AM items and other info on Roden Ni 28?

melsharkskin · 14 July 2008, 06:51 PM

I just got my review copy of the Schiffer book "The Nieuport 28 -- America's First Fighter." Despite the arguable title (oh, and it will be argued, but not by me), it is an absolutely dazzling piece of work, including the wonderful profiles and planviews that are included with relevant details.

It also includes a 50-photo essay of the NASM's restoration, which may as well have been included as a modeling manual for scratchbuilders. Add to that the insightful text and great scrap drawings, and you get a fine book on a deserving subject.

I immediately struck a deal with my pal Mike Taylor for one of his 1/32 Roden kits and I'm almost in business. My questions are these:

a: Can anyone (Mr. Lawson, are you out there?) warn me about kit mistakes and pitfalls before I blunder headlong into them and,
b: Has anyone put out aftermarket parts for this kit yet? If so, what and are they any good?

Many thanks to you all,
TOM

StephenLawson · 14 July 2008, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melsharkskin

a: Can anyone (Mr. Lawson, are you out there?) warn me about kit mistakes and pitfalls before I blunder headlong into them and,
b: Has anyone put out aftermarket parts for this kit yet? If so, what and are they any good?
Many thanks to you all,
TOM

Greetings Mr. Bell;

One of the best builds I have seen so far was done by modeler extrodinaire Lars Qvarfordt. his detailed build can be found here.

Anything I would add would just echo his work. And yes Part of Poland has done a set that Larsa also discusses.

Roden liked my treatment of their Pfalz D.III so they sent me 5 of their 1/32 scale kits. I parcelled them out to a group of commited modelers (straitjackets not included) and we are doing a bit of a GB over on the othersite. Larsa joined in with is kits from a distributor and Viola!

StephenLawson · 14 July 2008, 08:56 PM

Also Larsa added some finished shots here.
Click Here.

lars qvarfordt · 16 July 2008, 11:48 AM

Hi Melsharkskin

Rodens Nieuport is a gem, I can just say if there wasn’t for Rodens excellent work I´ve could not made this one in eight weeks time. The kit does not any big pitfalls or blunders,exept for the seat but I can understand Roden why they didn’t make that kind off wooden basket for a seat. You do have to sand a little round the cowling edge against the fuselage, otherwise no problems at all.
If you want to make that kind off seat I did you will need the etch from Part/Polen for the 48-scale Nie 28 and copy machine. Put the etch on a paper and add 150 % on the machine. Cutting thin strips off pc and glue them together is a fairly easy task.
Finding the right colours is another Q. I used Humbrols for mine.

Good luck with the build and don´t forgot to send in some pics

All the best
Larsa Q

melsharkskin · 16 July 2008, 08:43 PM

Thanks Stephen and Lars. I'll jump over to the links and see what's up, and in the meantime I'll see if I can hit Part up for their set. I did notice the "peach basket" seat on the NASM restoration and wondered how that would be handled in a styrene molding, or in PE for that matter. One thing I did know: This modeler was not going to be weaving a seat from paper-thin slivers of wood.

On the other hand, if we know anything from modeling this war, it is that nobody can tell you your seat is wrong, especially certain types like the Nieuport, where some sources would have us believe that seats were almost automatically replaced in some, if not most, squadrons. I can't say how often the aluminum German and Sopwith seats were replaced with the aviator's favorite comfy chair ("Give her the...comfy chair!" -- sorry, something Pythonesque sneaked in there for a moment.)

Again, thanks, and any more comments would be appreciated.
TOM