Special Hobby 1/48 scale Nieuport 10 -Single seat version

[Dave W]

Special Hobby 1/48 scale Nieuport 10 single seat version




Reviewed by: Dave Wilson

Item:  SH 48082
Scale: 1:48
Price:   Special Hobby on-line $A43; $ USD33; UK £24; Euro €28
Review Sample kindly provided by Special Hobby. Available at:
www.specialhobby.eu 
And through quality model shops worldwide.




Contents:
Plastic Injection moulded parts on two frames; instructions; decals for three marking schemes; PE fret; clear acetate for windscreens.
General Comments:
The Nieuport name is one of the most easily recognised among WW1 aircraft manufacturers although the focus among modellers has tended to be toward the later single seat fighters, from the type 17 to the Nie 28.
However in the beginning there was the Nieuport 10. The designer was Gustave Delage whose original design was for a 1914 racing machine. World War 1 cancelled that plan but the Nieuport 10 was re-designed as a two seat reconnaissance aircraft. It entered service in 1915. (Special Hobby has also produced a 1/48 kit of the 2 seater variant).
The Nieuport 10 featured the visually appealing V strut layout with a smaller lower wing, design characteristics that came to distinguish Nieuport machines.
The Nieuport 10 was converted into a single seat fighter, often with a Lewis gun mounted on the top wing to fire over the propeller arc. A number of the French aces flew Nieuport 10s and the type was operated by a surprising number of air forces, including Belgium, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Portugal and Russia.
Britain also flew the Nie 10, with the Royal Naval Air Service operating the type.




The kit:
Special Hobby’s Nieuport 10 dates back to 2011 when it was first released. For some unexplained reason Special Hobby’s range of WW1 models seems to escape serious evaluation now which is unfortunate as they are great little kits with a very esoteric catalogue of types not found among other brands. Many of the Special Hobby WW1 kit subjects are the only game in town for modellers.
The kit comes in a top opening box and parts are contained in a sealed plastic bag within. Being a limited run type kit it will require some patience and attention to detail by the modeller, as there are no locating pins. That said the mouldings are good and carry a surprising depth of detail.



A few parts such as the engine have some moulding flash but a sharp scalpel and sanding stick will quickly remedy this.



 The plastic is a softer type and easily workable. A PE fret enhances the details.

The Assembly Instructions:
The Instructions booklet in Czech and English is supplied as a 11 page booklet of double folded A4 size paper in black and white however the three color schemes are represented by full color profiles online. The full instructions can be downloaded from the Special Hobby website.
The instructions are well printed and the assembly sequence is easily followed, with a color key to the Gunze line of paints.
The grey plastic frames and parts illustration in the instructions is particularly useful as the frames do not have parts numbers on them.
The instructions also notes those parts not used for this version of the kit – recruits for the spares box! A basic rigging instruction is also provided.





The small PE fret contains essential items to enhance the cockpit.


Decals:
There are three marking options in the kit.
1.   Cmdr Reginald Bone 29 Sqn March 1916
2.   N237, possibly Escadrille N.12. France 1915
3.   N521. Escadrille N.95. Paris, 1915
The color profiles for the three options:
The decal sheet shows the markings in good register and color and no faults are apparent.







SUMMARY: 
There’s not a lot in the box but what’s there presents as a fairly straightforward project for the OOB modeller and a nice canvas for the super detailers to work with. The 1/48 modellers have plenty to like with this offering.

VERDICT:
Definitely recommended for those with some modelling experience.
The Review Kit was kindly provided by Special Hobby.
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