Merit SMER Nieuport 11.......

[Allan31]

I wanted something to further practice my CDL technique and found this colorful candidate in the "olde" stash.

 

 

For years I was thinking this was a re-pop of the old Aurora kit but apparently not. Would love to put the two side by side.

 

 

Decals look usable so I started tweaking.

 

 

Cockpit with kit parts. Thinned down cowling.

 

 

Corrected cockpit coaming.

 

 

As I did with the cowling, I used furnace tape to detail the upper wing for hinges and gun mount. I added the slit for the two part wing.

 

 

I primed everything with Tamiya fine white and then started doing the rib detail.

 

 

This is a two part process but simple and easy. I use the same for all CDL.
After the white primer I take my Vallejo beige and white and mix them 50/50 for the rib color and spray over all.

 

 

I use 1mm Tamiya tape and mask the ribs.

 

 

When all that is masked, I shoot the beige 100% then remove the masking tape.

 

 

Will add edge color to wings and such, Future then ready for decals.

[Allan31]

So, this is what I have in the kit for an engine and propeller.

 

 

I remember those old Alan Hall articles on scratch build engines by cutting the heads off screws and glueing them on a dowel.

 

 

Not happening. Instead, I found a radial engine beautifully 3D printed but it's the wrong one, this is a 110 for a Sopwith Camel.

 

 

The biggest difference is of course the exhaust pipes are in front for the 80 and in back for the 110. This what I need it to look like.

 

 

 

Surgery required. I ground off the front and back of the two pieces and mounted the exhaust on the front.

 

 

 

 

Close enough. Since I've kinda broken my own rule of no aftermarket, I went ahead and pinched a propeller from a Dr1.

 

 

All the major bits are done and we are ready to assemble and finish the little Bebe.

 

 

 

 

More soon I hope.

[Paul Thompson]

If you're ever in the market for one of the most recently tooled Eduard Sopwith Camels, after you've selected the engine you want you'll be left with 3 different types for spares. Just saying - gone are the days when you could pick up a perfectly good Aeroclub engine and prop for £1.50, I'm afraid.

 

BTW,  just in case you didn't know, the dashboard affair in this kit is fictitious. As in, Nieuports usually didn't have one (despite several nice Eduard kits that include one). The instruments were bolted to structural members around the cockpit. The exception would be RNAS aircraft, which may have had one, or a Lewis magazibe holder instead. Not that you'll see a lot with the top wing on anyway.

 

Nice work.  Paul.