Sopwith Triplane N.533 

'The Gunslingers’

Phenomenal was the word. For a test aircraft in mid 1916 the performance of the Sopwith Triplane prototype was extraordinary.  The triplane layout was innovative and produced a machine with a high degree of maneuverability.  While most of the British fighters were single gunned it was the triplane that had six examples built to handle twins.   Due to politics the Sopwith Triplane only served in British Naval units ( 5  were loaned to France and later returned and one went to Imperial Russia on Skis.)  RNAS Naval 8 was one of 5 unit fully equipped with the Sopwith Triplane and operated with them from Feb.- Aug.1917.

This is the Eduard 1/48 kit #8020. It was built mostly out of the box with the exception of the motor and the under carriage spreader bar.  The generic kit motor was replaced with a detailed plastic copy of a Clerget 9B 130 hp rotary.   I did use brass wire for  push rods. I chose toinstall the kit resin horizontal tailplane.  This would put the machine being represented post May 1917 when it was ordered all examples be replaced with a smaller version.  The rigging is monofilament. The kit decals were used . The spreader bar/axle was modified to represent a split actuated type and I also opened up the area at the stern post as was seen on the original production aircraft.