Sopwith 2F1 Camel
“Ships Camel”

Roden 1/72

Reviewed by Robert Baumgartner

 Roden's 1/72 scale Sopwith 2F1 Camel is available online from Squadron.com

This is the first release of Roden’s much anticipated Camel series.

It represents the Sopwith 2F1, also known as the “Ships Camel” or “Split Camel”. 

Towards the end of World War I, this aircraft gave good service to British naval operations. Not only did it bring down a few Zeppelins in combat, but it took its place in the world’s first carrier strike force; the target being the Tondern airship base. 

Three plastic sprues confront the modeller, these containing a total of 64 parts. Each item is crisply moulded and carries the fine detail we have come to expect from Roden. 

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

A portent of things to come is revealed by the inclusion of three different propellers, three engines, bombs, extra Lewis drums and two cowlings. More welcome additions to the spares box. 

The cockpit has a very good representation of the internal structure moulded to the inner fuselage halves. To this is added the fuel tank, seat, floor, control column, rudder bar and instrument panel. 

Two upper engine decks are supplied, these being used to accommodate either the 130h.p.Clerget or 150 h.p. Bentley rotary engines. Three out of the four options use the latter but the cowl Roden supplies for this has cooling slots that are not appropriate for the offered options. As a consequence, an awkward filling process results. 

A study of the fuselage halves reveals some unusual properties. Although the detail is sharp, some of it is a little misguided. The starboard side horizontal lacing is very much over scale and does not match its corresponding vertical counterpart. 

The point at which the fuselage splits for stowage on this side is represented by an equally large “plank”. Strange…as this is seen as a panel line on the port side. Both this and the above problem are not too hard to fix but can be considered a nuisance. 

The wings a superbly moulded. Not only are they razor sharp but also exhibit subtle rib detail and no sign of warpage. The same holds true for the tail surfaces and it is pleasing to see all control horns moulded in situ. For those that like these items thinner, it is an easy task to whittle away at them in their attached positions. 

Struts and undercarriage are commendably thin, and it’s good to see that Roden have included the characteristic Rotherham wind driven pump. 

Generally the kit scales well but a cursory look at the parts did cause the raising of an eyebrow and a scurry for contemporary photos. The tailplane outline is much too square and needs desperate sanding. The main wingtips could also do with a little revising of their shape.  

The upper wing was in three pieces on the original aircraft so it is a must that the modeller scribes this missing detail on the kit. If you feel really brave, you can also represent the underwing piquet rings and top wing eye brackets for the lifting cables. 

An acetate sheet is supplied for the windscreen and this welcome addition will help keep this area looking in scale.

Marking Options

Four options are catered for on a very comprehensive decal sheet.

Sensibly the red centres for the roundels are printed separately to avoid registration problems but this hasn’t saved the rest of these items. Sadly my example had the white outer circles mismatched with the inner blue ones. 

Rudder and elevator stripes are provided as well as the types typical stencilling.

The subjects presented are: 

1. Sopwith 2F1 Camel, N6603, HMS Pegasus, 1918

2. Sopwith 2F1 Camel, N6602, HMS Furious, 1918

3. Sopwith 2F1 Camel, N7149, Turnhouse Naval School, 1918

4. Sopwith 2F1 Camel, N7120, HMS Queen Elizabeth, 1918

It is unusual to find this many anomalies with a Roden kit. Admittedly the corrections are not above the skill level of the average modeller but to have to do such work is surprising. 

The detail is up to the usual standards set by this company and with a little extra work, an excellent model should result. 

Recommended

Thanks to Squadron.com for the review sample.

Review and Images Copyright © 2005 by Robert Baumgartner
Page Created 04 August, 2005
Last updated 03 August, 2005

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