Covering My Full-Size Sopwith Camel Aircraft in Fabric | Ready for Paint!

In this video, I document the process of covering my experimental homebuilt Sopwith Camel in fabric, preparing it for the final painting stage. Watch as I share the techniques and tips for applying fabric to this iconic aircraft, ensuring it's ready for its next transformation.

[@model1issue138]

Camel is looking really good, Scott! Five colors "on" makes it come alive!
Enjoy your break!
John
SE5a

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thanks John.

[@guyoreilly5670]

She is a beauty!!

[@thewrenchreviews9986]

Most excellent progress sir! Enjoy your holiday. Looking forward to the next episode.

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thanks, will do!

[@guff3163]

Looking great! And, once again, thanks for the video. Enjoy your R&R.

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thanks, will do!

[@schwabrichard9829]

Some good looking tail feathers!

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thanks

[@charlescampbellii8193]

Looks awesome!

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thank you

[@scotthumphreys1789]

Looking great Scott. Sorry to hear about your friend

[@scottmatthews5280]

Much appreciated

[@alexisscott9573]

Crazy, I was sitting here going through some paper work of Dads as I had your video going in the background, one of these things was a lovely note from Brian to my Dad on his Pattern masters participation certificate from 1988, lots of fond memories of Brian, nice words from you Scott, and I think seeing you and the project is a wonderful thing for him to have seen before his passing ,RIP Brian Green

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thanks Alex.

[@user-kr6cp6wl9v]

Fantastic work.cant wait to see you start painting the fuse..

[@scottmatthews5280]

You and me both!

[@user-kr6cp6wl9v]

I've been wanting to build the SE.5

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day Scott,
Yay Team !
Sorry to hear of the bereavement, mate ; nobody gets out of this life alive though, and apparently it helps to embrace that, rather than being annoyed (?) !
I reckon the
Hand-painted Rudder looks
Great,
Mate...;
Spraypainted Spatter-Patterns and Dribbles and Runs were all invented, specifically, to humble eager Amateurs who calculate that,
"It should be easy enough...",
Apparently (!).
Such is life,
Have a good one...
Stay safe.
;-p
Ciao !

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thank you

[@CraigKeenan-lp8tk]

Hi Scott, when you are installing the plastic inspection rings (or any other plastic inspection panel) if you chamfer the outer edges / rim at a 45 degree angle until the edge thickness is reduced by about 50% (I wish I could draw a picture) this will allow the covering doily to sit down much better around the outer edge of the inspection ring, you wont end up with problems getting this to sit nicely. I just use the edge of a pair of scissors and scrape the outer edge of the rings, it only takes a minute to do. With regard to the inner edge, just leave this as it is, I normally trim the inner covering layer to match the hole in the ring and then fold the outer doily in and around the hole just like you did with the foot step in the fuse side. This is more important under the fuse as if you just cut a circle any oil residue from the engine will make its way into the underbelly inspection panel easier and get between the fabric / doily glue joints / seems. All the best.

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thank you, under fuselage rings will not be cut out until needed

[@noahjbarr]

Have a good break Scott, keep up the videos👍

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thanks, will do!

[@jontaylor1652]

Good stuff again Scott, will you be taking us all the way through to the maiden flight ?

[@scottmatthews5280]

That's the plan!

[@jontaylor1652]

@@scottmatthews5280 Excellent, thanks mate.

[@jt822]

I have not used this water based process but its looks very good. I used seaplane drains and opened holes with a small solder iron tip.

[@scottmatthews5280]

Yep iron works well

[@Whiskers132]

She's lookin' great. Nice work Scott.

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thanks 👍

[@67hr74]

Nice to see the body coming together Scott. Rudder looks awesome 👍👍

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thanks 👍

[@Kimdino1]

Hey Scott - Sorry, I wish I had to you with something a few weeks ago, but I playing catch up so only just realised. Maybe you can still do?
I noticed that in an earlier episode you were looking at adding elevator trim tabs but gave up as it looked to be getting too complicated. Why not add a trim facility in the same way that I believe Sopwith did, it is much simpler as well as being more 'scale'.
I must admit that I have no knowledge regarding the Camel, but some years back I studied and built an RC Sopwith Triplane. As the Triplane was Sopwiths immediate predecessor to the Camel I am sure the Camel would be done the same.
Sopwiths trim system was very like the pitch trim used in modern airliners in that they altered the incidence on an all moving tailplane. The tailplane was not mounted directly onto the fuselage but onto a hinge syastem with a small gap to allow a few degrees of wiggle-room.
A handwheel & pulley in the cockpit ran cable back to a jackscrew fixed just in front of the rear post of the fuselage. This jackscrew was affixed to the trailing edge of the tailplane (not elevator).
In your case could you simplify this even more by using a bellcrank instead of the jackscrew?
I hope this all makes sense. A picture would make it clear & simple but probably confusing in words?

[@scottmatthews5280]

In simple form I will do this manually with shims. I don’t think it is worth all the work because once I find the zero trim spot it will be redundant. Just need to get through the first 5 or 6 flights

[@brianstyrczula9466]

Nice work Scott. You deserve a break, see you when you get back.

[@scottmatthews5280]

Thanks

[@markwebb8013]

It appears you have the same troubles we all suffer from with leaks,mice, and temperatures, all for the love of building.

[@scottmatthews5280]

Tough sometimes but enjoyable

[@model1issue138]

e

[@dejon5850]

Love your work ,but your camera shots are moving to much ,it makes seasick