1/32 Roden Nieuport 28C- Wrapping twinned wires

[Dal Gavan]

G'day.

After trying to do things by eye (see below), I decided to make a jig to allow me to make the basket weave for the jig. 



The slats on this one are too close, uneven and not parallel.



A simple jig was made up and I got the pattern I wanted.



I think this is much better.  I just need to add some paint, finish the cushion and the cockpit sub-assembly is complete.


I also painted the struts, prop' and the guns.  I remember reading that French fittings could be either blue-grey or black.  Is this correct, or does it only apply to SPAD's?  If correct, does this look reasonable (it's Humbrol 96)?


I also brush painted the fuselage with the two greens.  There's a lot of contradictory evidence out there as to what the lighter green colour was and Roden's instructions are little help (the 1/48 instructions give different colours to the 1/32 instructions- and I doubt it's Roden's way of applying "scale effect" to the paint scheme). 

I'm not trying to get an exact match, as I have a feeling that the colours probably varied as much as PC 10 or WW2 RAAF Foliage Green did.  However, I do hope that the contrast between the two greens is consistent with the original scheme and doesn't look as garish as it could.  As it is it looks a little too bright to me, but that's a guess.

As usual, any comments, corrections, tips and constructive criticisms are welcome.

Cheers.

Dal. 

[rhallinger]

Dal:

Your choice of greens looks good to my eye as applied to the fuselage.  The contrast looks within tolerance and not garish at all.  Nice work! I'm looking forward to the rest of this build, as I have one of these in the pipeline.

Regards,

Bob

[lcarroll]

Dal,
   Somehow missed this; I've been keeping an eye out for one of these as it's a nice contrast to the more common types. Great job so far, the seat is a very nice addition.
Cheers,
Lance

[Ernie]

Good job, Dal.  Nice work on the seat.  I'm really enjoying
following your build.  Thanks for sharing with us.

Best Regards,
Ernie

[mgunns]

Hello Dal:

The reworked seat looks great!  I am going to do another one of these and will use your idea of the jig for the weave pattern.  I am looking forward to seeing you progress through this.  The colors look good to me as well.  I don't get too wrapped around the axle over colors, as long as you are happy with it, have done the due diligence to ensure they are as correct as can be and what you have to work with.  I think the blue on the bottom of the struts looks good to.  I like the miniatures.  Not really into them, but they look fun.

Best

Mark

[Dal Gavan]

G'day.

The poor old Nieuport has been put on the back-burner while I've been attending to a 1:1 built-in pantry for my lady (domestic bliss always trumps making models...or nearly always).  I've also started brush painting the Nieuport's upper fuselage, as I can't get to the farm to use my airbrush at the mo'.  Photo's to follow  for comments, later.





As usual filling seams and getting a good finish on the paint job have been the most difficult.  Having Herself doing project management has been, ah, different, as well.

Mark, I'm pleased with the seat.  Of course, now it's painted and glued in Ron has brought out something much, much better!  I've taken your advice about the colours- they look pretty close and "right".  I got the tip about blue from a post by Rowan on Brit Modeller, hopefully it applies to Nieuports as well as SPAD's.  The mini's are fun, even if all they are doing is collecting dust at the mo'. 

Ernie, thanks, mate.  It's fun.  Much more fun than my current build.

Lance, I can see why this kit is rated as one of Roden's better efforts. There's few fit issues, the detail is nice and it's a good looking aircraft.  The paint scheme, with the white cowl, really makes it stand out.  Grab one of these, mate, I think you'll enjoy it.  Besides, at my glacial build rate I can wait for you to overtake me and see what issues I need to look out for. 

Bob, thanks for the advice with the colours, mate.  Between yours and Mark's advice, I'm feeling happy with the colours I used.  Have you started yours, yet?

Back to work on my scratch-built pantry, I suppose.

Cheers.

Dal.

[lcarroll]

Hey Dal, an old Canadian saying goes "Happy Wife - Happy Life"! You've got the right priorities and the pantry looks grand!
Cheers,
Lance

[Dal Gavan]

G'day.

Lance, your are so right, mate!

I've been brush painting this beastie and would like some comments on the colours I've used.  I think the light green (mix 2:1 of Humbrol 120 to 117) and dark green (Humbrol 116) do the job (thanks Mark G and Bob H).  The black will come later, a mix of Humbrol 33 and 66.  The brown is Vallejo 984 Flat Brown over a base of Humbrol 98 and I'm fairly happy with that, though it may be too red.  However I'm not really sure at all about the beige (Humbrol 121)- on the tail where the tweezers are sitting).  Various photo's and artworks I've seen all disagree and show a colour that seems to vary from off-white to the WW2 RAF colour Middle Stone.  If the colour I've used is within the range for beige I'll leave it as it is.  But I have a feeling it should be darker and, perhaps, a bit more yellow?





Cheers.

Dal.

PS  The wing looks patchy because there's only one thin coat there.  I was going to spray it, but I had some time, some paint and a paint brush to hand, and RAGSIII's Tripe build really has me wanting to start mine.  Besides, it's time I re-learned the art of brush painting.

[Dal Gavan]

G'day.

I've put the main personal markings on this beast.  Various comments I'd read had said Roden decals were difficult to work with, sometimes shattering when moistened or removed from the backing paper, inconsistent and immune to decal setting and solvent agents.  So I experimented with some spare markings, using a brew mug (tea/coffee mug) as a "perfect surface".  (The missus asked me why I was "numbering the mugs, Dear?".  When I explained, all she was "Oh", kissed me on the top of the head and walked away.  Women.....) .

From my experiments, I found that:

1. They are immune to MicroSol, MicroSet and Mr Mark Softener.

2.  Unless you use near-boiling water, they are stiff and very brittle.

3.  They are inconsistent- two decals placed side-by side will act differently, with one silvering and the other not.



4.  Once they're down, don't move them much or they will tear (see the first "12" below).

5.  They aren't opaque, with no white backing behind the prints, so some decal details change colour on different parts of a decal. and

6.  The propeller logos have been simplified to uselessness.



7. They're slightly out of register.

I also had a problem with one part of the sheet.  The clear decal had frosted on a couple of markings, one being the starboard side "Hat into the Ring", and part of the decal stuck and wouldn't separate from the backing.  While the frosting doesn't show up much on the photo below, it is quite apparent on the model.  I'll have to paint over this to get it sorted.



In the end I used the following method to apply them, with pretty good results:

1.  Use near boiling water, changing it after every couple of decals.  The water doesn't have to cool down much before the dcals stiffen and become brittle.

2. I used One Go (Aussie Pledge/Future/Klear) as a wetting agent, using a hot-water-dampened hankie to press the decal down and remove air bubbles.  The One Go wet the surface and pulled the decal down as it dried, while the hot water kept the decal soft enough to conform to the details.




I have, however, ordered the Super Scale decals for LT Roosevelt's aircraft.  The sheet will supply new national roundels (the kit ones just aren't up to scratch), better prop logos and some extra stencils.

Once they get here, I'll finish decalling and then do a little bit of weathering.  All the loops and turnbuckles are installed, ready for rigging and the struts have been drilled and .25mm copper wire glued in as pins.  I've enjoyed this build- after the J.1 it was just what I needed to keep the interest levels up.  Next up- a 1/48 Crusader Mk I (yes, a tank!  A mate sent the kit to me to try), then the WNW Tripe.

Cheers.

Dal.

[Des]

Looking very good Dal, the decals appear to be okay.  Roden decals are a real hit and miss affair, I have been very lucky as I have built all of the Roden 1:32 scale WW1 aircraft and managed to use  the decals supplied with each kit, I always use Mr Mark Softer and a good blast from a hair dryer to set the decals. I'm looking forward to seeing more progress on this model.

Des.

[Ernie]

Very good job with the nasty obstinate decals, Dal.
I am really impressed with the paint job.  Just dandy!
  Waiting patiently for the next installment.

Cheers,
Ernie

[pepperman42]

Your decal escapades just confirm my fears of these. You certainly were up to the challenge but Im going to steer clear of them. Nice work so far and has the pantry been filled with the expectation of another? It always seems these are built, not for what you have but for what can now be obtained....nothing like a shelving unit for model boxes.........

Steve

[Epeeman]

Hello, Dal -

Glad to see back on the forum and making some progress on your model N.28.   Don't be too hard on yourself, from what I'm seeing it looks pretty damn good to me.   Like Mark, I don't get hung up on 'exact' colour match - nobody can really correct you as as colours used on WW1 planes are very controversial anyway.   I go for 'spirit of the original' in terms of colour choice.

Roden decals can be a real pain but I don't recall any problems with the ones on my N.28 kit - they just need to be handled with a bit of care.

Keep up the good work, mate!

Regards

Dave

[RAGIII]

Dal,
Looking great! As for the color of the beige I went with floquil Middlestone but is there really a definitive answer? Looks good to my old eyes! I still am in AWE of you brush painters 
RAGIII
PS: When we are both done maybe we should work on one of those show us your.... threads 
RAGIII

[Dal Gavan]

G'day.

Des and Steve, the decals weren't all that bad, really.  I've certainly had worse- those that came with early Tamiya or any Academy kits, for example.  Once I hit on the trick of using very hot water with One Go as a wetting agent, they performed better than most kit decals.  The only real problem was that they're translucent and that it looks like the sheet had something spilled on it, frosting the decal film.  That could as easily been me as Roden.  However, I've got aftermarket decals for the rest of the Roden kits, it's just I wanted to use that particular colour scheme. 

And the pantry is full of the usual spices, tins, packets, bags and cooking gear.  I did have plans for the small stand alone pantry that we replaced, but that's been claimed by Herself, as another linen press.....

Ernie, thanks for the kind words, mate.  The next installment will happen when the new decals arrive.  I'll also scan the stickers they supply for the recruiting posters and make decals from the scans.  I tested one on the wing and it was far too thick and unconvincing.

Dave, agreed about the colours.  They look close enough and with weathering, patch-painting and cleaning, even modern aircraft colours vary from one airframe to the next.

Rick, it's amazing how well a coat of One Go can even out the worst brush marks.  And I have to admit that I cheated with the beige and ecru - I sprayed over those, as the colour was just too uneven.  I used Mr Hobby 79 Desert Yellow for the beige, thinning it with lacquer thinner, and it went on beautifully (thanks for that tip, Des).  In fact, I'm tempted to forgo my old Humbrols and move to Mr Hobby, if they all spray as that did!

Agree about a "Show Us" thread, mate. Yours is coming along brilliantly.

Cheers.

Dal.