Nieuport Ni-23
Dual Combo

Eduard, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Rob Baumgartner

Eduard's 1/72 scale Nieuport Ni-23 Dual Combo will be available online from Squadron.com
 

Eduard has been responsible for a number of innovative marketing ideas. One of these is the “Dual Combo”, and this incarnation sees the boxing of the Nieuport 23.

The modeller gets two complete Ni 23 kits, two frets of photo-etched parts, a masking set and decals for 4 options.

Each aircraft has 42 plastic parts and these are crisply moulded with no surface defects. Any ejection pin marks are cleverly hidden in the final assembly.

The fuselage halves contain a partial interior which is enhanced with the supplied p-e items. This includes full framework and bracing, perforated seat, controls, instruments and seatbelts. These latter two parts are pre coloured and are a real boon to the modeller wanting a busy, well appointed cockpit area.

The wings are superb pieces of moulding. Both upper and lower flying surfaces are in one piece thus no setting of the dihedral is necessary. The trailing edges are very sharp and each shows delicate, retrained rib detail.

All of the major components compare very well to credible published drawings. Those used were done in 1993 by Ian Stair and are found published in Volume 1 of the Windsock Datafile series on “Nieuport Fighters”.

• 
• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

Apart from the aforementioned items, there are other notable pieces found on the p-e fret. These include details for the Vickers gun, an engine “spider”, and various windscreen frames.

The diverse range of markings supplied in the kit call for different styles of cowling. Eduard provides this part but has elected not to reproduce the cut-outs. Thus it is up to the modeller has to do the modifications needed to match the chosen decal option. This is pointed out for the two N.3598 options, but not either the Thieffry or Kibanov aircraft.

The former couple had the lower portion removed with the latter pair needing some deft work to recreate the prominent lower slots.

For those who need help painting, a masking sheet for the clear plastic windscreens is provided as well as templates for the wheel covers.

Marking Options

Four options are catered for and as expected, none of them are French.

• Edmond Thieffry kicks off the campaign with his 1917 machine from 5 me Escadrille.

This scheme provides an interesting contrast of khaki drab upper surfaces on the silver doped fuselage. The Belgian colours add a further dimension.

Thieffry was a young Lawyer when war broke out and very soon after became a prisoner of war. He escaped and became a pilot, a decision which saw the destruction of many of his own aircraft. Fortunately, the enemy also suffered as Thieffry accounted for at least 10 adversaries and gained the distinction of being the first Belgian to score a double victory.

• Many Russian pilots were sent to France for experience. They liked the fuselage adornments they found on the French aircraft and it wasn’t long before they applied them to their own machines.

A stint in a cavalry may explain the horse related images found on Kibanov’s aircraft as he had these on the top and sides of the fuselage. He was shot down and killed in this aircraft on October 11, 1917.

• Long thought to be a Ni 17, these last two options are actually various stages in the life of Ni. 23, N.3598. An excellent article by Zden?k ?ejka bares this out and can be found in the November/December issue of Windsock International.

“Bob” as this aircraft is famously marked was assigned to the Russian 19th Corps Aviation Detachment. It was flown by Lieutenant Boris Guber and was eventually lost to the Austro-Hungarian Army.

• The last option sees N.3598 in Czech markings. Here it wears a bird of prey on the fuselage and carries red and white wheel discs.

One could forgo the roundel on the rudder and paint it yellow and blue to provide yet another option. This would see it in Ukrainian markings but it’s debateable whether it carried markings on the upper wings.

Eduard's “Dual Combo” kits provide excellent value for money.

The package contains the sound plastic from earlier releases and is complimented by an excellent range of photo-etched items. The decal sheet is comprehensive and as usual, is in perfect register. The carrier film is minimal and this all adds up to a quality product.

Highly Recommended 

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2008 by Rob Baumgartner
Page Created 29 January, 2008
Last updated 29 January, 2008

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page