forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: Allan31 on September 13, 2025, 02:31:31 AM
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In my ongoing efforts to equalize the balance of power in the display case, I'm focusing on things with roundels rather than crosses.
There are many aspects to this hobby that I enjoy. Like trying to decide what book to read next, there is a lot of taking down and putting back that gives me the opportunity to appreciate so many different aspects of these both old and new kits. The past two weeks has seen maybe a dozen kits pulled off the shelf, opened up, marveled at and returned for one reason or another. While looking at the pile, my brain had an instant question "Why do I have two Nieuport 17 kits?". I then remembered I sent out an extra MvR bust to a fellow forum member and this kit magically appeared.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/cd88117b-02a5-43d0-a4fe-68886618c62b.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/cd88117b-02a5-43d0-a4fe-68886618c62b.jpg)
So thanks to Tim Mixon for NOT reducing my stash, for continuing to be an enabler and for deciding he likes 1/72 scale better than 1/48 (much to our enjoyment). The thought of the classic looking silver Nieuport on the shelf with the indian head painted on the side was too much to resist. Growing up, I thought all Nieuports looked this way.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/e984fefd-3c75-4d7a-abc3-478d4289ef07.png) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/e984fefd-3c75-4d7a-abc3-478d4289ef07.png) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/9968e970-dd7f-4bc8-8130-3d20536c791c.png) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/9968e970-dd7f-4bc8-8130-3d20536c791c.png)
Raoul Lufbery. He certainly fits in here for this GB.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/754612dc-38ec-4888-ba03-623813affe48.png) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/754612dc-38ec-4888-ba03-623813affe48.png) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/51b6cce5-6dd6-4d1a-b3b2-98b66abfa093.png) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/51b6cce5-6dd6-4d1a-b3b2-98b66abfa093.png)
I get great markings in the box printed by Cartagraf so no aftermarket hunting needed. A nifty little fret of brass PE. Great looking plastic with no surgery save for, as I understand it, 1.5mm off the landing gear legs.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/30158cca-3cbf-4355-9ea5-bf7c4815cf92.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/30158cca-3cbf-4355-9ea5-bf7c4815cf92.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/71e6ff1d-e7f7-4ac8-a3e9-5fb3e12ae04f.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/71e6ff1d-e7f7-4ac8-a3e9-5fb3e12ae04f.jpg)
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/3a37e242-5b27-4603-b119-14ee9e1bc6f9.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/3a37e242-5b27-4603-b119-14ee9e1bc6f9.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/06891f38-c8f7-4c56-a165-b8d1a2321882.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/06891f38-c8f7-4c56-a165-b8d1a2321882.jpg)
So far the only hand-wringing I can find is with the markings on the side. Eduard has the three bars in black whereas ALL the other interpretations I see have them in red. Easy fix but please chime in as to what you think they should be. I'm leaning towards red just because it's prettier.
I guess when your day job is flying aircraft that could quit on you any moment and fighting the likes of MvR's Flying Circus with jammed machine guns, relaxing in the afternoon with a full grown lion seems harmless enough...
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/b3c1425c-6d0f-40c0-a613-2ccb182ce9a4.png) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/b3c1425c-6d0f-40c0-a613-2ccb182ce9a4.png)
More soon....
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Ooooh excited 'bout this one Allan ;D
It's a silver Nieuport with an Indian head on the side so what's not to like ;) I agree red stripes will look prettier so that's what I'd choose if it were my build
Paul
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Looking forward to your build Allan
Alexis
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Looking forward to this. I too need to even out the balance of powers in my display case...... ;D
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Hey? I thought that box looked familiar! Excellent choice to bolster your allied air contingent.
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An evening spent cutting plastic. Strange to work on something that doesn't require cutting and hacking to make it fit together. I could get used to this...
Starting with the cockpit.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/493288c3-e11e-437e-9003-ba119105a719.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/493288c3-e11e-437e-9003-ba119105a719.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/2f4bf282-cf95-4179-bf41-3e43d8c7b1c5.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/2f4bf282-cf95-4179-bf41-3e43d8c7b1c5.jpg)
It will be nice to acually see the cockpit when finished even with the top wing in place.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/f706efb3-d68f-4b08-87a3-da0cfb7eb177.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/f706efb3-d68f-4b08-87a3-da0cfb7eb177.jpg)
I opened up the control cable pass through.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/0825edd4-1588-44a8-a45b-40e9cce7046a.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/0825edd4-1588-44a8-a45b-40e9cce7046a.jpg)
A few minutes to swipe around with the sanding stick and we are ready for primer.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/ef483894-90d3-43fb-be2b-84f06a240ae2.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/ef483894-90d3-43fb-be2b-84f06a240ae2.jpg)
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And right before our eyes a Nieuport appeared 8)
Nice one Alan. Looking forward to the next update
Paul
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Making quick work with this one , looking good so far
Alexis
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It's quite fun when you can just build something! A nice start here, it looks like this won't take too long...... :)
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Great start. I'm glad you've brought this relatively old kit to life. I'm also impressed by your pace of construction.
Joerg
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Before painting, somewhere I read the landing gear legs need shortening so I cut off 1/16" and added brass wire pins.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/8971b1e2-1c3d-4974-b7a7-9fffeb35f9cf.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/8971b1e2-1c3d-4974-b7a7-9fffeb35f9cf.jpg)
After that, in an rare and amazing fit of cranial clarity, I remembered to adjust the locating holes for the landing gear under the fuselage.
I had mixed a "silbergrau" for my Pfalz but I don't remember what I did. I thought the Nieuport should be different anyway. I went with a 50/50 mix of these.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/d254d681-d7c0-4ff6-b910-7fc329ae4960.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/d254d681-d7c0-4ff6-b910-7fc329ae4960.jpg)
When I do this again, I will add some Future to the mix as a binder. I was getting some weird silver blotching when touched but all is good sealed in Future.
Painted and ready for decals.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/00c4151d-2fe8-4afd-a636-6b7953cb4a1f.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/00c4151d-2fe8-4afd-a636-6b7953cb4a1f.jpg)
Everyone went on well.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/3850d382-33aa-482b-b086-0c658c10a9b6.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/3850d382-33aa-482b-b086-0c658c10a9b6.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/952e7110-aeb7-43b5-9b0e-6c2385f6a757.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/952e7110-aeb7-43b5-9b0e-6c2385f6a757.jpg)
I discarded the 3 black bars included on the sheet and made my own red ones from red wing markings.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/eac2df17-ddcd-4d43-920c-8266be3fe870.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/eac2df17-ddcd-4d43-920c-8266be3fe870.jpg)
I'm gonna let this sit and dry out a couple of days as it feels like it's not dry enough to add another coat of Future. Perhaps I added too much "flow improver".
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/13e8a7ab-45b5-45fc-87ff-90636b3106d0.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/13e8a7ab-45b5-45fc-87ff-90636b3106d0.jpg)
More soon,
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That's looking quite sharp, Allan. I like that paint mix.
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Nice progress, this will be a very sharp Nie 17. I agree with Zac, the aluminium dope finish looks good.
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Nice work Allan. I?ll have to remember to copy your aluminum dope recipe. I?m impressed with the Indian head decal. It looks like there are six, maybe seven, different colors in it. I have a few in 1/72 and they all seem to use about four colors and look very cartoonish.
Press on!
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A cautionary tale.....
So after the above decals went on, I let things dry out for a couple of days and then went onto the grunge wash and weathering stage.
I typically use a dot of black and a dot of brown oil paint and a puddle of white spirits and have at it. This all went well at a rattling good pace, trying all the while to remember Nigal's "less is more" and I think I succeeded to some degree. Since the oil wash is so thinned it can easily be rubbed off so after a day drying out I seal it all up with a Future/Matt finish.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/8f85fb43-88e8-4d31-890d-cc44a369e102.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/8f85fb43-88e8-4d31-890d-cc44a369e102.jpg)
I have used this on dozens of models with great results. This time however I used the "New-Improved" version as I ran out of 70.520.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/db81a456-0aba-4c39-91c1-8fe9c8f3011e.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/db81a456-0aba-4c39-91c1-8fe9c8f3011e.jpg)
26.651 is not the same nor is it as compatible as the old 70.520 was with Future. Everything looked great in the airbrush pot. Everything looked great when sprayed on. Something happened while drying. The two components seem to separate. You can just see the flat accumulating at the edges.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/38d2ca78-09c3-4a65-af44-c2b10d6a6c85.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/38d2ca78-09c3-4a65-af44-c2b10d6a6c85.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/1ff5845e-4d2a-42bf-81a9-bc6f8004a1f5.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/1ff5845e-4d2a-42bf-81a9-bc6f8004a1f5.jpg)
It also seems that the finish over the decal is glossier than over the paint. On other parts, it almost has an alligator finish but microscopic.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/6434dc16-dc0a-4eec-8d4d-564810783aa1.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/6434dc16-dc0a-4eec-8d4d-564810783aa1.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/90eea646-b833-499b-b13f-f2b7260e0cf3.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/90eea646-b833-499b-b13f-f2b7260e0cf3.jpg)
Solution. I originally ordered the "New/Improved" gloss medium to be compatible with the new matt. Then thought "screw that" as I have a life time supply of Future I cancelled the new stuff and ordered the old stuff.
I will continue to assemble my little 17. I'm sure one coat, maybe two will fix all these little anomolies and smooth everything out and it will look fine on the shelf.
More soon.....
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Oh dear. The Vallejo polyurethane varnishes are indeed different to the acrylic ones. Hope you can recover this.
And I'm liking what I am seeing of the weathering..... ;) :D
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Not withstanding the issue with the incompatible mixture, this is one very fine Nieuport. The silver mix looks just right.
Warren Q
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I'm sorry to see you've had these issues Allan. This is the sort of thing that's led me to be (overly?) cautious when trying new products and researching as much as I can before committing. I hope your fix is a straightforward one with minimal stress and work.
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You were doing a fantastic job of this kit before the matt varnish coat, Allan, I do love this colour scheme. I often have problems with Vallejo, and don't mix it with anything and only use their own thinner. I find sometimes a pot of paint is off too, so I promptly throw it away! All in all not my favourite paint! I really hope it all comes right though, you have done a lot of work. Regards, Marc
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Fingers crossed 🤞!
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Hurry up and wait.
My new/old Vallejo flat will not be here until Monday. Plenty of time from now 'till then to tweak.
I added missing hinges and hardware to the top wing with furnace tape.
You can see the subtle pebbling in the clear coat. I'm sure that will smooth right out with one, maybe two coats of final Future finish.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/d529c7b8-f944-4a24-91f2-17381afc781c.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/d529c7b8-f944-4a24-91f2-17381afc781c.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/d688ca79-9bae-4d81-9e9f-64e5014d74b3.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/d688ca79-9bae-4d81-9e9f-64e5014d74b3.jpg)
I got the Vickers done, I forgot to add the ammo chutes before I attached the wing but I think I can still get in there OK.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/4233c702-dbde-4f25-bea1-8251e5b45d48.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/4233c702-dbde-4f25-bea1-8251e5b45d48.jpg)
I'm debating using a Gaspatch Lewis for up top but will most likely use the kit gun as so far this is still out-of-box and might be fun to keep it that way.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/6dd43a98-6e22-4321-8d85-10e4c6978c07.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/6dd43a98-6e22-4321-8d85-10e4c6978c07.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/ffb2add6-0934-4b01-b787-977edfee9cc3.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/ffb2add6-0934-4b01-b787-977edfee9cc3.jpg)
More and final soon after my matt clear shows up...
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Arrrgh! as they say in the Beano >:(
I had similar issues with some Vallejo stuff on my current build and have discarded all the thinner, varnish, flow improver etc. on the basis that at least I won't be tempted to use them again. Hopefully you'll be able to recover this one with some extra coats and get it finished - Liking how it's shaping up so far 8)
Paul
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I love those additional details, beautifully done. Fingers crossed for the revivification of the varnish......
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What a really fun, enjoyable build. No hacking, no correcting, no fixing, no putty, I could get used to this kind of build.
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/d8013885-33de-4777-93f1-aad61e2fe5f6.jpg) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/23369dca-5e69-4fb6-a612-7f1549985561/d8013885-33de-4777-93f1-aad61e2fe5f6.jpg)
I will post over in "Completed" in a little while.
Thanks for following along.
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Really Allan?
No hacking, No correcting, No fixing, No puttying? Ho Hum?. how boring 🥱 lol.
Seriously sir, that is a beautiful Nieuport you have there. I?m very happy to see it completed and not sitting in a box on my shelf. Now I?m expecting to see that Avia B-534 vac kit built up!
Always appreciate watching your work.
All the best,
Tim
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Sometimes a quick and easy build is like a palate cleanser. I enjoy looking at finished models, so I often like to just get them done rather than spend ages fiddling with stuff! This looked like fun, despite the varnish issue.
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This is a lovely build, Allan! One of my favourite subjects just so well done! All the Best, Marc
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Gorgeous work, Allan, this is one lovely Nieuport! I do like your approach to the interior bracing wires.
Hopefully the new clear coats will even out the finish. I must admit that I only use Vallejo for detail painting now - I've moved over to Tamiya thinned with Mr Color Levelling Thinner for almost everything else.
Looking forward to seeing the final results!
Cheers,
Mark
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Another Gorgeous Nieuport hits the finish line. Well Done!
RAGIII