Roden Sopwith F.1/3 Comic Night Interceptor — 1:72

Manufacturer and kit Roden is a Ukrainian model-kit manufacturer known particularly for subjects from the First World War, interwar period and early aviation. Kit 051 is one of Roden's 1:72 First World War aircraft kits. The kit contains approximately 50–55 parts, with plastic components, decals and detailed external equipment. Retail descriptions specify four marking options, and the kit is supplied as an unassembled, unpainted plastic model; glue and paint are required separately. The finished model is approximately 79 mm long with a 119 mm wingspan. The full-size Sopwith Camel The Sopwith Camel was one of Britain's most famous fighters of the First World War. Developed by the Sopwith Aviation Company, it was introduced in 1917 as a successor to aircraft such as the Sopwith Pup. The standard Camel was a single-seat biplane powered by a rotary engine. Its compact fuselage, twin Vickers machine guns and powerful rotary engine made it highly effective in aerial combat. The aircraft was deliberately designed with much of its mass concentrated around the cockpit and engine. This gave it exceptional manoeuvrability, although it also made the aircraft demanding to fly. The F.1 Camel The principal production version was the Sopwith F.1 Camel. It was normally powered by a 130 hp Clerget 9B rotary engine, although other rotary engines were also installed in Camels. Typical armament consisted of two synchronised .303-inch Vickers machine guns mounted directly in front of the pilot. Representative specifications include: Crew: 1 Engine: Clerget 9B rotary, typically 130 hp Maximum speed: approximately 112 mph / 180 km/h Service ceiling: approximately 19,000 ft / 5,790 m Wingspan: approximately 28 ft / 8.53 m Length: approximately 18 ft 9 in / 5.72 m Armament: 2 × .303-inch Vickers machine guns The “Comic” night fighter The Comic was a specialised development of the Camel for night fighting. Its purpose was to intercept German bombers and airships attacking Britain after dark. The standard Camel cockpit and gun arrangement was not ideal for this role. For night operations, the pilot's visibility and access to the controls were more important, while the observer/gunner role was unnecessary because the aircraft operated as a single-seat interceptor. The Comic consequently incorporated changes including a revised cockpit arrangement and altered armament installation. Some examples had the pilot's cockpit moved rearwards, improving visibility and accommodating the equipment required for night operations. Home Defence The Camel Comic became particularly important as a Home Defence fighter. German bombing raids against Britain created a requirement for aircraft capable of locating and attacking enemy aircraft at night. The Camel was relatively slow by later standards, but its manoeuvrability and armament made it useful against the bombers of the period. The aircraft operated alongside other Home Defence types and participated in Britain's developing night-fighter system. Combat performance The Camel was exceptionally manoeuvrable because of the combination of its short fuselage, rotary engine and concentrated mass. However, those same characteristics made it challenging to fly. The rotary engine's gyroscopic effect could produce very rapid turns in one direction, while inexperienced pilots could easily lose control. Experienced Camel pilots could exploit these characteristics to perform extremely tight manoeuvres. First World War service The standard Camel served extensively on the Western Front and became one of the principal Allied fighters of the later First World War. It was used for: Fighter patrols Escort Ground attack Balloon attacks Airfield attacks Night interception The aircraft was particularly effective against German fighters and observation aircraft. Ground attack Late in the war, Camels were increasingly used for low-level attacks against German positions. Their two machine guns could be used against ground targets, while bombs could also be carried. The aircraft's ability to operate at low altitude made it useful in the increasingly fluid fighting of 1918. Historical significance The Sopwith Camel became one of the most successful Allied fighters of the First World War. More than 5,000 Camels were produced. The type was credited with destroying large numbers of enemy aircraft, although exact victory totals vary between historical sources and accounting methods. The Comic variant is particularly interesting because it demonstrates the adaptation of an established daytime fighter to the emerging specialist role of the night interceptor. Kit contents Roden 051 includes: Injection-moulded plastic parts Fuselage Upper and lower wings Interplane and cabane struts Cockpit components Pilot position Rotary engine Propeller Landing gear Machine guns Night-fighter equipment/details External equipment Clear/detail components where applicable Decals Assembly instructions The kit is supplied as an unpainted and unassembled plastic model. Retail descriptions indicate approximately 55 parts and four painting/marking possibilities.