Author Topic: The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II  (Read 789 times)

Offline lone modeller

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The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II
« on: October 27, 2023, 07:16:05 AM »
Evening All,

I have completed two more models of aircraft which took part in the July 1st 1911 Gordon Bennett air race at Eastchurch: The Nieuport ii. The pilots were E DeNieuport in machine no 11 and M. Chevalier in no 12.

The Nieuport II was pretty much like other machines of this period in that it could be modified or changed very quickly, so that later designations become blurred and difficult to apply. The horizontal tail surfaces varied considerably, and some aircraft had small cut-outs on the leading edge next to the fuselage, as on Chevalier's machine. The engines fitted also varied: Chevalier flew with a 28hp two cylinder flat engine, designed by DeNieuport:



Other machines were fitted with rotary engines, including 50 and 70 hp Gnome. DeNieuport's machine had a 70 hp Gnome rotary and so the nose was altered to accommodate a much larger engine:



In fact, apart from the undercarriage, E. DeNieuport's machine looked almost the same as a Nieuport IV type, one of which was flown by the American C. Weyman in the race.

Chevalier actually flew in two machines on the day, but neither completed the 24 laps, (94 miles), of the course, so he was not placed:







DeNieuport's machine was better powered but against the 100 hp machines of Weyman and Leblanc he was also too slow and only gained third place:







The differences between the two machines was most marked in the nose and engines:





Thanks for looking.

Stephen.

Offline Davos522

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Re: The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II
« Reply #1 on: October 27, 2023, 11:05:05 AM »
More little gems to add to the collection, Stephen! A truly amazing labor of love... I'd have been happy to have built one of them, let alone as many as you've completed.

Dutch
(But... how come they don't have Red Bull and Mobil1 and TAG Heuer logos plastered all over them...?)

Offline PrzemoL

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Re: The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2023, 08:17:49 PM »
More little gems to add to the collection, Stephen! A truly amazing labor of love... I'd have been happy to have built one of them, let alone as many as you've completed.

Dutch

I copy that!  :)
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Ash nazg thrakatuluk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

Offline kensar

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Re: The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II
« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2023, 10:36:55 PM »
Nice to see two more completed.

Offline Flamingo

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Re: The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II
« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2023, 11:39:54 PM »
Nice pair!
Do you plan to make the Wright R?
Greetings Joachim

Offline IanB

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Re: The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II
« Reply #5 on: October 28, 2023, 12:08:25 AM »
Great to see these finished, they make a fine addition to your collection.
Lovely work as usual.

Ian

Offline lone modeller

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Re: The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2023, 12:39:53 AM »
Thank you gentelmen for your very kind comments - they are much appreciated.

Nice pair!
Do you plan to make the Wright R?
Greetings Joachim


Yes Joachim I do intend to build the Baby Wright: that is the next in the series and I have already started to cut some plastic. More to follow in due course.

Stephen.

Offline DaveB

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Re: The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II
« Reply #7 on: October 28, 2023, 02:42:14 AM »
Another little masterpiece from your bench, Steve!

And what a nice trio you have for this set.

Regards

Dave
As we say in fencing, what's the point!

Offline KiwiZac

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Re: The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II
« Reply #8 on: October 28, 2023, 11:40:58 AM »
What quirky machines - the midskid (because it's not at the tail) in particular is most intriguing.

(But... how come they don't have Red Bull and Mobil1 and TAG Heuer logos plastered all over them...?)
;D ;D I went to Reno, I know what REAL racing planes look like!!
Zac in NZ

Offline Davos522

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Re: The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II
« Reply #9 on: October 28, 2023, 12:00:14 PM »
;D ;D I went to Reno, I know what REAL racing planes look like!!

I guess we could see the direction things were headed when one of the previous builds had the Bennett flag logo on the rudder... :)

Dutch

Offline NigelR

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Re: The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II
« Reply #10 on: October 28, 2023, 07:00:41 PM »
Lovely work on both of them!

Offline KiwiZac

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Re: The Gordon Bennett Air Race 1911 Part 3: Nieuport II
« Reply #11 on: October 29, 2023, 12:28:16 PM »
;D ;D I went to Reno, I know what REAL racing planes look like!!
I guess we could see the direction things were headed when one of the previous builds had the Bennett flag logo on the rudder... :)
Another victim of crass commercialism  ;)
Zac in NZ