1:32 Sopwith Camel - instrument panel

Sopwith Camel instrument panel in 1:32 scale from Yahu Models

The set contains an aftermarket instrument panel, that is an accessory for the cockpit, not a kit of the aircraft. Yahu Models supplies it as a photo-etched part with the color printing already done, so filling in the tiny dials with a brush falls away. In the large 1:32 scale the cockpit of a biplane is practically always in view, because an open pilot's compartment hides nothing, and the quality of the panel therefore shows on the finished model far more than it does in the small scales.

The real subject

The Sopwith Camel was a British single-seat fighter biplane of the end of the First World War. It was powered by a rotary engine and its armament consisted of a pair of synchronized machine guns mounted in front of the pilot; the fairing over their breeches gave the aircraft the characteristic hump from which its name came. Concentrating the engine, the armament, the fuel and the pilot into a short forward fuselage, together with the gyroscopic effect of the rotary engine, gave the machine agility but also notoriously demanding handling. The instrument fit was very modest by today's standards, a few basic instruments for watching the engine and the fuel.

Usage tips

Separate the panel from the fret with a scalpel using a pressing cut and level the tabs with a fine file. For gluing use thin super glue applied in spots or a glue meant for photo-etched parts; for a wooden imitation of the instrument board PVA glue can also be used, which leaves time to set the part in place. On biplanes of this period it pays to finish the surface of the surrounding structure first, the wood, the fabric and the varnished areas, and to fit the panel only at the end. The dials can be brought out with a drop of gloss acrylic varnish, which imitates the glass of the instrument. Watch out for bends: photo-etched sheet is soft and a crease can no longer be straightened without a trace.

Who the accessory is for

• For builders of a Sopwith Camel model in 1:32 scale
• For modelers focused on First World War aircraft with open cockpits
• For those who want legible instruments without painting under a magnifier
• As an accessory for finishing the interior without having to buy a whole interior set

This is a separate accessory for the cockpit. The kit of the aircraft, glue and paints are not included in the package.