Tag Archives: draw airplanes

See inside my WW1 Sopwith Pup Biplane Sketchbook

I visited the National Trust property, Tyntesfield, especially to see the Sopwith Pup that was on show in a tent in the courtyard. Kelvyne Baker found it in a barn in Dorset in 1972 and has been restoring it ever since. It is truly a thing of beauty.

I heard all sorts of tales being told by old-timers who had flown or built similar things in the past. The airframe is lacking a linen covering, which allows us to see the intricacy and workmanship of the frame.

Everyone asks about the tools I use when I’m out using my sketchbook. Here’s a video to show you what and how I use them.

The Pentel Aquash Brush is here in the Uk http://bit.ly/PentelAquabrushUK
and here in the US http://bit.ly/PentelAquashBrushUSA

Rotring Tikky Graphic in the UK here http://bit.ly/TikkyGraphicUK
in the USA http://bit.ly/TikkyGraphicUS

The Cotman sketching watercolour set is here in the UK http://amzn.to/1gNpZ8s
and in the US here: http://amzn.to/1gaG6qA

The Seawhite of Brighton a5 travel journal is here in the Uk http://bit.ly/SeawhiteJournalUK

How to draw a WW2 Spitfire

spitfirethumbWhen I visited Watermore Primary school near Bristol, one class asked me to draw a Spitfire – they are studying WW2. I did my best from memory, but I promised I’d do some work on it and do a lesson for them, so here it is.

I drew out copies of plans of the aircraft to get the shape set in my head, then worked out where the centre lines were and which parts related to other parts. It’s a complicated drawing so I didn’t have time to do an ink version.