Hi all,
As my build of the Hannover Cl.II is drawing to a close, I'm starting research for my next build.
This will be the 'Copper State Models' Bristol Scout C.
The aircraft I intend to build is Scout serial number 1260 (not a kit scheme).

Bristol Scout C, serial number 1260 was one of a batch of 24 aircraft built under contract CP 67209/14 (serials 1243 to 1266).
This aircraft was delivered to Eastchurch on the 4th of July 1915 and was officially accepted a week later.
It was at St Pol for a few days before joining No.5 Wing at Dover on the 13th of August for Home Defence.
On the 24th of January 1916 and the 9th of February, it was flown by Flt. Sub. Lt. R.F.S Leslie to defend against enemy seaplanes that were attacking Folkstone, Dover, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.
The aircraft required repairs after it overturned on the 29th of June, but was damaged beyond repair on the 10th of August and written off on the 4th of September 1916.
The Bristol Scouts had various armament fitted, which included Lewis machine guns mounted obliquely on one or both sides of the fuselage.
Also forward facing on the top forward fuselage decking or forward facing on the upper wing.
During one period, 1260 had a Lewis machine gun fitted on the top forward fuselage decking.
It seems strange therefore that this aircraft was not fitted with any form of synchronising mechanism to stop fired rounds hitting the rotating propeller.
Evidence of this can be seen on similar period Scouts with this armament fitted, by wrappings around the propeller blades that were aligned with the muzzle of the machine gun.

Mike

2 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Fantastic entry, my friend @sandbagger! Looking forward to it!

The seat looks wonderful, my friend @sandbagger! The Gaspatch bits really make a difference!

Hi all,
The Scout had at the forward sides of the fuselage, an access panel that was used to gain access into the forward cockpit from both sides of the fuselage.
These panels opened upwards with two separate hinges on the top edge and were secured closed with two latches at the bottom edge.
The kit fuselage halves have these detailed panels pre-moulded.
Unfortunately, the panels cover all of the cockpit internal detail.
Therefore, I chose to modify the panel on the port side of the fuselage in the open position, allowing visibility of the cockpit detail.

The opening panel was cut from the fuselage half then filed to shape.
The panel was made from 0.2 mm thick plastic card.
The top hinges and latches are represented by 0.3 mm diameter tube and plastic card.
The panel stay rod will be added later in the build.

Mike

4 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Great idea on that panel and make the interior more visible this way, Mike @sandbagger
Perfect execution on the scratch building.

Hi all,
During its service life the Scout had various weapons fitted and in different locations on the aircraft.
From rifles, Lewis machine guns and even duck guns fitted to the fuselage side, to machine guns fitted on the fuselage decking in front of the pilot or over wing mounted guns.
Different type of over wing gun mountings were used and either fixed or movable.

In the following photograph of 1260, it can be seen that it’s over wing gun mount was possible the Bristol Scout Lewis No.5 mounting Type1 - ’Christy pattern’ dated March 1916.
This mounting allowed the weapon to be fired over the rotating arc of the propeller or fired vertically upward.
It also allowed for the ammunition drum to be replaced, unlike the fixed mount version.
The mounting was basically a single metal tube attached to the underside of the upper wing centre section, which was cut back to the wing rear spar (to allow the weapon to pivot over the cockpit).
The gun and its mounting were off-set to the starboard side of the centre section.
At the cockpit end of the tube was a pivot mounting in the upturned top of the tube.
When fired over the rotating propeller the gun was locked in the horizontal position, but when fired vertically the hand grip of the machine gun was simply clipped into a fitting on the starboard side of the cockpit decking panel.
The horizontally positioned weapon was fired using a pull cable from the gun down into the cockpit.
When fired vertically it’s probable the pilot could operate the trigger by hand.

To represent this weapon fit I used a ‘Gaspatch’ 1:32nd scale Lewis Mk.1 half stripped heatsinks (13-32052).
Also 'Albion Alloy's' Brass tubing and rods.
The trailing edge of the upper wing required cutting back to the rear spar to allow the Lewis gun to be pivoted to to cockpit for reloading or firing vertically.
The fuselage clip fitting still needs to be made as well as a magneto starter switch (mounted on the post side of the fuselage near the cockpit,

Mike

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Excellent detailing, Mike @sandbagger

Superb, my friend @sandbagger!