Hobbycraft 1:32 Scale Nieuport 17- Capt W.A. "Billy" Bishop V.C.

[lcarroll]

Thanks for the vote of confidence Bud. In fact I've since sprayed on a coat of Vallejo Satin Clear polyurethane and it looks good as is.
Thanks for the information Tug and Greg. Since posting I've managed to "pin" the undercarriage struts with stainless steel wire, a delicate task but not as difficult as I thought it would be. They were by far the thinnest stock I've done in this manner but I think they'll be just fine. I'll be posting another update with photos shortly.
Cheers,
Lance

[lcarroll]

Here's the latest small update. I've been adding last minute details in preparation for mounting the upper wing. The Scratch Built Aldis Sight was attached under the upper wing first:



    Next came a cap for the oil reservoir after drilling the opening in the cowling.....



.....and the finished product:



    The undercarriage struts were "pinned" with stainless steel wire and the windshield installed as well:





     Last, and "at last", the upper wing was attached. This part of the assembly went remarkably well and quickly; the wing is nicely aligned and solidly held with CA.





    Next comes the rigging; I prefer to leave the control surfaces off if possible and the landing gear assembly as well until the rigging is complete, otherwise I tend to knock it all off during the main rigging portion of the Build.
 
Cheers,
Lance

[RAGIII]

The sight looks awesome mounted on the wing as does the results of tweaking the struts to mount the windscreen. The fuel cap is excellent. Finally, she looks beautiful as a bi plane!
RAGIII

[Juan]

The fruits of your labor are very visible.  Great looking A/C.

[GAJouette]

 Lance,
Stunning up date my old friend.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[Alexis]

She is looking might fine Lance 




Terri

[lcarroll]

Rick, Juan, Greg and Terri,
   Thank you all for your comments and interest. Now that this one is coming together I'm really looking forward to the final stretch. A Wingnut Wings Kit it isn't but it does build into a very decent model with a little extra effort. This one has increased my determination to find a Nieuport 11 at a decent price and add it to the collection as well.
Cheers,
Lance

[PrzemoL]

Getting more and more beautiful. Very fine model, Lance. You will have a true gem at the end.

[Suffolk Lad]

Really nice work Lance and great attention to detail - I see what you mean about minimal plastic to work with on those legs but it looks like you've nailed it just fine.

Re your remark on a 11 at a decent price - Special Hobby? - I don't think the engine is quite as good as the one in their Nie 16 (which was excellent) but still a nice package for the outlay.

I'm still progressing the SE5 but have to say, despite it's stunning qualities nowhere near enjoying the build compared to that of the Camel or Nieuport which required far more 'on the bench' input. I'm beginning to think that nice that the WNW are, these lower priced kits - Roden, Special Hobby etc give far more modelling pleasure for the outlay.

Keep it coming Lance - like Toby with his build you have me inspired (yet again  )

Regards - Tug

[TobyCoulson]

Really nice work so far and adding the wire to the U/C legs is something I must look at doing next time round.
The windshield looks very tidy as I hoped mine was going to be until I realised I'd forgotten to mask one side!!

[Gisbod]

Lovely Lance,

The Aldis is a beauty!

Guy

[Borsos]

just awesome, Lance! Really a pretty little Nieuport and you are right: Built by you it can definitely hold its ground against a WNW kit, you brought it up to that level! I have the Special Hobby Nieuport XI and the A-Model Nieuport XVI and both are beauties that I can recommend as highly as it is possible without having built one of them yet. One of my basic rules says "you can never have enough Nieuports..." I send you a link that I found on the large scale modelling page, there's an absolutely masterclass Nieuport XI built: http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?showtopic=60446 That's at least my inspiration for my SH kit and maybe it convinces you too...?  Maybe the problem with the engine can be solved a little simplier by using that very cool looking stuff to copy a WNW LeRhone? http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=7874.0
Best wishes
Andreas

[lcarroll]

Thank you all for the great comments.
Tug,
    Your point on the lower priced Kits is well taken, I enjoy them as well as they force one into the "real modelling" style of necessity. I have several of the Roden 1:32 Series in the cabinet and all built into very nice models. Their Nieuport 28 and DR.1 are both great productions and the SSW D.III builds into a real gem. I hope they release a few more, as Wingnut Wings have seemed to go rather cold on the back burner of late, at least compared to their past rate of production. For now the Special Hobby Ni.11 is a "want" and, given the relative prices of the Wingnut's offerings, very imminent!
    So much to build, so little time........
Cheers,
Lance

[Ian from Doncaster]

Hi Lance,

Just catching up on this thread so apologies if some of my comments are a bit late!  I think you are doing a great job with this and the interior now finished is very effective.

I like the post shading for the ribs, a method I follow too as it allows for post shading over roundel decals etc.  The satin coating IMHO is perfect as it doesn't take away the Alu dope effect and is not glossy.

Going back to paint, I swear by Revell Aqua range.  Either sprayed thinned with water or hand brushed very thinly, it is great for fabric representation, and I also use Mr Metal for "metal" parts - your idea to get the top cowling contrast works extremely well!

[lcarroll]

Borsos,
   Thanks for the comments and especially for the link, that is indeed a beautifully built Ni.11. That "Blue Stuff' is fascinating and I do have an unbuilt Wingnut Wings Pup LeRhone I could copy, great thought! Your Link has already proved very useful; as I was looking through the photos I spotted the gas tank cap on the upper cowl, think I missed that earlier so back to the bench!!
Ian,
   Thank you as well. I've looked for the Revell paints you mention here in Western Canada with no success, I don't know if they are available here, are they a Revell Germany product? As for the post shading approach it's a great technique (picked up from Coyote Magic, Bud, here on the Forum a few years back.)
Cheers Both,
Lance