Academy 1/32 Nieuport 17

[Ernie]

Thank you Francois...I appreciate that from someone with your talent.
By the way, your build is coming along beautifully!

Cheers,
Ernie

[GAJouette]

  Ernie,
Well Done my friend. Beautiful work on her interior. Keep up the outstanding progress my friend.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[Dave in Dubai]

I had the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of the mock-up Nieuport 17's used in the movie "Flyboys" which was filmed at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire , a few years back.

The cockpit is tiny to squeeze into, and I am built quite "wiry".

Your cockpit looks like I remember it Ernie!

Keep up the momentum' you are doing a good job.

With my best wishes,

Dave

[IFF1418]

Thank you for the kind words Nigel, Dave and Rick.  Alot of my efforts are inspiried
by your work.  Much appreciated!)
 Patrick, Thanks to you as well.  As for the wood effect, it is pretty well old-school.
The base is Tamiya Deck Tan acrylic, then when dry a mixture of oil paints...I think it
was raw umber, raw sienna and burnt umber, thinned and mixed until I ended up with
a colour I was happy with.  The hard part is waiting for the oils to dry...took about a week.
After that I sprayed a coat of Tamiya clear orange and then Vallejo semi-gloss varnish.
  Having said all that, I would suggest looking at PrzemoL's wonderful Sopwith Triplane
construction.  His woodgrain is world's better and all done with acrylics.  I plan on trying
that in my next build.  Anyway, I hope I answered some of your questions.
 Thanks again everyone for looking in.

Cheers,
Ernie

Thank you Ernie I'll keep this in mind and will also re-look at the build of PrzemoL's triplane.

Kind regards
Patrick

[Ernie]

Thank you so much Gregory and Dave.  Your comments are very encouraging!
Dave, I wonder if you happened to notice if there is a bulkhead or screen behind
the seat?  I am thinking there likely is, but am not sure.  I may just wing it and
fix up something along those lines.

Cheers,
Ernie

[Dave in Dubai]

Hi Ernie,

It is a few years ago now since I sat in the N17, but if I remember correctly, I think that the structure was open and you could see all the way back inside the fuselage.

I do remember feeling how small the cockpit was inside....really snug.

If the N17 is still at Duxford IWM I will ask a friend of mine to take a look for you and get a picture next time he is there working on the aircraft.

Best wishes with the model,

Dave

PS maybe there will be some images or a walkround on google somewhere?

[coyotemagic]

I don't know how I missed this one, Ernie!  Outstanding work, so far, my friend.  Your cockpit is superb and tha pulseometer is brilliant.
Cheers,
Bud

[Ernie]

Thanks so much, Bud.  Coming from someone with your talent, it is very gratifying!
Dave, thanks for the information.  About all I could find was Mark Miller's great 3d
cutaway drawings with one shown, so I made up a rough example for mine.  Now I'm
not sure if I should use it or not...decisions, decisions! 

http://www.wwi-models.org/Images/Miller/render/Nieuport/n17mmrev7.jpg

Cheers,
Ernie
 

[Dal Gavan]

Ernie, I can only echo what the others have said, mate- that's coming along brilliantly. 

I agree about soldering- it makes working with brass so much easier.  Have you tried lo-melt solder for white metal? 

Dal.   

[Ernie]

Ernie, I can only echo what the others have said, mate- that's coming along brilliantly. 

I agree about soldering- it makes working with brass so much easier.  Have you tried lo-melt solder for white metal? 

Dal.   

Thanks so much for the encouragement, Dal.  Very much appreciated!  I've not tried the lo-melt solder.
Is it any different in use than the regular stuff?...other than less heat needed?  Thanks for the suggestion.
I'll have to give it a try.

Cheers,
Ernie

[PrzemoL]

You are continuing the fine job on the interior - fine modelling!

[Ernie]

Thank you Prze.  I hold your work as an inspiration.  Your encouragement
is so kind.
  I'm nearly ready to close up the fuselage...just a few more bits to add.

Cheers,
Ernie

[Dal Gavan]

G'day, Ernie.

Lo-melt is mainly used for white metal, such as figures.  It's a little more complicated than standard solder, as you'll need a low temperature iron (capable of 100 to 110°C- or an in-line rheostat to lower the current to the iron) and the correct flux.  I already had it on hand and found it was easier to use on the Aber barrel sets I was putting together than the 60/40 rosin core or eutectic solder I normally use.  It comes in sticks, not as a paste, but I trim some flakes off if I'm doing small stuff.

If you're doing white metal figures, though, it's brilliant as it both fills and creates a very strong join.  The horse head below was soldered and only needed some putty to allow the mane to be worked, to hide the join.  If you're not doing white metal, it's probably not worth the bother.

Cheers.

Dal. 

[Ernie]

Thanks for the explaination, Dal.  I see it would be a great boon to white metal work.
I will certainly keep that in mind when I delve into the world of white metal figures, etc.
For now, I guess it's stick with the usual.

Cheers,
Ernie

[Ernie]

Just a little update today, mes amis.  I've finally given the pilot something
to sit on...pretty crude seat cushion, but not too noticeable.   Also the Tom's
brass seatbelts, a Vickers charging handle and a couple of wires running from
the back of the instruments to the netherworld forward.  I simulated an ammo
chest ahead of the instruments, more as a view block than anything.  Silly, but
effective.  
  Thanks for looking, everyone. 









...more to come. 

Cheers,
Ernie