WWI Projects In UK

Probably on the wrong site, but I am looking for a WW1 rotary aircraft spark plug, in good condition, Anyone able to help please send a P.M. Thanks.

Lincoln .7

I’d be very much interested in contacting the HP O/400 project Bob T, i’m close to Herts as well and currently working on a book on the Handley Pages.

As well as the Dolphin at the RAFM, there’s also a Farman (F.40?) and the LVG C.VI that used to fly at Shuttleworth

The DH9A project sounds exciting too, as does the Sywell SE5a

Did you manage to contact them, & if so are you going to be able to help with this fantastic project ?.

Bob. T

I’d be very much interested in contacting the HP O/400 project Bob T, i’m close to Herts as well and currently working on a book on the Handley Pages.

As well as the Dolphin at the RAFM, there’s also a Farman (F.40?) and the LVG C.VI that used to fly at Shuttleworth

The DH9A project sounds exciting too, as does the Sywell SE5a

Hi Rob

I have sent you a PM with the details of some one who can put you in touch with the guy’s who are building the 0/400.

I am sure that any help you or any one else might be able to offer them, will be most welcome.

Bob. T

It will be interesting to see if any SE5 or Sopwith parts were used in the Gamecock, I am certain that I read some where that the Nighthawk etc not only ressembled the SE5a in many ways, but also utillised a number of SE5 components, so some of these may have been carried through to the Gamecock.
Folland certainly designed some interesting as well as astetically pleasing aircraft- FE8, SE5, Nightjar, Grebe etc etc.

Bob. T

I know that there are many types for which only a few drawings, or none at all are known to exist, not just those for the WW1 types, there are even WW2 aircraft for which this is also true “Stirling & Whitley for a start”, but as this thread is about WW1 aircraft, I thought it best to only mention them.

As for Gamecock drawings etc, if I remember rightly, wasn’t the Gamecock a descendant of the Nighthawk/Nightjar etc family of aircraft ?, if so have you checked through the SE5a or Sopwith drawings, as I believe that a number of SE5a parts were used in the Nighthawk etc, this came about because the Nieuport/Gloucestershire aircraft Co were contracted to build Sopwith & R.A.F types.

It is just possible that some of the parts used in the Gamecock were from these types, either in un-altered or slightly modified form. Bristol’s did this with their F2b, they used many standard BE2c fittings, as well as a few that were altererd slightly to suit, nearly all the internal wing fittings for instance were standard BE2c parts, as were many of the control & undercarriage parts, not only did this save a lot of design time, but also money as they already had the jigs & tooling to stamp out & make these parts. After all if you are already tooled up to make a part that will do the job, why go to the trouble & expense of designing & tooling up for a new part.

Would it be possible for you to email me the pages of the parts book etc that have the parts illustrated on them ?, & I will have a look to see if anything stands out as possibly being of either Sopwith or R.A.F origin.:)

Bob. T

Certainly the SE5 and Gamecock look very similar in alot of respects, not surprising as they were the same designer. We have the Grebe AP as well which has even more info in it than the Gamecock one. Wil copy some pages when i have a mo.

Hi John
I used to have a copy of that list “it listed all the known surviving R.A.F drawings at Kew”, but lost it when I loaned it to some one :rolleyes:, which is a pity, as I had been looking through the original drawings at Kew, & had made many corrections to the list.

I would be interested in acquiring a copy of your list if you would be willing to copy it for me “i’ll gladly pay your costs”, then I can start all over again :eek:.

Bob. T

There is a Farnboro list of which I have a copy somewhere which gives the interchangeability of common parts between RAF types entitled FE family drawings and gives the Drawing number.

John

Thanks – I had already spotted that on the website. I will definitely try to be there.:)

I know it’s not an aircraft project but I think the marvellous restoration of Stow Maries to its WW1 status deserves mention. It has already received some “old’uns” and no doubt when it is finished there will be a WW1 fly-in to celebrate!!

There’s already a fly-in on 8th May which should feature several WW1 type – see you there if you can make it

Thanks, Sopwith.

Roger Smith.

There is news in the current issue of the ‘other’ magazine of the Thomas Morse S-4c being rebuilt “near Hatfield”, Herts (tantilisingly close to me!)

I know it’s not an aircraft project but I think the marvellous restoration of Stow Maries to its WW1 status deserves mention. It has already received some “old’uns” and no doubt when it is finished there will be a WW1 fly-in to celebrate!!

I had been assuming (or should that be hoping?) that the firm in new Zealand who built the static replica RE8 had found/made up new drawings – there was talk of them following on with a flyer.

Roger Smith.

Hi Roger

To build the static RE8, Vintage Aviator used the remaining RE8 drawings at Kew, as well as information acquired by examining both the 2 remaining original RE8’s, they also used drawings from other R.A.F types, as many of the parts were the same or very similar to those of the RE8. I believe that the airworthy RE8 build is on hold at the moment, partly because of other projects, & also in the hope that some or all of the missing drawings turn up.

Bob. T

Gamecock drawings

Drawings and the lack of them is cetainly the biggest hurdle for many A/C. And not just First World War. Any leads on Gamecock drawings would be most useful. Much can be reverse engieered and the AP’s that were produced contain alot of infomation that is very usefull but there is no substitute for having the original drawings.

I know that there are many types for which only a few drawings, or none at all are known to exist, not just those for the WW1 types, there are even WW2 aircraft for which this is also true “Stirling & Whitley for a start”, but as this thread is about WW1 aircraft, I thought it best to only mention them.

As for Gamecock drawings etc, if I remember rightly, wasn’t the Gamecock a descendant of the Nighthawk/Nightjar etc family of aircraft ?, if so have you checked through the SE5a or Sopwith drawings, as I believe that a number of SE5a parts were used in the Nighthawk etc, this came about because the Nieuport/Gloucestershire aircraft Co were contracted to build Sopwith & R.A.F types.

It is just possible that some of the parts used in the Gamecock were from these types, either in un-altered or slightly modified form. Bristol’s did this with their F2b, they used many standard BE2c fittings, as well as a few that were altererd slightly to suit, nearly all the internal wing fittings for instance were standard BE2c parts, as were many of the control & undercarriage parts, not only did this save a lot of design time, but also money as they already had the jigs & tooling to stamp out & make these parts. After all if you are already tooled up to make a part that will do the job, why go to the trouble & expense of designing & tooling up for a new part.

Would it be possible for you to email me the pages of the parts book etc that have the parts illustrated on them ?, & I will have a look to see if anything stands out as possibly being of either Sopwith or R.A.F origin.:)

Bob. T

At one time the Vintage glider club had one or two WW1 aircraft drawings, I looked at a Sopwith 1 and half stutter rudder drawing and some thing else, When they achive was at Lasham. When I help move the Drawings from Hatfield to Bicester the then Achivist didnt know of the drawings. But unless you went through the drawings which where a bit mixed up you wouldnt know what was there. So they might still be in store.

Dave

I think its just a case of, watch this space, on that one!!

I had been assuming (or should that be hoping?) that the firm in new Zealand who built the static replica RE8 had found/made up new drawings – there was talk of them following on with a flyer.

Roger Smith.

Drawings and the lack of them is cetainly the biggest hurdle for many A/C. And not just First World War. Any leads on Gamecock drawings would be most useful. Much can be reverse engieered and the AP’s that were produced contain alot of infomation that is very usefull but there is no substitute for having the original drawings.

Lack of drawings etc

On a slightly different but related matter, I would say that more WW1 aircraft repro’s would be being built if there were copies of the original drawings available, however for many types there are either no drawings at all, or only a mere handfull known to exist, I have listed below a short list of some British WW1 types where existing drawings are virtually non existant or not known of-

AIRCO “DeHAVILLAND” DH1, DH2, DH4, DH5, DH6, DH9, DH9a & DH10.
ARMSTRONG WHITWORTH FK3 & FK 8.
BLACKBURN KANGAROO.
MARTINSYDE S1, G100 & G102 ELEPHANT, F3 & F4 BUZZARD.
PARNALL/FAIREY HAMBLE BABY.
SHORT 184.
VICKERS FB5, FB9.

Drawings for the following types are incomplete-

AVRO 504.
BRISTOL F2b “FUSELAGE & CONTROL FITTINGS + ENGINE BEARERS ETC”.
RAF RE8 “FUSELAGE & CONTROL FITTINGS, COWLS ETC”.
SOPWITH BABY “TAIL FEATHERS ETC”.

Surely the missing drawings for some of the above must still survive some where ?, after all most of them were built by several subcontractors as well as the parent company.

Any leads ?.

Bob. T

Also to be added to the list-

A Nieuport 11 or 17 being built at Hillingdon London, I last saw it several years ago & quite a lot had already been made, I believe that the builder is still plodding along with the build.

Bob. T