My next build the Roden 1/32 Nieuport 28.I will be adding the (old) KAE (now an Aviattic product) Peach basket seat and the Scale Spokes wheels for this aircraft type.



Aviattic

Scale Spokes

The kit motor has a couple of issues but the easiest is that you should replace the plastic pushrods (like I did) with cut brass rod. and add simple sparkplug wiring. The biggest cosmetic issue is removing the mold seam on the sides of the cylinder jackets.

A little dry fit to make sure the build is not going to provide some hair raising problems. The RKAE Peach Basket seat is not quite a drop in replacement for the solid kit seat. (As mentioned in the review). I suspect the redo by Aviattic is much better. So I'll get one of those for comparison.

Seat review here.

Kit cockpit rigging almost compete. Next the instrument bar and some simulated wiring. The RKAE Peach Basket seat is not quite a drop in replacement for the solid kit seat. I suspect the redo by Aviattic is much better. So I'll get one of those for comparison.



This is the "instruments bar". The two top gauges on the trapazoid plate were only seen on prototype examples. They are an altimeter and magneto strength gauge. Also missing from the kit is the fuel read out. It was similar to the oil pulsometer but about twice as long. And the ammunition storage bin.



Here is a shot of a typical Nieuport 28 cockpit before armament is installed.

This part is is on the part map but the installation is not in the instructions.


Here part #3 is added for the upper machine gun feed. The lower is molded in place.


Here ie the kit cowling (at left) and the Aviattic resin cowling (at right).


Aviattic resin replacement during clean up.

Very great work and beautiful painting Stephen.
Cheers
Martin

Thank you Martin.

Almost completed cockpit.


One of two possibilities. Here are the 2 smaller ammunition bins.


Here the lines divide the access doors from the hinge plates.

Here the ammo bins are installed.


Next the fuselage is closed up.


Use masking tape to protect details you want to keep in the sanding process.

Its easy for me to see that after doing the earlier Roden Nieuport 1/32 kits this past year this Roden example was done by a different contract company.

Mister Kit acrylics, water and a Badger electric paint stirrer. Both reviewed here at Aeroscale.


Mister Kit acrylics, water and enamel equivalents. The Mister Kit dark green has more blue in it than I care for.


The kit prop boss plate is too thick and needs to be skinned off & sanded down. Then reattached.


Getting the prop boss plate thin is easy enough.

Parts as of Jan. 20, 2016. Still need some additional paint coverage.

Dual Vickers Gun Mounts for the late AEF version.

Hi Stephen

It's certainly coming on. Are the dimples ejector-pin marks on the Vickers' cooling jackets? - I can't see anything matching them on shots of Nieuport 28s. The guns look like they may need a little help to get them pointing in the same direction, but I'm sure this is just a test-fit at the moment.

All the best

Rowan

Greetings Rowan,

The flat circular segments on the Vickers gun jackets represent the caps that were installed to convert some gun jackets from infantry to aviation installations. Different collars were located in the 1/3 to 1/2 way length of the jacket. See the review I did here.

Note the cover of the book for a visual reference. Yes the rear of the top gun needs to be moved inward about 1/32". The problem is the top feed chute just sticks out too far. Easy enough to fix.

To explain further those caps were reinforcements so the forward ring supports (See the #3 image I reposted here below) could stabilize the gun jacket when the gun was fired.

Hi Stephen

Thanks for the explanation. The circles look further back than where the supports are in the photos I've seen, but adding the latter will certainly help dress up the guns a bit. I'm glad they'll straighten up easily - the armourer would be on a charge otherwise.

All the best

Rowan

Most of the painting is done.

in case anyone wants to find the references I use here are the "Nieuport" based references and of course the Vickers Machine Gun book I discussed a few post back.

Just an update. Still some rigging to do, wire spoke wheels, propeller and touch ups are needed. With today's update you can see I am going with the late version of Rickenbacker's old N 6159. After about May 28th 1918 it was assigned to a Lt. G. Zacharias. He flew it at least June 11, 1918. On the pilot's right side of the cockpit Rickenbacker had attached a 4 X 3 inch St. Christopher's medallion. It is known he had a similar item on his Spad XIII. Whether this one stayed on N6159 is unknown.

Finished.

You have made an exellent build.
Cheers
Martin

Thank you Martin!

Stephen,
Very nice looking build!

Gary

Thank you Gary!

Stephen, it's an amazing build Care to share the rough amount of hours you've spent on that beau?
Bart