Copper State 1/48 Sopwith 5F1 Dolphin
The Dolphin is the 'Rodney Dangerfield' of Sopwiths. Not famous like the Camel, or even the Snipe, Triplane of Pup, it was 'different'.It was fast (131 mph) and agile, but it had 'backstaggered' wings, the idea was to give the pilot better visibility in the upper hemisphere, (which it did). It was a superb dogfighter, and both the Americans and French planned to build it, if the war had continued. Due to it's 'newness', and the operational requirements of 1918, the Dolphin spent most of it's time on ground attack missions, but it still produced several aces, F.W. Gillet scored 19 victories in the Dolphin.
The kit is a true 'multimedia' resin/white metal/PE made by Eric, who closed CopperState last year. Not an altogether easy to build kit, but wth many very nice bits.
Having done the Blue Max kit, this couldn't have been more difficult. God, I hope WNW does this airplane! An easy "10" Merrill.
I was thinking the same thing, go WNW! And believe me, the Blue Max kit could not have been as hard to do, harmonizing resin and white metal parts made by, I assume, different crews was a headache and a half.
Great work. Something you don't see everyday. Another wish for a WNW here.
Nice! Yep...very nice!