Copper State Models 1/32 scale Nieuport XXIII RFC

[Dave W]

Copper State Models 1/32 scale Nieuport XXIII RFC



REVIEWED BY David Wilson

Kit #: CSM 32- 005
Scale: 1/32nd
Price: $A129.99 in Australia; €57.80 Euro (Export price direct from CSM); £69.99/ $US 97.47 from Hannants UK
                                                  
Stockist: Review Sample provided by and available through Copper State Models at: http://www.copperstatemodels.com
Also available from quality model retailers world wide.
 
Contents: Five frames in grey plastic; decals by Cartograf for six marking options; full colour instructions booklet; photo etch fret; clear acetate film (windscreen)

Background:
The Nieuport XXIII aircraft was visually quite similar to its predecessor, the better known Type XVII. The similarities were such, many confused the two.
The Royal Flying Corps received its type XXIIIs ( also referred to as Nieuport 23) in May 1917. The famous sesquiplane fighter powered by its Le Rhone 110hp engine was a feisty adversary to Germany’s air power.
The RFC modified its Nieuports by replacing the fuselage-mounted Vickers gun with a Lewis gun mounted on the top wing attached to a Foster mount which fired over the propeller arc.



Comment:
Copper State Models’ fifth 1/32 scale Nieuport release is also potentially the biggest seller of the company’s acclaimed Nieuport series. Modellers have been hanging out for an RFC version of the aircraft and this one is all you could hope for, and more.
Although technically a rebox of the Type XVII series with updated parts, it really needs to be evaluated as a stand alone kit.
A year on from the unexpected closure of Wingnut Wings, modellers have looked to companies like Copper State Models to replace the Wingnuts brand.
The reality, as Copper State have stated, is that the Latvian company does not have the resources or the budget to replace Wingnuts’ release numbers. Nor are they trying to do so. Wisely, they are pursuing their own path, using a series of armoured car kits to generate revenue to fund their aircraft models.
From a quality perspective there’s no question that Copper State can now rightly lay claim to the sort of respect accorded to Wingnuts models.
We don’t do Kit of the year here but if we did, I’d be nominating the CSM RFC Nieuport as kit of the year for 2020.
Copper State entered the 1/32 scale market in 2018 with its acclaimed Nieuport XVII kits. They wisely maximised the moulds with two subsequent variations, a Nieuport XX1 and XXIII. The RFC edition is really a no-brainer and we can but hope there will be more, possibly “Aces” editions with more decal options and perhaps accompanying figures? The possibilities are endless.
It has always baffled WW1 modellers that Wingnuts ignored classic subjects such as the Nieuport in favour of their, at times, wildly esoteric multi engine releases.
Copper State stepped in and in a masterstroke jumped ahead of Wingnuts, producing a state of the art Nieuport XVII series that blew the clunky old Academy kit out of the sky and gazumped Wingnuts at the same time.
It was a clever move as Nieuport represent some of the most famous French fighters of the First World War and for plastic modellers Nieuport kits have been around since the birth of the hobby in the 1950s.
Contents:
Copper State Models' 1/32 scale Nieuport XXIII RFC edition comes in the now familiar packaging of a solid flip top- opening cardboard box beneath a separate lift off box top featuring distinctive artwork. The atmospheric cover boxart is outstanding and really promotes the model within.



The individually bagged frames within are well protected. All of the plastic parts, the decals and the small photo etch fret are individually bagged. This is a sophisticated touch.
As we have now come to expect, the moulding quality is superb, there’s no flash to worry about and the part attachment points are small and easier to gently remove from the frame.
Copper State deliver very subtle surface textures and even the delicate fabric stitching is depicted on their aircraft. Wing trailing edges are nicely thin.





For me cockpits can define a model and the cockpit interior for the Nieuport is frankly outstanding. The seat back part is fully perforated, a nice detail touch.

I think this kit will produce a museum quality model out of the box, no need for aftermarket here, but the super detailers may disagree!
The Le Rhone 110Hp engine is nicely detailed and is one part that could cope with extra detailing.

A new frame contains parts specific for the RFC version.

Instructions:
As before, the 24 page instructions booklet features a cover which resembles a vintage Nieuport technical publication, quite a nice touch.

The instructions booklet, in an A4 format, is well illustrated in colour and clearly shows where rigging and control cables are needed during the build process.
The parts breakdown looks pretty straightforward to assemble and the easy to follow instructions are clear and with colour references.



A note on that though. As with previous Copper State kits the colour callouts are generic only. While the instructions note where particular colours should go, there are no hobby paint name references provided and this means modellers have to find this information somewhere else.

Photo Etch:
The small Photo etch fret is of good quality and not overdone. Copper State seem to be aware that with photo etch, less is sometimes best.


Decals & Colour schemes:
The kit features six colour schemes and it’s worth noting that our Forum members assisted Copper State in the selection of the schemes. It would have been nice for this to be acknowledged in the instructions booklet but sadly, was not.

1.   Captain Alfred Shepherd 29 Sqn RFC June 1917

2.   Lt Edward “Mick” Mannock 40 Sqn RFC Summer 1917

3.   Major Alan Scott, 60 Sqn RFC, June 1917

4.   2 Lt Campbell, 1 Sqn RFC.

5.   2 Lt Philip Fullard 1 Sqn RFC

6.   Major William “Billy” Bishop VC 60 Sqn RFC May 1917

The decals are by Cartograf of Italy, regarded by many as among the best in the world. They are perfectly in register as expected.
Conclusion:
Copper State Models’ fifth Nieuport kit is a quality enhancement to its predecessors. We can now say CSM produce the definitive large scale Nieuport kits whose quality matches or even betters the Wingnuts range.
Verdict:
Highly recommended.
(Review kit kindly supplied by Copper State Models. Please support the businesses that support this Forum.)