History

In 1915 Sopwith built a personal aircraft for their test pilot Harry Hawker. This aircraft a single seat biplane with a 50 hp Gnome rotary engine was soon nicknamed "Hawker's Runabout".
Four similar aircraft were built under the designation Sopwith Sparrow.

Sopwith developed the Sparrow to a somewhat larger fighter with more powerful engine and with ailerons, Sopwith Pup.
The prototype and also most production aircraft were equipped with a 80 hp LeRhone rotary engine and an armament of one synchronised Vickers .303 inch machine gun.
The prototype was finished February 1916 and made its first flight in March 1916.

The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) ordered two other prototypes and soon a production order followed.
Sopwith was already producing 1½ Strutter and built just a few Pups.
The Royal Flying Corps ordered also large amounts of the Pup; Sopwith built 96 examples, Standard Motor Co. built 850 examples, Whitehead Aircraft built 820 examples and William Beardmore & Co built 30 Pups.

 

Technical information
Dimensions:
Length: 5,9 m Wingspan: 8,1 m
Height: 2,9 m Wing area: 23,6 m2
Weights:
Empty weight: 388 kg Max. start weight: 556 kg
Performances:
Max. speed: 171 km/hr Rate of climb: - m/min
Range: 3 hour Service ceiling: 5600 m
Miscellaneous:
Engine type: One Le Rhône 9C rated 80 hp
Crew: One
Armament: One fixed forward firing .303" (7,7 mm) Vickers machine gun

 


A example of this type, with RNAS registration N6164, landed on March 1, 1917 near Cadzand.
It entered service with the LVA registration LA41.
On May 23, 1917 was compared with the Spijker V.1. The result was such that the type was considered to be built under license by Trompenburg, but the director H. Wijnmalen, preferred the Nieuport XI.
In 1918, a new registration system was achieved and the Pup received the new serial S212.

Sopwith Pup LA41, ex N6164 van de RNAS. In december 1917 reg. S212. Op de achtergrond rechts Sopwith 1½Strutter LA42.
Sopwith Pup LA41, ex N6164 of the e RNAS. In December 1917 serial S212.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]
Sopwith Pup LA41, ex N6164 van de RNAS. In december 1917 reg. S212. Op de achtergrond Sopwith Hanriot I B.1 (1½Strutter) LA45.
Sopwith Pup LA41, ex N6164.
[Enclosed photo from BeeldBank NIMH. Click on photo for ordering information]

 


Serial 2nd Serial Construction nr. RAF Serial Date in service Date out of service Notes
LA41 S212 N6164   01-03-1917    

 


1/72nd Scale

Kits

  • Airfix
    • Kit 61062: Sopwith Pup
  • HR Models
    • Kit 7242: Sopwith Pup (Belgian AF)
    • Kit 7241: Sopwith Pup (Japan)
    • Kit 7240: Sopwith Pup (Naval type 9901a)
    • Kit 7238: Sopwith Pup (Whitehead builtt)
    • Kit 7239: Sopwith Pup (Standard Built)
    • Kit 7237: Sopwith Pup (RNAS Aces)

 

A model of a Sopwith Pup, built by P. Banis.

Sopwith Pup PBanis 1 Sopwith Pup PBanis 2 Sopwith Pup PBanis 3 Sopwith Pup PBanis 4 Sopwith Pup PBanis 5

 

Modelling add-on

  • Aeroclub Models
    • Set E014: 9 cyl. Le Rhone 80hp Rotary (Diverse WW1
    • Set E015: 9 cyl. Le Rhone 110hp Rotary (Diverse WW1)
  • Airwaves
    • Set SC7289: WW1 Le Rhone 9cyl 110hp
  • Minute 72
    • Set 72003: Detailset Sopwith Pup all variants (HR Models)

Decals

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1/48th Scale

Kits

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Modelling add-on

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    • Set --: --

Decals

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    • Set -: -

 


 .

Scheme Colour name FS number BS number Humbrol XtraColor Vallejo Model Color Vallejo Model Air
Standard #1 Fuselage PC10 ~4086   108 X144 70.830?  
linen parts Clear doped     121 X105 70.819 71.028
Wooden and metal parts Varnish            

Check www.paint4models.com for an extensive conversion table with lots of colour and paint systems.

Afleverschema Hawker Seafury MLD
Sopwith Pup LA-41; The colours of the markings on fuselage and horizontal tail are unknown.

 


Literature.

Nederlandse Militaire Luchtvaart in Beeld. deel 1. Hugo Hooftman Pag. 24 - 25 1978 Uitgever Europese Bibliotheek, Zaltbommel
KLu Vliegtuigen: De vliegtuigen van de Koninklijke Luchtmacht vanaf 1913 Wim Schoenmaker,& Thijs Postma Pag. 23 1987 Uitgeverij De Alk, Alkmaar
Vintage Warbird no 1: The Royal Flying Corps in worldwar One Raymond Laurence Rimell pag. 55 - 56 1987 Uitgever Arms and Armour Press, Poole, Dorset
Aircraft Archive: Aircraft of World War One; Volume 1.   pag. 30 - 33 1989 Uitgever Argus Books, Hempsted
Camouflage en Kentekens J.Greuter e.a.   1997 Bonneville – Bergen (NH)
Air Enthusiast no.80, The Historical Aviation Journal: Unexpected Windfalls Bart van der Klaauw pag. 54 - 59 1999 Uitgever Key Publishing, Stamford

 

Websites.

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