Dear all,
since I hearded about CSM's plans to release a Nieuport 17 for the first time, I could hardly wait to get one. I love the Nieuport biplanes and although the venerable Hobbycraft kit surely was a good one in its times, these times are long gone.
When Edgar asked me if I would build one and put it onto a base like I did with my Special Hobby Nieuport 11, of course I agreed immediately. So I was honored with a free example of this formidable new kit which is phraised all over the internet. I am very grateful to Edgar for this honor and could hardly wait starting the kit since I received it. But an annoying cold kept me off the work bench for two weeks and forced me to consume more tea than I ever had before intented to drink in my whole lifetime.
My intention is to build this kit completely out of the box, and it is a great coincidence that after browsing through the parts and the instructions there remainded nothing in my eyes which would have to be added anyway. All you need is in the box
Meanwhile I went through my library (which is a pure euphemism for my messy shelves) and picked out the most important literature on the Nieuport 17.
The good thing being ill was that I had plenty of time to choose a color sheme, which is always a pain for me. This very case doesn't ease the pain as there are countless striking color schemes for the Nieuport 17 and the kit alone gives four decal options. I tend to avoid kit's decals, in most cases simply because I want to do a certain scheme that is no part of any decal sheet, but in this case here I will go with the kit's decals. The choosen options look too good and are obviously too well researched. My choice fell on André René Celestin Herbelins Nieuport 17 from Escadrille N102 in late 1916 or early 1917. The serial is unknown, but the walking Death and the words "risque tout" gives it its own morbid beauty. And there is another reason for this color scheme. The only original picture I could find of this machine showed it obviously with removed engine covers which makes it possible to show more of the greatly detailed interior of this kit.
I am eagerly waiting for some modelling time in the next days.
Best regards
Andreas
