Fixing the Sopwith Triplane

[Boney10]

So you all know my horror with the new Ares Sopwith Triplanes



So in the freezer with the Blighter, left overnight and then imersed in hot, not boiling, water.
I then carefully applied pressure to the struts which, generally come apart quite easily. Maybe due to the thiness of the wings the Sopwith was more than a bit relucant to to part. The bottom struts gave way quite easily but the centre /top were a bit of a bother.
So in the end I snipped off the top wing leaving this



With a sharp hobby knife cut away the struts and scrape away any residue on the strut positions. This will leave the positioning for the new struts visable. Then re-glue the centre wings back in position.
On my Collishow I used SuperGlue but for this one I think maybe a plastic glue, like GW, so the plastic will melt and give a studier bond.

Next get some Styrene strip the one I found is by Plastruct and is no 90733
030" x 060" or 0.8mm x 1.5mm
comes in a pack of 10 and approx 26cm long ( approx 10")



I then cut four pieces approx 8mm
The actual strut is 5mm but the extra is to cut the angle for the strut. So you may want to cut different lengths and then trim to size after.
I then cut the bottom of one strut at an angle, this is going to be in line and same angle as the bottom strut so use that strut to make sure they are the same angle. Glue into place on the same hole/postion as the original strut. Hopefully you can see the angle



I did the two outer wing struts first toget the angle, then trim off the top, again at a slight angle so the top wing fits flush.
Then cut the two centre struts and glue in place, again using the slots from the previous strut.
Follow the same procedure as the outer.
You should then have te four struts around 5mm in height all the same angle and with a slight angle at the top so out top wing lies flat.
Paint the struts.
Then glue the top wing in place, I turned the top wing upside down so I could see the position of the old strut and placed the rst down onto the wing.
When it has just glues and is tacky turn over and make any ajustments ( quickly if superglue) then leave to dry .

Hopefully you will then have



If there is any part here not clear drop me a pm and Ill try and assist.

[alpine]

Great write-up! I'm feeling tempted to try this, but might have to get an extra tripe to try it on first. The results look great.

EDIT: Actually felt inspired enough to order an extra Collishaw and Little. I'll try this technique and post my results when I ever get around to it.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Very useful thanks Chris.
I was going to use the jigs that came with my Reviresco Tripe, but I dont think I will need to now.
Rob.

[Biggles downunder]

Thanks for the 'how-to'. Now it's off to the local hobby shop to try and track down the required raw materials and paint.

[csadn]

Does it fit in the original packaging afterward?

[Boney10]

Does it fit in the original packaging afterward?

Yes Chris it does

[greenalfonzo]

Wow! Thank you, Chris! That looks like it would be snap! (now that you've done all the difficult groundwork)

[The Scout]

Was that first picture a tripe straight out of the box with wavy wings? Is there a production problem? I wanted to pick a few up...

[somaliavet]

Thank you for sharing this great how to! It's soeasy and cheap enough, and the results are so much better than the original, I might have to try it myself.

[Boney10]

Was that first picture a tripe straight out of the box with wavy wings? Is there a production problem? I wanted to pick a few up...

Yes Ted the first pic is the standard ready to go Tripe from Ares

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Yes Chris it does

Drat Chris. I was hoping to be able to write a "How To" enlarge your box to take the modification.
Rob.

[grumpybear]

Thanks Chris, I will get going on mine now

[Boney10]

Here is the repaired version in its original box








Chaps if I were to do some struts who would be interested?

[greenalfonzo]

I'd take 2 or 3 sets!

A pre-cut and pre-painted set of replacement struts would be a huge help.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I'd take 2 or 3 sets!

A pre-cut and pre-painted set of replacement struts would be a huge help.

Pre painted might not do too well with plastic weld Kev.
Rob.

[The Scout]

Yes Ted the first pic is the standard ready to go Tripe from Ares

Thanks. I will avoid this model. I have no inclination or ability to perform repairs on something that is suppose to be at a certain level of finish.

[Biggles downunder]

[QUOTE= <snip>... Chaps if I were to do some struts who would be interested?[/QUOTE]

I'll take 3 sets!

[greenalfonzo]

Pre painted might not do too well with plastic weld Kev.
Rob.

Really? But I don't own any of my own paint or brushes or anything! What kind of glue would work with painted parts, assuming I can keep it to the unpainted tips of the struts?

[clipper1801]

We had a bit of wing lifting here tonight as well . . .



Added .045 styrene blocks to top of existing struts with CA, sanded, painted and replaced the top wings, and painted the wing edges too!



They look much happier now . . .

[Flying Officer Kyte]

We had a bit of wing lifting here tonight as well . . .



Added .045 styrene blocks to top of existing struts with CA, sanded, painted and replaced the top wings, and painted the wing edges too!



They look much happier now . . .

They certainly look less like stunted Dwarves Clipper.
Rob.

[PilGrim]

So much better

[Biggles downunder]

Here is the 'real deal', from my album - the TVAL Triplane:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/alb...chmentid=88452
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/alb...chmentid=88451

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Here is the 'real deal', from my album - the TVAL Triplane:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/alb...chmentid=88452

That is certainly unequivocal Wayne.
Rob.

[csadn]

I'd try this, but my modeling skill with plastic are hopelessly inadequate -- would some sort of metal work for this project?

[alpine]

So when making the struts do you only replace the top wing struts or middle wing as well? Do both top and middle wings need to be taken off in order to do this technique?

[clipper1801]

I just changed the top struts out, matching the gap of the lower ones. I clipped the struts off flush with the bottom of the top wing, added plastic to the ends of the struts and trimmed them when cured to the proper length and CA glued the top wing back on. If you were careful you could paint the struts and extensions brown, then glue on the wing. Not a big deal. If you want I can get the elves to do upgrades (PM them - me)

[Tommy Z]

Theydo seem to be a bit problematic. I had a tripe with broken upper struts out of the box.

[clipper1801]

They are rather fragile indeed. the middle wings are not glued well to the fuselage either and they come loose during the operation . . . that appears to be because they are assembled after painting and the glue sticks better to the paint than the plastic . . . story of my life : )

[GilmoreDK]

I'd try this, but my modeling skill with plastic are hopelessly inadequate -- would some sort of metal work for this project?

Why not go Shapeways instead of fiddling with a rebuild. The model needs repainting afterwards anyway and Kampffliegers Triplane is a fine specimen with all the right proportions as is...

[csadn]

Why not go Shapeways instead of fiddling with a rebuild. The model needs repainting afterwards anyway and Kampffliegers Triplane is a fine specimen with all the right proportions as is...

Two reasons:

1) As noted, I suck at building plastic kits -- thirty years, and still can't get it right.

2) Metal bends; plastic breaks. :)

[flash]

...Chaps if I were to do some struts who would be interested?

I'd tap you up for some Chris - see you at Newbury !!

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Yea to that Chris.
I would need enough for four machines.
Rob.

[Sparky]

Fixed my Sopwith Tiplane, cut the top wing off, also cut the lower supports off too, left the middle wing in place. Drilled holes through the middle wing to allow struts to pass through to bottom wing then glue and fix to the top wing. Painted struts and wing edges.

[greenalfonzo]

Fantastic job, Neil. Looks like it came straight from the factory.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

A very expert job Neil.
The single strut must help with the strength a lot.
Rob.

[Sparky]

Using the single strut Rob makes it really solid. It has the other advantage of making the strut alignment from lower wing to top wing alot easier. It sounds fiddly, but when fitting the top wing and checking things before gluing it does help.

Thanks Kev, I found when taking the plane apart that this is the method Ares used in the construction.

[flash]

Nice work Neil

[greenalfonzo]

I bet that really helps keep the alignment straight as well. That's something I fear when I attempt to fix my tripes.

[Sparky]

Yes Kev it does help with the wing alignment. If you keep the two sets of lower wings fixed at the fuselage, this sets the gap required between all the wings, including the top, and secondly the position from the front view, then from the side to fit the top wing.