[WWI] Sopwith Comic Fighter

[Helen and Chris]

Clare,

Firstly, smashing model.

As far as I know (which isn't very far at all) there were two Sopwith aircraft which shared the name "Comic" - versions of the Strutter and Camel.

The Strutter had the cockpit moved back behind the wings (unlike the single seat bomber which had the observers cockpit removed) and its synchronised Vickers guns replaced with Lewis guns either fixed to fire above the prop arc or on a Foster mounting.

The Camel version also had the cockpit moved back in line with the trailing edge and the fuel tank repositioned roughly where the original cockpit was.  It, too, had one or two Lewis guns on a Foster mounting on the upper centre section and its Vickers removed.  

Both types had their cockpits relocated rearwards to allow the pilots to fire the Lewis guns.  Used by the British home defence as a counter to the Zeppelin and Gotha threat, they were night fighters in the main.

Personally, if I was going to try and knock a Zeppelin out of the sky, I think I would prefer to be above it - not beneath!

I believe that Strutters were used by 39 squadron and the Camels by 44 squadron.

I look forward to being corrected and edified!

HTH

Chris.

  I am looking for some references to the Sopwith Comic Fighter.  I have completed the Roden kit but I would like to know a little more about this interesting aircraft.

  Clare

  Here are a couple of photos of my model.

  http://www.geocities.com/cewentzel/Posted_photos/Comic_01a.jpg

  http://www.geocities.com/cewentzel/Posted_photos/Comic_02a.jpg


  Visit "Clare's Corner" at; http://www.geocities.com/cewentzel/

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.wwi-models.org/pipermail/wwi/attachments/20081115/4c01b6e1/attachment.html