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Roden 609 1/32 Sopwith Triplane

Product Code: RO609
Barcode: 4823017701236
$84.99 $64.99 24%
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Roden 609 1/32 Sopwith Triplane

The Sopwith Triplane ‑ known to its Royal Naval Air Service pilots as the “Tripehound” ‑ was developed from the biplane Pup in late 1916. The purpose of the triplane configuration was to maximize pilot view with narrow‑chord wings and maximize maneuverability by increasing wing area without increasing wingspan. The result was a supremely maneuverable single‑seat scout that had such a profound effect on its opponents that they paid it the ultimate compliment of copying it ‑ directing all German aircraft manufacturers to submit designs for triplane fighters within weeks of the appearance of the Tripehound over the Western Front in the Spring of 1917. The Triplane was generally about 15 m.p.h. faster than the Albatros D.III and could easily outclimb its opponent; if the German chose to attack, the Triplane could out‑turn the Albatros quickly, then outclimb it, thus allowing the RNAS pilot to choose his moment of attack.

Flown by such famous RNAS pilots as the Canadian Raymond Collishaw, American O.C. “Boots” LeBoutillier, and Englishman Reggie Soar, the Sopwith Triplane went far to re‑establish British air superiority in the northern region of the Western Front following the disaster of “Bloody April.” Powered by the 110 h.p. Clerget engine, the fighter suffered from a standard armament of only one Vickers machine gun, though both Collishaw and Bob Little flew a limited‑production series of Triplanes armed with two machine guns despite the deleterious effect on performance from the extra weight of the additional weapon.

Such was the pace of technical development that the Triplane, which first appeared at the Front in February and only achieved widespread service in all four RNAS fighter squadrons ‑ Naval 1, naval 8, Naval 9 and Naval 10 ‑ by May, was considered obsolescent by late July and left front‑line service by the end of August, 1917. Replaced by the tricky Sopwith Camel, the Tripehound was remembered by its pilots as a wonderful flying machine.

The Germans paid the Sopwith Triplane the honor of copying it, with the better‑known Fokker Triplane being developed from a requirement issued in direct response to the success of the Triplanes. Unlike the Tripehound, which had ailerons on each wing, the Dr.I only had ailerons on the upper wing, meaning the other two wings had to be dragged through maneuvers. The Sopwith could fly rings around Fokker's legendary fighter. Of course, by the time the Dr.I appeared, the air war had changed and the airplane was essentially obsolete for air combat from its first day on the front, though it would soldier on with the Fliegertruppen until May 1918, with a few still flown by individual aces until the end of the war.

Decals

  • Sopwith Triplane N5493, No.8 (N) Sqn RNAS, St. Elois, France, Western Front, flown by Capt. Robert A Little, Summer 1917.

  • Sopwith Triplane N533/C, "Black Maria", No.10 (N) Sqn RNAS, Drogland, France, Western Front, flown by Lt. Col. Raymond Collishaw, leader of the "Black Flight", July 1917.

  • Sopwith Triplane N5382 "The Ooslumburd", Home Defence, Manston War Flight, Kent, July 1917.

  • Sopwith Triplane N5384 "White 9", French Naval Service F.11/SP.9,Western Front, France, Dunkerque, flown by S/Lt Charles Delesalle, February 1917.

  • Sopwith Triplane N5486 ShK1 from the Moscow Aviation School. This a/c was attached to the Special Aviation Group (AGON), used for fight with General's Mamontov Cavalry. Russian Civil War, Southern Front, Zhdanka r/w station, flown by Red Military Pilot Jury Bratolyuboff, August-September 1919.