Willy Coppens Nieuport 16

JohnFitz · 22 August 2006, 05:23 PM

RagIII, Okay, Coppen's got shot up pretty good in the Ni.16 according to the Osprey book,

Balloon-Busting Aces of World War 1, so maybe he didn't want to talk about the Ni.16 so much? I don't have Coppen's book so if he talks about the Ni.16 could you share that with me? Also, do you have an opnion of the top surface color? Thanks for responding.

Steve, Seems that many Nieuport 11 and others were trimed with black along seams or the leading and trailing edges of wings, tail etc. It appears that Coppen's had the upper surface's of his Ni.16 over painted and if not I would like to figure out what the standard Belgian color was. Some say dark green and others brown-ish like PC10.

John Masters · 22 August 2006, 06:37 PM

I think the standard color was a dark green, not so different from a French Green, but I don't think it was PC10. The lower wing root was aluminum dope, with the dark green extended from the line to the wing-tips. The turtledeck was the same green hue. I'm sure Dan-San could be more specific on the color, but it seems that some of the Belgian Nieuports were of that design. Not all, however, as can be seen in the numerous reliable profiles.

From the Factory on the hill,
John

JohnFitz · 22 August 2006, 07:29 PM

It just doesn't look like the top surface's are that dark to be dark green or similiar to PC10 does it? Also, looks like the front half of the cowl is white.

John Masters · 22 August 2006, 07:51 PM

The cowling is probably aluminum and what you are seeing is the shadow created by the upper wing.

From the Factory on the hill,
John

JohnFitz · 22 August 2006, 08:05 PM

John, Okay I should have realized it was the shadow on the cowl. Thanks.

Familyman · 22 August 2006, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnFitz

It just doesn't look like the top surface's are that dark to be dark green or similiar to PC10 does it?

Yes, it is quite light to be dark brown, isn't it? But then again, the sun seems to be up and the upper surfaces are in direct sunlight. Dark green could look amazingly light in photos of the period.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnFitz

Also, looks like the front half of the cowl is white.

I agree with John Masters here. It is definitely the upper wing shadow doing tricks. My scan of the photo seems to have rather sharp contrast...

Mikko

JohnFitz · 23 August 2006, 04:37 AM

Mikko, Looks like I have my answer thanks to Daniel.