Academy 1/32 Nieuport 17

[Ernie]

Well I've begun my build, Academy's Nieuport 17, a model definately not in the
class of Wingnuts, but a good one for entry level modelers.
  Along with the basic model, I'll be using PE parts from Tom's Modelworks, Mastercasters
resin cowling and wheels, and a couple of scratch-built parts from me.
  The model is a few years old and has a few scale issues, but a good starter.



More pictures to follow in a little while.

Cheers,
Ernie

[Des]

I have this exact same kit in my stash so I will be following your build closely, looking forward to your first posts.

Des.

[uncletony]

Great to see you getting going Ernie. Have you chosen a paint scheme?

Cheers,

--Bo

[LindsayT]

Nice! Glad to see you went with the Nieuport, Ernie. An iconic aircraft for sure.

Looking forward to the build.

Lindsay

[Ernie]

Glad to have you along, Des & Bo.  As far as the paint scheme, I'm leaning toward
Georges Guynemer's plane, overall aluminum except brown & green camouflage on the
upper surfaces of the wings.
  I'll bring you up to date with a few pictures...
First off, a couple of the Le Rhone engine first front, then rear.





Starting on the cockpit i tried to replicate the sheathing on the fuselage sides in the cockpit area.  I used
0.10" plastic sheet scored with a scriber.  Painted with oils.  The wooden floor area is also 0.10" sheet, scored
with a razor saw blade, and painted with Vajello wood, and a black ink wash to give a bit of woodgrain, then
coated with Tamiya clear yellow.





I'm in the process of making the interior framing, waiting patiently for the oil paint to dry.  When it finally does
around the end of the week, I plan on adding the interior bracing wires with monofiliment line.  Sorry for this
picture..I think it ended up the wrong way around.



While my paint dries, I have been tinkering with interior goodies.  The instrument panel was easy...Nieuports
didn't really have one, so I got away with a little artistic licence as to where to place the few instruments.
I'm not sure why the photo ended up on it's side...hopefully you won't get a kink in your neck checking it out.


The compass I am quite pleased with...my first attempt at soldering...definately beginners luck.  My wife gave me
a soldering gun for Christmas last year and I finally got up enough nerve to actually use the blasted thing.

Well that's it for now.  More to come before long.
Thanks for looking, and your thoughts and advice more than welcome!

Cheers,
Ernie

[Ernie]

Thanks Lindsay!

Cheers,
Ernie

[lcarroll]

Ernie,
   I don't suppose Bishop's 1566 has been, or is being considered? Don't let me influence your choice, I'm sure you've already decided on a scheme...............
   Great to see you diving in, I'll be watching closely. Enjoy above all else, and I suspect a winner is in the wings!
Cheers,
Lance

[Rob Hart]

Ernie,

I'm looking forward to following your build. Excellent work on the interior sheathing and the cockpit instruments. I am impressed. However, I wouldn't use the box art as a guide to attaching the landing gear. Something has gone pear shaped there.

[Ernie]

Thank you for the warning, Rob.  I'll certainly watch it when I get to that point!

Cheers,
Ernie

[lcarroll]

Ernie,
   Sorry, posted my last before you launched your photos. Your fuselage sheathing is magnificent, I really like the effect you created there and the instruments are absolute little jewels. Very nice start, this is going to prove a winner!
Cheers,
Lance

[Rob Hart]

Ernie,

I'm interested in any tips you can offer on soldering. I am wanting to give it a try.

[Jacek]

I am very curious what will come out of such paltry kit    Engine looks great.
Good luck 
Jacek

[RAGIII]

Your engine, interior work, and especially the instruments all look amazing! Really great start!
RAGIII

[Ernie]

Thanks Lance, Rob, Jacek & Rick for the generous comments!
  I think my skewed pictures have magically righted themselves...at least they look
proper this morning...one of life's mysteries, I suppose.

Lance I was thinking of Wm. Bishop's plane and if this one turns out, I may do the RFC one.  I'm not sure where to get the decals for it.  For now, though, I'll stick with the French version, after all, it's
a Nieuport, mon ami. 

Rob, As far as tips for soldering go, all I can say is have your soldering iron tip tinned properly and use small bits of flux and solder.  Truthfully, it was not nearly as hard as I thought it would
be...even for an artistically challenged type like me!   I actually learned everything from a few Youtube
videos.  Here's one link I used...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNutiaYld_4

Ok, here's a few more pics of tidbits I've been tinkering with while wating for the oils to dry.



I added the side strips to the rudder pedal wood base with strip styrene.  I found out that they were
wood and not metal since, so I will have to repaint them.

Speaking of soldering...The seat is from the Tom's set.  I sort of made a pig's ear of it...my first try,
but luckily paint can cover a multitude of sins, eh?

Before...

And after...

This soldering bit had completely gone to my head, and I figured I knew it all, so I tried to make a
pulseometer...I managed to get the basic shape pretty fair, but it is totally out of scale...probably
about a metre long in the real world, but you know, I will likely use it, just because I can.

Teeny-tiny soldering & CA job...

Well that's about all I have to show for now, so Thanks for looking! 

Cheers,
Ernie

[Zabu]

Hi Ernie.

The wood effect in the cockpit and the engine are looking great and those instruments are true gems.

Great start from you.

Cheers