British Sopwith 1½ Strutter WWI Fighter, 1916/17.

The Sopwith 1½ Strutter biplane was the first Allied fighter equipped with a synchronized machine gun. Designed by the Sopwith Aviation Company, Kingston-on-Thames, and known initially as the Sopwith LCT (Land Clerget Tractor), it was renamed “1½ Strutter” after the cabane struts as the distinctive W form was reminiscent of half-struts.
The 1½ Strutter’s first flight was in mid-December 1915, with No 5 Wing RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service) taking delivery of the type first in April 1916. 1½ Strutters were also ordered by the RFC (Royal Flying Corps). To meet demand for the two-seat (Type 9400 fighter) and single-seat (Type 9700 bomber) versions, the 1½ Strutter was also built under licence by Morgan & Co, Hooper, Westland, Vickers, Mann & Egerton, and Ruston & Proctor. Sopwith’s and the subcontractors completed 1282 1½ Strutters of all types.

At the same time France urgently needed a new fighter-bomber and purchased a limited number of 1½ Strutters from Sopwith. A licence was obtained to manufacture 1½ Strutters in France, receiving designations 1.A2 for two-seat reconnaissance planes, and 1.B2 for two-seat fighter-bombers. Together with the single-seat version, France built 4497 1½ Strutters.

Markings for 2 aircraft: (1) No 3 Wing, RNAS, flown by Flight Sub Lieutenant Ray Collishaw, Autumn 1916; (2) No 70 Sqn, RFC, flown by Lt John H Gotch, Spring 1917.

1:32 scale plastic model kit from Roden, requires paint and glue.