Academy 1/32 Nieuport 17

[uncletony]

Lookin' good...

[Des]

Very nicely done Ernie, one question though - the seat appears to be way too far forward, looking at where it is the pilot would have the instrument sitting on his chest and his face would be nearly touching the forward cockpit padding. Is this the position stipulated in the instructions?
I personally would move the seat back so the back of the seat is nearly level with the rear of the cockpit cutout, just my opinion though.

Des.

[Ernie]

Thanks for the comments, Bo and Des.  I appreciate your attention.

Des, this is a quandry I have been in for a while.  Apparently the Academy model
is a smidge out of scale at certain areas.  I was following Mark Miller's 3d drawings
and it shows the front of the seat actually resting on the frame for the instrument
"panel".
http://www.wwi-models.org/Images/Miller/render/Nieuport/0n17b.jpg

It looks like the pilot had to put his legs through the frame to rest on the
rudder pedals.  Now having said all that I have to confess that I opened the rear
of the cockpit opening about 2.5mm, having read in write-ups that the opening is
too small and should be enlarged.  I have had the nagging thoughts that I goofed
up royally doing this.  I will look seriously at moving the seat back a bit, so watch
this space.  
  Thanks a lot for bringing it up, Des.  This probably would have driven me to distraction
every time I looked at it.

Cheers,
Ernie

[Des]

You are correct in saying that the pilot had to put his legs through the frame to reach the rudder bar, but the picture below shows the back of the seat just about flush with the rear of the cockpit opening, the seat also leans back. I had a good look at some photos and it is quite obvious that the cockpit of this aeroplane is very confined, you wouldn't want to be over six foot tall 

Des.

[RAGIII]

Ernie,
Overall your interior is looking good! The Ammo box is, like you said, simple but effective. You are making the right decision in moving the seat back, as Des has illustrated! Keep up the great work!!
RAGIII

[Ernie]

Des and Rick, Thanks for the input!  Much appreciated.

Des, that is a dandy drawing...very useful! I see the beginning of my troubles right
away.   The instrument frame in the drawing is about even with the front edge of the
cockpit opening, where as in the model it is to be placed2-3mm forward, which drags the
seat with it.  I'm not going to try to move it back to where it should be in my model as I
figure that would really open a can of worms, making all my little bits out of place.
  I think the lesser of the two evils would be just move the seat and call it good.  Not
prototypical by any means, but about the best I can do to fix the situation.
  Of course with what you mentioned about pilots not being over 6' tall notwithstanding,
in my version, I need someone about 6'8" just to reach the rudder pedals!
Revision to come...

Cheers,
Ernie

[RAGIII]

Des and Rick, Thanks for the input!  Much appreciated.

Des, that is a dandy drawing...very useful! I see the beginning of my troubles right
away.   The instrument frame in the drawing is about even with the front edge of the
cockpit opening, where as in the model it is to be placed2-3mm forward, which drags the
seat with it.  I'm not going to try to move it back to where it should be in my model as I
figure that would really open a can of worms, making all my little bits out of place.
  I think the lesser of the two evils would be just move the seat and call it good.  Not
prototypical by any means, but about the best I can do to fix the situation.
  Of course with what you mentioned about pilots not being over 6' tall notwithstanding,
in my version, I need someone about 6'8" just to reach the rudder pedals!
Revision to come...

Cheers,
Ernie

Ernie, here is a link to another helpful drawing... I hope 
RAGIII

http://www.wwi-models.org/Images/Miller/render/Nieuport/index.html

[Ernie]

Thanks Rick for your help.  I have been leaning on those drawings since
I started with the Nieuport.  Thanks again for suggesting them.  Don't go
wandering too far away, I may need more help later!

Cheers,
Ernie

[Ernie]

I'm back with the new and improved() seat placement in the Nieuport.
I have only moved the seat back and raised it slightly so I believe it is close
to where it should be situated.  Before everyone gets all excited, I have to say
I didn't want to take a chance on wrecking all my work with the instrument
frame and the balance of the cockpit, so there is a gap between the front of the
seat and the frame where it should sit.  it was a trade off, so I figured this was
the best fix, seeing that the cockpit in the Nieuport was tight anyway and the only
thing that normally is in full view is the seat.  With apologies for the errors involved,
I will call this phase done and move on to the rest of the build.

This is the new placement of the seat.  You will see that to have it all in the right place
I would have to move everything else aft about 3mm, and if I tried that, I would be
a blithering idiot in no time!

This is what things look like with the fuselage together...just placed for the photo,
not glued together yet.


Not too bad if you don't look too closely.  I know you won't tell!

Cheers,
Ernie

[RAGIII]

ernie,
Looks good to me! What was the issue ?  Nice recovery!!
RAGIII

[Ernie]

Thanks Rick!  

Cheers,
Ernie

[Zabu]

I promess i wont tell a soul! Woot issue??

Great stuff Ernie.

Cheers

[Des]

Beautifully done Ernie, well executed and it looks excellent. Moving the instrument frame rearward would have cause enormous issues, you made the right decision to leave it where it is and besides that, it looks fine where it is. Looking forward to seeing her closed up and more progress photos.

Des.

[kornbeef]

Inspiring Ernie.

I have this oldie but goodie half built since 198X a while back I bought the mastercasters wheels cowl and interior, Seeing what you've achieved with out makes me want to pick it up and dust it off... Only thing stopping me is just how awful my first attempt at detailing it is. Much to undo.

Keep up the inspiring work Ernie.

Keith

[Ernie]

Zabu, Des & Keith, thank you for your support and encouragement.  That
really means the world to me!  Onward and upward.

Cheers,
Ernie