WWI Sopwith Camel - 1 - 3

These are 1/300 scale Sopwith Camels that I use with the Blue Max rules. They are from Irregular Miniatures 6mm World War I Aircraft range and have the code GWP12. The models are only about 2.5cm (1 inch) in length. I painted my three Camels in generic colour schemes and markings. You can click on the image for a closer view.

Together with the SE5a, the Camel helped to wrest aerial superiority away from the German Albatros scouts. The Camel was credited with shooting down 1,294 enemy aircraft, more than any other Allied scout.

The Sopwith Camel was armed with two .303 in Vickers machine guns mounted in the cowl, firing forward through the propeller disc. A fairing surrounding the gun installation created a hump that led to the name Camel.

The Camel entered squadron service in June 1917 with No. 4 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service, near Dunkirk. The following month, it became operational with No. 70 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. By February 1918, 13 squadrons were fully equipped with the Camel. Approximately 5,500 were ultimately produced.

You can click on the image for a closer view.