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AirCraft Models : Nieuport Sesquiplan racer. Finished !


Hubert Boillot

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Now this a Group Build I could not avoid participating in, in spite of the fact that I am incredibly poor at delivering anything, whether it is a group build or a "standard" build.

 

But, as this is me era of predilection, and I have been a proponent of the theme, the least I could do was to show my support and participate ;) ...

 

I had to make choices in the (ever-extending) stash, and I went for the esoteric : a vac-formed model of a French racer and record plane : the Nieuport Sesquiplan :frantic:

 

In the early 20s, this aircraft has beaten a number of speed records, in the hands of the famous (in his time) pilot Sadi Lecointe, and Georges Kirsch. It was the first aircraft to fly above 200 mph, on September 26th, 1921.

 

Highly streamlined, with Lamblin radiators ("lobster pots"), it was influential in its time and inspired other aircrafts looking for ever-higher speeds.

 

I fetched the 1/32 Air Craft vacform kit of this one on ebay some time ago, the kit dating back to 1996. Air Craft was a UK cottage industry producer, and I confess I do not know what they became.

 

First, the pic of the box :

 

IMG_0499_zpsmdba433n.jpg

 

And its content : three sheets of nicely done (female-molding) plastic parts, plus some white metal parts for the prop, the Lamblin lobster pots, the prop-boss and the tail skid. Not included in the pics are some Contrail streamlined struts. Finally, a detailed instruction sheet with drawings and explanations,  and a mini decal sheet with the numbers for "6" ,  Lecointe's red-tailed aircraft, or Kirsch's blue-tailed "7".

The kit is of really high quality, the sheets having been formed in female molds, i.e. the plastic sheets have been "sucked-in" the molds (rather than formed over a postive master). Thus the details and  surface are really sharp and neat, with great definition. The best among vac-form kits IMHO.

 

IMG_0501_zpsjy4twcjw.jpg

 

Vacforms, especially of this quality are less daunting than they look. The dreaded separation of the parts from the backing sheet is fairly straightforward, and does not take that long.

 

First, use a Sharpie pen with a flat head to draw along the countours of the parts :

 

IMG_0505_zpseri9ymrp.jpg

 

Then, gently score with a knife along the perimeter of the part. Do not try to cut through the plastic : this would just risk cutting through the part. You can then snap the part from the backing sheet.

 

IMG_0503_zpsar9vjnqo.jpg

 

This is where the sharpie black line will help : the backing sheet apears as a thin white line, that needs to be sanded away. When you reach the black line, you have sanded enough !

 

IMG_0504_zpsywudbdpy.jpg

 

Then starts a quick sanding on a wet-and-dry sandpaper sheet, (using circular motions to avoid oversanding some areas), like this :

 

IMG_0508_zpscjnj5n8g.jpg

 

In the case of the Sesquiplan, the half-fuselages are molded with a hefty "filling"for the top cowling and front of the fuselage, that you need to keep until the basic sanding is done. You can then cut it away, this time by scoring gently but repeatedly along the lines, to discard the unwanted plastic. The half-fuselahe then looks like this :

 

IMG_0509_zpsisxq1e5o.jpg

 

All in all, it has taken me less than 15 minutes to end up with the ready-to-use left half of the fuselage.

 

TBC :piliot:

 

Hubert

Edited by MostlyRacers
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Wow! This is an oldie but goldie kit! Company founded in 1991 and closed in 1997. So this kit is at least 20 years old! Also looong OOP and gone by the wind. You are a lucky man with something like this in your stash :speak_cool:

 

 

Regards

- dutik

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Have you got a copy of "The Speed Seekers"? I can check my copy once I get home this evening to see what detail it has. This is the most likely book I can think of to have some detail on this plane. I do recall a section covering the several examples of the Nieuport racers, and it looks like one is featured on the cover in Amazon's listing (USA listing). The book mostly covers just before the 30's, so it misses some of the colorful ones from that decade, but the early racers have some good detail.

 

I checked on Amazon (USA) and saw a few copies for under $7, which would be a great deal. Not sure what postage would cost you though...    https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0385060505/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=all

 

Tnarg

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Wow, that's an adventure build, great !

 

That's the first time i see this kit. Very interesting project Hubert. ANd the aircraft looks damn beautiful ! It looks like a Scheider Trophy racer without floats !

 

However, i always thought a sesquiplane was a biplane where the lower wings were about half the surface of the upper wings. But this one seems to be a monoplane?

Edited by Zero77
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The surface between the two undercarriage legs and wheels is actually a (small, admittedly) wing, providing lift ... Hence the sesquiplane name.

 

The aircrafts were painted in highly polished white paint, with a natural metal cowling, and a colored fin/rudder and horizontal rear surfaces.

 

Hubert

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This one looks a lot like the early Supermarine Schneider racer, the white one. It is a thing of beauty, and we hope to see your version looking nice.

 

Glad to be of help for you to spend money... I will check to see if there is any instrument panel or interior detail in an hour or two, once I get home.

 

Tnarg

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Now we're talking! What a beautiful aeroplane. Go Hubert!, always a good taste for technological prettiness :) ( is that even a legit word?)

With your knowledge and skill set we're up for a threat .

Me will follow....long time :)

Cheers

Martin

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Unfortunately, that Speed Seekers book has photos of lots of details that don't include the Nieuport interior. Most racers of the 20's are there, but then it stops and you need other references for the 30's and beyond. Still, it's an incredible reference.

 

No luck with French Wings #2, which covers the Ni.D 29 and 62 series. Lots of great side profiles and exterior photos, but no interior photos nor drawings.

 

Tnarg

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Terrific project, Hubert, and thanks for throwing your hat into the ring. May I borrow some of your photos for the Kit Database?

 

Kev

 

Please do .. although I thought I had already supplied the kit box picture. I'll try to make a better pic of the contents, but they are all marred by black Sharpie lines now ...

 

Hubert

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Unfortunately, that Speed Seekers book has photos of lots of details that don't include the Nieuport interior. Most racers of the 20's are there, but then it stops and you need other references for the 30's and beyond. Still, it's an incredible reference.

 

No luck with French Wings #2, which covers the Ni.D 29 and 62 series. Lots of great side profiles and exterior photos, but no interior photos nor drawings.

 

Tnarg

 

This is frustrating isn't it ? My assumption that the Sesquiplan had the same IP layout that the NiD 29 still stands, but that does not mak me any richer for pics :). From te NiD-29 profile drawings, it seems that the IP is actually two angled panels on the sides. This configuration is apparently still true in the NiD -120

 

Hubert

Edited by MostlyRacers
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Please do .. although I thought I had already supplied the kit box picture. I'll try to make a better pic of the contents, but they are all marred by black Sharpie lines now ...

 

Hubert

Indeed you did, Hubert!

 

http://www.largescaleplanes.com/kitdb/details.php?kit=1146

 

I'm happy to use the photos that are already in this thread. Perhaps a scan of the instructions, and decals if there are any?

 

Kev

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