Sopwith Dolphin

[Balsabasher]

Pictures of the Sopwith Dolphin in the restoration centre at Cosford,UK prompted me to dig out some plans for this interesting little WW1 biplane,sure enough James Hay Stevens did a drawing in 1930 in the pulp magazine 'Air Stories' and a jolly good drawing it still is to this very day,so spurred on by this and those pictures a Sopwith Dolphin has been started as seen below.

The Sopwith Dolphin was a break with the traditional Sopwith style of design in many ways. The Dolphin used the powerful inline engine, the Hispano-Suiza. The same engine that was used in the SE5a and the French Spad. The Dolphin also had slightly back staggered wings and the pilot sat with his head through a gap between the top wings. This caused some fear on the pilots neck being broken in a crash but also gave excellent all round and unrestricted view. The aircraft maintained high performance at high altitude, such as heights above 18,000 feet and was often used in the high altitude interceptor role by the four operational RAF Squadrons equipped with the type.

Its power plant was the 200hp Vtype Hispano Suiza, which from the outset gained a reputation for unreliability throughout the Dolphin's service career. The main problem was the helical reduction gears which were prone to fracture. Also the engine was uncomfortably noisy; nevertheless it had the potential to deliver an excellent high-altitude performance.

Another feature; viewed with suspicion by pilots was the wing design which incorporated a negative-stagger arrangement, with the lower wing mounted ahead of the upper component. This was sited close to the fuselage upper decking, with the result that the pilot was situated with his head protruding above the top planes, surrounded by spars and bracing wires. In the event of the machine overturning on landing the pilot had every reason to believe that little would save his neck in that situation. It soon acquired the nickname; 'The Block Buster'; and in an attempt to redress the risk of head injury experimental crash pylons were installed, although these were rarely, if ever used operationally.


In May 1917, following trials of the Dolphin prototype, it arrived in France on 13 June for operational evaluation by 56 squadron in comparison to their current SE5s. Initially a problem arose with the nose-mounted radiator; and after various alterations two radiators were positioned separately each side of the fuselage aft of the cockpit. Thus modified, the machine was brought up to production standards; with an initial order for 900 aircraft, and eventually an impressive total of 1532 Dolphins were built. Standard armament comprised 2 forward-firing Vickers guns enclosed under the top decking and 2 Lewis guns fixed to the cockpit frame, angled to fire above the propeller arc. This latter fitting was at times discarded, due to a general inaccuracy


In January 1918 No19 squadron, based at St. Marie Capelle became the first operational Dolphin unit; exchanging their Spad VIIs for the new type. Lt. O..C. Bryson gained early notoriety for the squadron; firstly with a forced landing due to engine failure, and on 8 March with the destruction of an Albatros scout; the Dolphin's first confirmed victory. By the end of March, No19 had claimed nearly thirty victories. No.79 squadron became the second Dolphin unit; taking its aircraft to France in February 1918. They were followed by No23; a Spad VII unit in the manner of No.19. No.79's first victory took place on 3 June, and by that time a fourth Dolphin unit, No.87 began operations. These four squadrons soon got into their stride and were to prove a match for anything the German Imperial Air Force pitted against the RAF during this last year of the Great War.


History tends to remember the squadrons which flew Camels and SE5s, whereas the Dolphins had the performance to combat high-flying Rumplers (capable of 24000 feet) in addition to tackling German scouts at any levels. Pilots were generally enthusiastic about their Dolphins; finding them a great improvement over the Spad VII, but lacking in climb and zoom like the SE5. Engine problems dogged the Dolphin throughout its career; even until the last day of the war; when during a patrol of eleven Dolphins from 87 squadron; three were forced down by engine failure. By 1919 the Dolphin units were disbanded and most of the aircraft reduced to scrap; although it is significant that 19 squadron, which is still operational retains the Dolphin on its squadron crest.

Barry.











Note the back staggered wing layout and cut out where the two guns were  fitted,the aircraft had a nasty tendency to drop a wing on landing.

[Balsabasher]

Work carries on with the Sopwith Dolphin,a somewhat unique wing upper arrangement required some thought as to the best way to go about assembling it,after considering everything the simple solution here was decided on,simply oval nails filed down and bent at right angles ensuring sturdy attachment of the upper wing,the aircraft also has back stagger as well making for a unique subject,once the interplane struts are fitted then it will lock everything into place.
Barry.

[lastvautour]

Great idea. Could be used on full wing models also.

Lou

[Balsabasher]

Absolutely Lou,you could even recess the wing to take the bent over struts on those tricky parasol types,glueing the nails with araldite and filling the surface smooth,amazing how it is always the simple ideas that work best ?
Barry.

[Balsabasher]

Today the undercarriage was fabricated from brass tube,the struts fashioned from spruce and the tail surfaces built,also  you can see the twin Vickers gun cradle arrangement which was built from scrap bits and pieces held together in a simple pin jig while the Araldite cures.
Barry.

[Balsabasher]

Well the high winds rattled the hangar doors today so I decided to keep them shut and work inside finishing the details on the Sopwith Dolphin,it is all ready for paint now and joins the queue,the propeller has been carved,a seat added and the wheels fitted,plus the twin mounted Vickers were positioned amid that gap in the upper centre section of the wing,its an odd looking aeroplane and goes to show the desperation for fire power coverage during WW1.
Barry.