After an absence of nearly 6months ( due to a family bereavement ) I have finally got back on the modelling bench. The Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter was selected because it was on the top of the stash.
The 1 1/2 Strutter was the 1st allied aircraft in the Great War to be fitted with a synchronised machine gun , it first flew in December 1916 and first saw service with the RNAS followed by the RFC and later by the French, who obtained a license to build the aircraft. It was produced in both 1 and 2 seater forms, the single seater was used as a bomber and was often unarmed, I assume to increase the bomb load. The 2 seater was primarily a fighter.
The Strutter performed both functions satisfactorily but became obsolete very quickly, by 1917 most British aircraft were withdrawn from the front and used in training rolls. The French continued to use them in active service until 1918.
I shall be building the model in the livery of the RNAS No.3 Wing as flown by the Canadian ace FSL. R. Collishaw in 1916.
As well as the kit I will include a resin wicker seat (Barracuda ), resin Vickers MG and Lewis MG, Airscale instrument decals , pilots seatbelt and wood grain decals both by HGW models.
The kit is of good quality consisting of 9 sprues, 1 decal sheet ,1 clear plastic sheet for windscreen etc. and the usual Roden B&W instruction sheets ( 4 double sided pages ).
2 attached images. Click to enlarge.
