The Sopwith Bactrian

[The Rat]

When discussing aviation today, everyone has heard of the 'black box', also known as the flight data recorder. Few however, even those who work in the industry, recall the first black box, which performed an entirely different function.



This black box was born out of desperation. It was the summer of 1918 and the war was going well, with victory in sight. But at one lone aerodrome they were truly desperate. The cause of this situation was a young Lieutenant, a man with the right family background to ensure a flying position, but with an ineptness at handling aircraft which rivaled the abilities of the squadron's mascot, a goat named Mr. Punch. His name was Arthur Streeb-Greebling, a confused individual who, after sampling frog's legs at a reception hosted by the French government, had developed an unseemly interest in expanding the culinary possibilities of anuran amphibians. They took another unusual turn when an American Doughboy from Georgia gave him a peach.

The future of aerial reconnaissance began one morning as our unlikely hero taxied his Sopwith Camel toward the field. The port wing contacted the mess hall, tearing off the outer few ribs. Procuring another mount, he again set out on his assigned patrol, swerving to miss the workers clearing up his previous indiscretion. The resulting contact of his starboard wingtip with the C.O.'s office took another aircraft out of service. An engine-destroying nose-over dispatched a third Camel, and with it the immediate flying aspirations of the young man.

Desperate to find him some way of securing his place in history, lest his well-connected family should start asking questions, the C.O. allowed Streeb-Greebling to indulge an idea which he had presented earlier; an aircraft dedicated to airborne photography. The three forlorn Camels were placed at his disposal, and work commenced on joining them together. This, it was thought, would perhaps mitigate the tricky handling characteristics of the aircraft by making it more stable. It would also allow for the carriage of the unit named the Black Box, which was a wooden structure outfitted as a self-contained darkroom operated by a single crewman, whose job it was to take photographs and then process them in the air, dropping them on return as they passed over headquarters.


Underside view showing the high-speed lens position in the nose of the 'Black Box'

The obvious name for the new creation was the Bactrian, and as such it was as ungainly looking as its namesake. The first two Camels were joined at the damaged portions of their wings, and outer sections were cannibalized from the third to provide extra lifting surfaces near the tips. The Black Box was then placed on the lower mainplane. The new aircraft was repainted an unusual green colour, symbolizing Streeb-Greebling's penchant for frogs.



The initial foray was the final undoing of the Lieutenant. Rather than trying to photograph enemy positions, they cautiously experimented with allied installations. Hoping to impress the upper echelons they flew over a meeting of the general staff taking place at a chateau and snapped what were, for the time, some high-resolution pictures, which were then processed on board and dropped down for the perusal of the assembled commanders. Early into the meeting one Brigadier Sir Hartley Smythe-Barrington, an aristocrat with a hitherto impeccable pedigree, had excused himself on the pretense of conferring with his Regimental Sergeant Major. Unfortunately the first photo viewed by the group showed, in the back garden, the bare buttocks of Sir Hartley nestled between the equally bare legs of a young serving girl.

When last heard from Streeb-Greebling was looking for land in the Yorkshire moors with a plan to possibly retire there.

[The Rat]

The Construction

Well, this was... fun? Yes, it was fun! I started on Wednesday, and worked like hell because I screwed up the deadline. Once I learned there was still a month to go I decided not to use it, and set a challenge to get this done by Monday.

Beat that by a day! And the first person who says "Where's the rigging?" gets a slap.

This isn't my first experience with the Academy 1/72nd Sopwith Camel, that was about 10 years ago, but the decals are just as crappy as I remember them. The fit is not bad, but nothing to be proud of on their part, but it was inexpensive and good enough for whiffing.

Obviously the wings were cut and joined, but while looking at the end pieces I had an inspiration – a sesquiplane! The struts are joined top and bottom, and the joins fit into grooves on the wing, so I scribed and carved through the grooves and slipped the pieces up the struts. Looks good to me, but then I'm easily amused. There are two more end pieces which may get turned into an Otto Lilienthal inspired escape system, but not now.

I learned one major thing on this project; writing a back story first can certainly help to focus one's ideas and determine aspects of construction. I had no idea of what the plane would be used for or what colour it would be, but writing the story figured that out for me.

The black box is good old balsa, and the camera lens is a spare porthole from a VEB Plasticart Mi-4. If anyone has seen one of those you'll remember it, it's the crappy East German model with about 300 soccer balls, er, rivets, on it. Paints were, oh, whatever was laying around. Any questions?

[Tophe]

I have no question, just full admiration...
Great model & great story to explain!  Till midway in reading, I had no idea at all of what this 'black box' puzzle was meaning... then 'process photographs on board' stroke me! Yes, a flying black room!
Construction details were great also and JMNs would die facing such a Camel-Camel-Mi4 model mix...
Thanks also to have directed our eyes towards the external triplane layout, that I had not noticed at first, bringing even more originality.
At last, let me say that I am jealous of your linking wings skills. Maybe I could have linked 2 biplanes but with much putty, not respecting the thin skin over wing profiles regularly spaced. Congratulations, Master...
Somewhere, the ghost of Lt.Streeb-Greebling is smiling, I guess.  

[The Rat]

Glad you liked it mon ami! I don't suppose that you are familiar with the story of Sir Arthur Streeb-Greebling, he was a character played by a British comedian named Peter Cook. One of his best known pieces is one in which he talks about a restaurant he owns, called the Frog and Peach, which are also the only two things on the menu! If you can find a copy of it and understand the English terms you will find it very amusing.

I am sure that there have been sesquiplanes like mine, but searching the internet didn't find any pictures like that. It really means 'half-wing', and there are pictures of aircraft which have one normal size wing and one much smaller, like the top image here:

[Tophe]

I feel sorry : I did not appreciate the background to fully understand the joke in this story - anyway it was great in itself, even with a Lt. Smith... while it was even better with English culture... ^_^

For the sesquiplane word, I guess I understand the misunderstanding... If I remember well "sesqui" means 1½, one-and-a-half (while "hemi" means ½, one-half); Google founds lots of "sesquiplane", and thrice more with the French spelling "sesquiplan" , but all of them are of course 1½, not 2½ like yours... how to ask Google?...  

[Patrick H]

Great story and a wonderfull build there Rat.



Patrick

[NARSES2]

The only Sesquiplanes I know of are like Tophe says 1 and a 1/2 wings like the Neuiports etc, but what the heck I love it.

Still reckon it could go on to be used as a Zeplin buster with a cowgun in the "dark room" and at least the Brigadier was caught with a serving girl and not the Sergent Major - couldn't have gone to Eton  

Chris

[nev]

Brilliant!! Hilarious!!  

Great job ratty.  A flying dark room, I love it!    

[The Rat]

...at least the Brigadier was caught with a serving girl and not the Sergent Major - couldn't have gone to Eton  

Chris

   



Coffee on my keyboard and up my nose!

[Captain Canada]

Great stuff, Rat ! Beauty model, and beauty story ! Good timing, too.....a nice read for a Monday morning at work.

Now, could we see the high-resolution photo of the serving girl ?



Also glad you mentioned the little winglets in the build story, or I wouldn't have noticed it !

[Gary]

That is... was? Great!

[Ollie]

Awesome job Ratty!

   

[The Rat]

If I remember well "sesqui" means 1½, one-and-a-half ...

Yes, I think you're correct. Latin isn't my strong point unless it's the scientific name of a plant or animal.    

[markm70]

Holy poo-poo!   Thats awesome!!! Great back story too, gotta love the flying darkroom too.  Congrats on an incraedible entry.

Markm

[B777LR]

Sooooooo 1918! Must be a good climber!