SOPWITH 5F.1 'DOLPHIN' C.3824, No. 23 Squadron, RAF 1918

by George Grasse

COPPER STATE CS1026 BOX ART

SOPWITH 5F.1 'DOLPHIN' 3-VIEW

This 3-view drawing is credited to E J. Riding and appeared in Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War compiled by W. M. Lamberton and published by Harleyford Publications Limited (page 36).  The 'Dolphin'  equipped just four squadrons by war's end: RAF Nos. 19, 23, 79, and 87.

 

THE MODEL TO BE BUILT SOPWITH 5F.1 'DOLPHIN' C.3824

Sopwith 5F.1 'Dolphin' C.3824 flown by Captain James William Pearson, an American in British service, was the highest scoring 'Dolphin' ace flying for RAF No. 23 Sqaudron scoring his first victory on 30 May 1918 and his last on 1 November 1918.   This aircraft, C.3824, was flown by Pearson for his first four victories.  This color profile was created by Harry Dempsey for Osprey's Dolphin and Snipe Aces of World War 1 by Norman Franks.

COLOR PROFILE TOP VIEW

Sopwith 5F.1 'Dolphin' C.3824 top view is an accompanying color profile by Harry Dempsey to illustrate a somewhat unusual set of markings.  The white circle is the coded symbol for No. 23 Squadron, RAF.

 

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO No. 1

This build is pending . . . . . . . . . . .

COLOR TABLE

Vallejo VC0824 Orange Ochre	Interior wood framework and formers
Vallejo PC-12 Mix 1	Fuselage and top surfaces
Vallejo VC0847 Dark Sand	Cockpit fabric interior and undersides
Vallejo VC0856 Ochre Brown	Visible cockpit wood paneling and struts
Vallejo VC0905 Pale Blue Grey 2	Exterior metal panels and landing gear
Vallejo VC0963 Medium Blue	Roundel/Rudder Stripes Blue
Vallejo VC0909 Vermillion	Roundel/Rudder Stripes Red
Vallejo VC0864 Natural Steel	Bare metal parts
1 Vallejo VC0872 Chocolate Brown 2/5, VC0887 Brown Violet 2/5, VC0990 Light Grey 1/5
2 Actually a slightly bluish grey for exterior 'Battleship Grey' metal panels

   

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Bibliography:

Bruce, J. M.  Sopwith Dolphin Windsock Datafile 54.  Berkhamsted, UK: Albatros Productions, 1995. 

Franks, Norman.  Dolphin and Snipe Aces of World War 1, Osprey Aircraft of the Aces Series No. 48.  Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2002.

Rogers, Les.  British Aviation Squadron Markings of World War I.  Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 2001.  Contains a number of photos of the four 'Dolphin' RAF squadrons.

Shores, Christopher; Norman Franks and Russell Guest.  Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920.  London, UK:  Grub Street. 1996 (reprint).  Biography and victory list of Captain Frederick Warrington Gillet, No. 79 Squadron. RAF, pages 167-168.

Thetford, O. G. and E. J. Riding, Compilers, and D. A. Russell, Editor.  Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War.   Letchworth, Herts, UK: Harleyford Publications Ltd, 1954.

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16 April 2026