Nieuport 21 Question

WillHendriks · 16 February 2005, 03:06 PM

Hi All:

I recall that the sides of the cockpits were wood (Ni.11, 17, 21, etc.) but that this wood side structure extended only as far back as the front of the cockpit in some cases, and in others to the back of the seat?

I am building the Eduard Ni.21 in Russian markings, namely the Mahlapuu machine on skis in the Eduard Profipack kit.

So how far did the side wood structure go back on these Nieuport 21's?

TIA,

Will

StephenLawson · 16 February 2005, 03:32 PM

The outer wood cheek fairings extended to the rear of the cockpit. The fabric interior extended to the rear of the cockpit in some cases and in others it extended to the front of the cockpit. This caused an overlap of the fairing over the fabric in these cases. I do not know what serials this was prevalent in but it appears to be true for several Nieu 17 & 21 airframes. I don't know if it was done to the 21 bis, 24, 24 bis or 27.

edmondthieffry · 16 February 2005, 03:42 PM

Hello Will,

Grossly, the Nieuport 21 was a light version of the Nieuport 17 devoted mainly to training. IIRC, they differed only by their engine and some differences in rigging. The panel wood extended to the back of the seat as you can see on the pic below (this pic and more than 40 news of the Brussels's Nieuport 23 should be posted on my site before the end of these month).

Hope this is help.

Best regards from Belgium

Philippe

edmondthieffry · 16 February 2005, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StephenLawson

The outer wood cheek fairings extended to the rear of the cockpit. The fabric interior extended to the rear of the cockpit in some cases and in others it extended to the front of the cockpit. This caused an overlap of the fairing over the fabric in these cases. I do not know what serials this was prevalent in but it appears to be true for several Nieu 17 & 21 airframes. I don't know if it was done to the 21 bis, 24, 24 bis or 27.

Hello Stephen,

I don't know for all of Nieuport, but on the Brussels's Nieuport 23, the cheek fairing were made of two layers of thin wood strip (as you can see on the pic of my previous post). On these two layers of wood, a piece of fabric was marouflaged on the external face using dope. Finally, the fabric was doped with silver dope. A new starboard cheek fairing have been made by the Nieuport's restoration team to replace the old. You'll find different pics of the new cheek fairing here . This page is a brief report of a meeting with American an Canadian friends in our beloved museum, but in its middle you'll find 3 of 4 pics in relation with our subject.

Best regards from Belgium.

Philippe

WillHendriks · 16 February 2005, 04:53 PM

Wow, thank you everyone for the very prompt replies! It appears then that the wood surface extends to the area behind the seat. So be it.

Philippe, it appears in the photo you attached that the seat itself has a black finish. Was the seat a wooden one painted black or was it a metal one? I notice also that the metal parts are light grey.

Thank you all.

Will

edmondthieffry · 16 February 2005, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillHendriks

Wow, thank you everyone for the very prompt replies! It appears then that the wood surface extends to the area behind the seat. So be it.

Philippe, it appears in the photo you attached that the seat itself has a black finish. Was the seat a wooden one painted black or was it a metal one? I notice also that the metal parts are light grey.

Thank you all.

Will

Hi Will,

IIRC, It was made of metal but I'm not sure of this and I've to ask to the restoration team crews. More on this in a few days (If I forget not to ask

).

Best regards from Belgium.

Philippe

WillHendriks · 16 February 2005, 06:16 PM

Hi Philippe:

Thanks for the help. I also just had a look in the Windsock Nieuport Special vol.I of the color photos of the Nie.23, and that seat appears to be wooden.

Also just noticed that the Eduard Nie.21 kit has the wrong engine! It should have a 80hp LeRhone 9C instead of the 110 hp LeRhone like the Nie.17 that is in the kit.

Sheesh.

Will

StephenLawson · 25 February 2005, 05:13 PM

Greetings all; Since the "Your ideas" thread is locked out. http://theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3753

and the subject of this thread is pertinent to the type I will employ,here is a bit of fun.

StephenLawson · 25 February 2005, 05:21 PM

Here is the other side. These images show the cockpit is about 80% completed. The subject is a wrecked Nieuport 21 undergoing salvage. The Frame is twisted and wires hanging loose. The upper forward deck is battered. Some details have yet to be added.

StephenLawson · 25 February 2005, 05:24 PM

Here is a close up of the pilot's left side of cockpit area.