Nieuport 17

[Brad]

I FINALLY started messing around with the Nieuport 17 (nasty cheap Testors kit) last night. I only spent about an hour on it so far- I trial fitted the fuselage halves, sanded off most of the extra details on the fuselage sides from the cockpit back, sanded the horizontal stab to remove the lines and thin it, sanded each half of the rudder until it was approaching transparant, and sanded the stupid roundel moldings off the wings and most of the rib detail. MUCH better now. Did I mention I did a LOT of sanding? I still have to fill some "dimples" that don't belong on there, but it's not too bad overall. At least the seams (mostly) fit well.

I'm trying VERY hard to decide if I should built it OOB or detail it a bit. I did get wire for rigging wires, 32 gauge beading wire.

This model doesn't have an interior- it comes with a lump that is supposed to be a pilot, and a little chunk of plastic that goes across the inside for him to be attached to. No seat, no floor, NOTHING. It has a "picture" of an engine molded into the front of the cowl... and no firewall at all! If I cut the front out of the cowl and put an engine in, I'll have to build a firewall... sheesh.

For the interior, I was thinking of making a seat from (don't laugh&#33 paper or "note card" stock, and adding at least a stick, and the pans for the pilot's feet with a rudder bar. Hmmm... almuminum foil for the "heel pans?"

What color should the interior be? Was it fabric there, with none of the silver-grey aluminum color like the exterior? Or should the aluminum color "show through?"

And for a firewall- what should I use? I know it sounds silly, but would something like the foam from an egg carton work? Card stock would be too flexible, and plastic card is something I have seen mentioned but have NO idea where to find... and I suspect that it is also too expensive.

My problem is that I'm not a modeler... and I see these lovely works of art posted on here, and think I want to be a modeler. Then I realize it just isn't meant to be, but I have these boxes of plastic bits that I have a desire to play around with... it's a vicious cycle.

I'm already planning to tear apart my old Eindecker and re-do it. It needs better finishing , better rigging, and decent markings... oh yeah, some bigger, more scale wheels would be nice. At least it otherwise has some decent detail, although there are some questionable areas. I think I may need to attend "M.A." meetings before long. I want to build a couple other things first, get some experience before I tackle that one. Larger scale Eindeckers are too hard to find, I don't want to ruin it. (more that I already did.)

Brad

[StephenLawson]

I FINALLY started messing around with the (Testors ?awk) Nieuport 17...

This model doesn't have an interior...For the interior, I was thinking of making a seat from (don't laugh&#33 paper or "note card" stock, and adding at least a stick, and the pans for the pilot's feet with a rudder bar. Hmmm... almuminum foil for the "heel pans?"What color should the interior be? Was it fabric there, with none of the silver-grey aluminum color like the exterior? Or should the aluminum color "show through?"

....Brad

From the master Mark Miller

[StephenLawson]

While this is a Nieuport XI note the sweet way he has detailed it.

[EricGoedkoop]

Originally posted by Brad@Sep 1 2004, 11:14 AM
[b] For the interior, I was thinking of making a seat from (don't laugh&#33 paper or "note card" stock

What's funny about that? I've built a whole bunch of aeroplanes ENTIRELY out of cardstock.

Granted, most of 'em never survived a house move, tumble from the bookshelf or week in an eleven-year-old's bedroom, but having them isn't nearly as much fun as making them.

[Brad]

Stephen,

Those are helpful. Nice as they are, that's not a standard I can live up to though.

Brad

[Mark_Miller]

Thanks for that "master Miller: comment Steven

Brad
I have unfortunately STILL not finished the N17.
But, I think the interior is complete enough to be of some use to you
N17 page

I plan to generate a set of ortho views which is probably what would be the most useful to you now.
But... I just haven't gotten to it yet

good luck
Mark

[Michael]

Originally posted by Brad@Sep 1 2004, 12:59 PM
[b] Stephen,

Those are helpful. Nice as they are, that's not a standard I can live up to though.

Brad

Brad, pay him no mind. Stephen has a terminal case of AMS (Advanced Modeller's Syndrome). Cardstock should work fine for the seat - glue it onto the "plank" that comes with the kit. You could do the same for an instrument panel.

Bottom line - if you think it looks like a Nieuport then it's good.

In the words of the Unknown Aussie Modeller (aka Neil_E)

Cut the bullo and build!

[Brad]

Originally posted by Michael+Sep 1 2004, 04:05 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Michael &#064; Sep 1 2004, 04:05 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Brad@Sep 1 2004, 12:59 PM
[b] Stephen,

Those are helpful.* Nice as they are, that&#39;s not a standard I can live up to though.

Brad

Brad, pay him no mind. Stephen has a terminal case of AMS (Advanced Modeller&#39;s Syndrome). Cardstock should work fine for the seat - glue it onto the "plank" that comes with the kit. You could do the same for an instrument panel.

Bottom line - if you think it looks like a Nieuport then it&#39;s good.

In the words of the Unknown Aussie Modeller

Cut the bullo and build&#33;[/quote]
I always wondered what AMS stood for... I honestly always thought the "A" was a different word&#33; And no, I&#39;m not kidding&#33;

Thanks for the tip. There&#39;s really no way to do away with that lump in the floor where the wing attaches, so a really great detail job just can&#39;t happen.
(I somewhat expect that this is where one of the "advanced" guys will chime in and tell me exactly how it COULD be done... ) For that matter, I can see a way it COULD be done, with a razor saw and/or a dremel perhaps... but WOW what a lot of work. ACK... now I&#39;m actually considering it...

Some of those "trays" that go under the pilot&#39;s feet would help hide it though. A seat, perhaps an instrument panel, a stick,and filling the empty hump in the "headrest" should improve things a lot.

Now I have to decide if I should build a firewall and add an engine or let it go. I&#39;m seriously considering moving on to the SPAD and letting the Nieuport go dormant for a bit- the SPAD at least doesn&#39;t have an engine that should show, so it will look ok without as many mods. The rigging is a bit more complex, so I was putting that off...

or I could do the Jenny, but I like that model better and wanted to do a bit more detail on it, so I was saving it, using the Nieuport for practice.

Anyway, I have 3 models to build, and the Eindecker to rebuild... so I have enough for a while. I think I need to order some guns and engines though.

Thanks to all who have posted tips and pictures, etc&#33;

Brad

[greenknight]

Brad,

I also would encourage you to try the card stock, and also the food-tray foam for the firewall that you mentioned.

I have made a cockpit floor and sundry other details out of foam from a food box, and it worked just fine for my purposes. Shapes easily, is smooth, and took paint well. Just don&#39;t hit it with plastic model cement and many CA&#39;s or it&#39;ll melt away. Water-based craft glue and epoxy works just fine on it though. Just the same, test glues and finishes on a scrap piece first whenever you&#39;re working with unfamiliar materials.

I&#39;ve also used other "found" materials like plastic stock from coffee cup lids.

I come from a mostly flying models background where a lot of detail items simply may not be available in your chosen scale, or may be too heavy for your purposes. I&#39;ve found a lot of fun in scrounging everyday items for modeling purposes.

Once you start thinking like this, every plastic coffee stir stick starts to look like exhaust pipe stock, etc. You&#39;ll never look at the plasticware trays at your local McD&#39;s or Starbucks the same again.

You can try out your ideas without worrying about ruining an expensive detail piece. And if you ruin it, what have you lost but a bit of your time?

Happy Nieuport-ing,

GK

[RAGIII]

As for the firewall, try PAPER. cut roughly to the shape of the opening(Make it a little larger). Glue on with tube glue. Soak with Testors Liquid cement, a couple of coats, and trim away excess&#33; Simple and effective. I have used this method on ot models for wheel wells etc. It works and is easy. I use paper from the instruction sheets&#33;
RAGIII