British biplane fighter Sopwith F.1 CAMEL COBI 2999 - Great War 1:32

MODEL SOPWITH F.1 CAMEL | COBI 2999

Aircraft kit in the colors of the 17th Aero Squadron of the United States (USAS) under British command. The model features a newly redesigned Clerget rotary engine cover, a rotating propeller, and adjustable control surfaces. A twin Vickers machine gun mount is attached in front of the cockpit. A beautiful detail is the accurate marking of the aircraft on the sides of the fuselage, where the letter N is the tactical marking of a specific aircraft within the unit, the dumbbell logo refers to the official emblem of the 17th Squadron, and code F6034 is a unique serial number assigned by the British Ministry. The "Lift Here" arrows indicate reinforced fuselage points where the aircraft can be safely lifted. The package also includes a figure of the legendary pilot George A. Vaughn Jr. with a flying cap and service cap. The figure can stand on a transparent plastic platform or easily sit in the cockpit.

Did you know that:

Aircraft development was launched by the Sopwith Aviation Company in early 1916 as a replacement for the aging Sopwith Pup aircraft. The working title for the new aircraft was "Big Pup". The first prototype took off on December 22, 1916. It was not a bad aircraft, but it had several design flaws. The machine was very unstable with a strong gyroscopic effect and torque reaction. Pilots used to say the aircraft was just as dangerous as the enemy. Experienced pilots managed to turn these flaws into advantages. Enemy aircraft could not react to its sharp turns. Despite all flaws and rumors, the Sopwith aircraft became the most successful Entente fighter with 1,294 kills. A special modification even allowed for launches from underslung airship mounts.

Several extraordinary personalities flew Sopwith fighters, such as the Canadian flying ace William George Barker, nicknamed "Billy". In flight school, he casually listened to a 55-minute theoretical briefing on flying an aircraft, then silently stood up, walked over to the plane, and took off against all regulations. Onlooking officers and the instructor were so fascinated they failed to stop him. The first flight of G. Barker's life was flawless. From that moment on, he knew how to fly. Another personality was the American pilot George A. Vaughn Jr., whose figure is included in the package. G. Vaughn is one of two flying aces who survived World War I unharmed. With 13 kills and numerous assists, he ranked among the very best. At an advanced age in 1986, he founded the Vaughn College of Aeronautics.

 
Technical parameters:

• dimensions: wingspan 8.53 m, length 5.72 m, height 2.59 m
• empty weight 422 kg
• maximum takeoff weight 660 kg
• powerplant Clerget 9B rotary gasoline engine with an output of 97 kW
• maximum speed 183 km/h
• rate of climb 5.1 m/s
• service ceiling 5,800 m
• fuel tank capacity 168 l
• endurance 2 hours and 30 minutes
• armament 2 x 7.7 mm Vickers machine gun
• crew 1 person

From the memoirs of Lieutenant George A. Vaughn Jr.:

"I remember my first aerial victory. The Pfalz I engaged sent a long burst into my tail before I even knew he was in the sky. That was a great lesson I never forgot – always spot the other guy first and never let him spot you. Fortunately, his marksmanship was poor enough, and after that it was just routine we learned in training. Eventually he headed for home. I pursued him, which turned out to be a mistake. When I finally caught up, I was deep inside German territory, and the flight commander gave me a proper chewing out afterward – he didn't enjoy being dragged so far into Germany just to watch over me. The German machine eventually went down in flames."

About the COBI building kit:

• COBI 2999 building kit consists of 186 high-quality ABS parts
• number of figures 1
• collection Great War
• scale 1:32
• pad printed - no stickers
• faithful processing
• made in the EU
• compatible with other building block brands