Kovozávody Prostějov Nieuport Ni-16 Other Services (KPM0452) 1:72

[Mike]

Nieuport Ni-16 Other Services (KPM0452)

1:72 Kovozávody Prostějov

 

 

The Nieuport 16 was a development of the Ni.11, Its sesquiplane configuration that was inherited from its progenitor gave the pilot a better view of the surroundings, a more powerful engine a higher top speed, rate of climb, which again found favour with air forces outside WWI France, seeing service with British RNAS, Russian, Belgian and Dutch.  They were even more capable than the 11s and took part in breaking the domination of the Fokker Eindeckers towards to the end of 1916, that was known colloquially as the Fokker Scourge.  The Nieuport’s speed and manoeuvrability was provided by an uprated Le Rhône 9J nine-cylinder rotary engine supplying 110hp that drove the airframe to speeds in excess of 100mph, which was impressive for the time, with a service ceiling of 16,000ft and endurance of two hours.

 

It was superseded in 1916 in typical WWI fashion where the developments were coming thick and fast, reaching service in weeks rather than years, by the Ni.17 that had entered development concurrently with the Ni.16.  The pilot’s comfort was improved by adding a headrest behind the pilot, although its bullet-stopping power was negligible, and while initial airframes were fitted with a cowling mounted machine gun that used synchroniser gear, these proved difficult in use, particularly with the Vickers Machine Gun, which suffered from a slight variation in its rate of fire.  British airframes retained their Lewis gun on a more flexible Foster mounting that was originally intended to facilitate in-flight reloading, but was also used by pilots to fire upwards, in a precursor of Schräge Musik. 

 

 

The Kit

This is a boxing of a new tool from Kovozávody Prostějov, and it arrives in an end-opening box with a painting of the subject matter on the front, and profiles of the three decal options on the rear.  Inside the box is a single sprue of grey styrene in a re-sealable bag, a small decal sheet, and an instruction booklet that is formed from a folded sheet of A4, and is printed in black and white.  Detail is good, with ribbing on the flying surfaces, stitching and internal structure moulded into the fuselage halves, plus a choice of rotary engines and propellers.

 

 

Construction begins with the rectangular cockpit floor, which has a control stick and seat fitted, the latter on a box to give it sufficient height.  The instrument panel is a curved part that has dials moulded-in, and has a painting guide printed next to the cockpit instructions, fitting the cockpit and panel between the fuselage halves after detail painting the interior ribbing and skin.  After dealing with the seam, the fuselage is mated with the narrow lower wing, and the V-struts are fitted into depressions moulded into the surface, fixing two straight cabane struts and an inverted V-strut over the deck in front of the cockpit.  Part 16 is used to depict the engine for this boxing, with a wiring loom added to the front, using part 3 as the cowling, then fitting the completed assembly on a peg moulded into the fuselage front.  The elevator is a single part that sits atop the tail, adding the rudder perpendicular over it to complete the empennage.

 

The upper wing is substantially larger than the lower, with flared tips and ailerons scribed into the trailing edges, fitting two reel-like parts into a pair of slots cut into the centre of the wing.  A small windscreen frame is applied to the front of the cockpit cut-out, into which you will need to fit a small piece of acetate sheet to depict the screen before lowering the upper wing into position, adding a headrest fairing behind the cockpit.  A choice of Lewis gun or Vickers Machine Gun is made on the instruction steps, but looking at the profiles all airframes use the Lewis Gun.  The Lewis gun has a separate plate mag, and a two-part support, which is probably best left off until main painting is completed.  The landing gear is built from two V-struts with an axle between them, installing it under the fuselage and mounting a wheel at either end of the axle, then choosing prop part 12 to complete the build.

 

 

Markings

There are three decal options on the small sheet, in Belgian, British and French service with similar camouflage schemes.  From the box you can build one of the following:

 

 

 

The decals are printed using a digital process and have good registration, sharpness, and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut loosely around the printed areas.  This means that the carrier film on their decals can be coaxed away from the printed part of the decal after they have been applied, effectively rendering them carrier film free, making the completed decals much thinner and more realistic, and obviating the need to apply successive coats of clear varnish to hide the edges of the carrier film.  It’s a great step further in realism from my point of view, and saves a good quantity of precious modelling time into the bargain.

 

 

Conclusion

At 1:72 the Ni.16 is a tiny model like its Ni.11 cousin, but Kovozávody Prostějov have managed to fit plenty of detail into the parts, which should build into a creditable replica with the application of some care and skill.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of