Special Hobby 1/32 Nieuport 16 Bebe A134 - Albert Ball

[macsporran]

After swearing a bit with the SH 1/32 Nieuport 11 build, I promised myself I'd get stuck into the pile of Wingnut kits in my stash and commence a state-of-the-art model... But, as I drooled over the immaculate WNW mouldings a little voice nagged at me that now was the time to finish another SH Nieuport as I was up to speed with the build problems. And I had started the N16 engine by mistake on the N11 build, so I'd really already started ... (Sigh) OK let's get that N.16 back out.

Still swithering, I looked at all my sources and fancied an Albert Ball machine but was put off by the drab green and brown finish with non-outlined roundels, until I realised I didn't have any plan view original pictures and could indulge my model with the outline wing tapes often found on Bebes. (If you have such a pic, please don't show me if it contradicts my assumptions!)

Also there was some doubt about the Nieuport that Ball flew with a cut back cowling and spinner, but that appears to be an N.17 or N.23. The famous picture of him in front of this cowling shows struts and rigging appropriate for the later aircraft.
Finally a 1/32 CSM RFC pilot figure looked perfect if I swapped the officer's capped head for a head with an airman's forage cap.

So, all the bits cut off sprues and sanded and cleaned up ready to start.
Sandy

(Some new boxes of craft knife blades were purchased ready for the challenge!)
   

[macsporran]

I'll omit the construction stages for fuselage internals etc as they are pretty much the same as the N.11.

All major components were given a primer coat of white, ribs and stringers drawn in with pencil - and some pre-shading applied, before getting some nice MRP camouflage paints involved.

Sandy

[macsporran]

Now for those sexy outline tapes that had convinced me to choose A134 as my subject!

I had mixed a suitable light grey colour for the undersides from MRP medium sea grey and white - and I used this for the tapes, having masked off the core parts of the wings and tailplane.

I looked for some appropriate roundels, which I believe at this stage in the war were lighter than the later ultramarine shade and alighted on the ancient decals in the original Hobbycraft Nieuport boxing. I applied a few coats of Microscale liquid decal film and prepared them for application - but all the time ready to bin them if they didn't work!
Sandy

[WD]

Looking good so far Sandy. What colors are you using for the camo scheme?

WD

[macsporran]

Thanks WD. I'm using MRP paints, the camo brown is actually PC8 (MRP251) and the green is PC10 Late (MRP253), which will remain under masking on the ribs when the rest gets a little smoke misted over, darkening it a little.
Cheers
Sandy

[macsporran]

Jumping forward a bit here.
Decals have been applied without too much drama, although required quite a bit of future to get them to lie flat. Then ribs were masked off and a light dusting of Tamiya smoke applied over rib positions to pop out the rib tapes. I used Tamiya tape here but low tack post-it strips for the decals - even so, the buggers lifted a little after spraying and had to be coaxed back down with lots more future.

I used my serial number trick again for the rudder, applying Hannants serial numbers to white decal paper and cutting round for the outlined characters. I've done this a few times and getting quite handy at it!

I'm very pleased with the colour combinations and think it looks much better than the very dark A134 models I have seen elsewhere on the internet. (I justify this by reasoning that any dark linen-doped aeroplane sitting outside in strong French sunshine is going to fade very rapidly. It's my model and that's my choice!!)
Sandy

[xan]

 I never see those colors before, quite far from french camouflage. Was it a british camouflage ? I didn't know it.
if green is PC 10 what is the beige color? it seems like a WWII desert camouflage....

[macsporran]

I never see those colors before, quite far from french camouflage. Was it a british camouflage ? I didn't know it.
if green is PC 10 what is the beige color? it seems like a WWII desert camouflage....

... and you may never see them again, xan!
But it's my interpretation - the colours are PC8 and PC10 as mentioned above.
Sandy

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi Mac,
This would look good,

Mike

https://dolmanminiatures.com/shop/182-albert-ballscale-1-32mm.html

[macsporran]

Hi Mac,
This would look good,

Thanks SB, yes that would indeed be nice, but the only source I can find this side of the pond (ebay) is asking 46GBP + 15GBP shipping from Canada - which is more than the kit cost! I got a CSM figure (ebay again) for 7.99GBP and I've popped on a forage cap head so that'll do in the meantime.
Sandy

[KiwiZac]

Beautiful work Sandy, I'd not seen this camouflage before and I quite like it! Now I may have a reason to hunt down a 16 kit in 1/48...

[macsporran]

Thanks Zac - I do like a slightly unusual (not to say controversial,) colour scheme!
S

[macsporran]

She looks much better now with tailplane in place.
Sandy

[macsporran]

.... and sitting up on her undercarriage...
Sandy

[Bughunter]

Sandy, your speed? build looks nice! Less trouble compared to your older Nieuport?

I used my serial number trick again for the rudder, applying Hannants serial numbers to white decal paper and cutting round for the outlined characters. I've done this a few times and getting quite handy at it!

Hmm, sounds clever. But I'm not sure if it works in 1/48 for me. But if other cut decals in 1/144 here, it should work.

Cheers,
Frank