from some who have built the Wingnut Wings SE5A. I have also ordered some very fine nickel wire and turnbuckles from Albion Alloys (www.albionalloys.co.uk) for the internal control wires that can be seen in the cockpit and elsewhere. I have used their very fine rod and tube before on other models and this 0.2 nickel wire with turnbuckles is a new product of theirs which I am looking forward to using.

The builder of this kit will be really spoilt for choice. There are six full colour examples of type 9901 and 9901a at the rear of the booklet with decals to suit all. My particular favourite is N6453, a type 9901a used by the RNAS on HMS Furious and HMS Repulse - there is a photograph of this aircraft on board HMS Repulse, looking very weathered. Yummy! The RNAS 9901a Pups had extra stitching on the rear port side of the fuselage to aid access to the flotation bags intended to assist recovery on ditching. More on this later. In respect of the decal sheet, it will be seen that small segments of the upper and lower wing roundels have been shown separately for attachment to the ailerons. Good thinking Wingnut Wings - no having to slice decals to suit!

The modelling on the plastic is superb - I only wish my photography was up to the same standard. Two things really jumped out at me on first look. The 'leather' padding around the cockpit is fantastic and the fabric reproduction is just about perfect. Remember that these are my very subjective views, others may disagree, but I don't think there will be many. I could not find the slightest trace of flash anywhere. This is the sort of kit that enthuses you to start it without delay - but I will have to be patient. I particularly liked the representation of the wing rib tapes - absolutely stunning.

Having regard to the RNAS type 9901a, I mentioned above that the 'sea going' version had extra stitching on the port side of the fuselage. Wingnut Wings have given the modeller two different fuselages and two different top wings to suit each type but with the extra stitching being very evident for the 9901a. The 9901a also had an opening in the top wing through which a Lewis gun (as opposed to the 9901 with a Vickers machine gun) protruded. In fact the 9901a top wing and fuselage are on their own separate sprue.

There is also a separate sprue for the 80hp Le Rhone engine and this is a mini kit its own right. The cylinders and crankcase are split in half vertically and there are nine separate cylinder heads. Push rods and induction 'tubes' are beautifully represented and moulded on their own framework. This engine should look absolutely stunning with the addition of ignition cable, which is not included, although the cable diagram is.

Decal sheet - note cut away segments of wing roundels for ailerons

All in all this is a kit on which you must take some time as it cries out to be given the justice it deserves. I shall look forward to seeing the various types around the shows later this year.

Messrs Wingnut Wings - Sir Thomas Octave Murdoch (T.O.M) Sopwith would have been proud of you. A truly stunning kit.

So what do we think?

I have run out of superlatives. The kit speaks for itself. Fabulous, and I can't wait to get started on it. Currently only available from Wingnut Wings in New Zealand (www.wingnutwings.com). I know they do not take too long to get here so get your orders in quickly guys. Postage is free but programme in possible HM Customs and Post Office 'handling' charges (it could only happen here in the UK! I know for a fact that US customers do not have to pay any extra local delivery or handling charges). The retail cost of the Pup kit is $59USD. Go for it. It is a must have.

Overall 11/10 - more if I am allowed to give it!

Peter Buckingham