The Nieuport 11 Bebe paper model

**Blackronin** · 01-19-2014 10:24

My current WW1 solo campaign needs Nieuport 11's since new year 1916 is coming quickly.
I found some wonderful paper Nieuport 11's created by Kampfflieger (Roman) and I bought them and I pretend to build 5.

This is the first one:

The model is originally in 1/72 scale, but it's very easy to reduce it to 1/144. You just have to reduce the image to 50%.

It's all paper except the Machine-gun. It would be very ugly in such a small rendering. It's wire and cardboard.

There are some differences between the N11 and the N17.

The lower wing is bigger in the N17.

The N11 is shorter and the engine smaller.

Flying together.

I'm not convinced with the E deck for the N11.

I will fly this bird... Soon in my little solo campaign.

**Jager** · 01-20-2014 03:00

A nice little Bebe you have there. I'm sure she will sting as well

Karl

**Blackronin** · 01-20-2014 03:09

Originally Posted by Jager

A nice little Bebe you have there. I'm sure she will sting as well

Karl

I hope so. Karl.
I'm creating an E+ Deck for the N11.
Let's see.

**MoonSylver** · 01-20-2014 10:13

Beautiful little bird!

Nice clean, clear lines, & bright colors.

My factory has slowed to a crawl...I'm still messing about with the polystyrene "underbodies", which while it produces a strong finished plane, isn't as clean looking IMO & can be a pain. So I'm questioning the trade off. Plus I started 3 planes at once (experimenting on fuselage building techniques), so as a result I haven't finished any of them.

**Blackronin** · 01-20-2014 15:06

Originally Posted by MoonSylver

Beautiful little bird!

Nice clean, clear lines, & bright colors.

My factory has slowed to a crawl...I'm still messing about with the polystyrene "underbodies", which while it produces a strong finished plane, isn't as clean looking IMO & can be a pain. So I'm questioning the trade off. Plus I started 3 planes at once (experimenting on fuselage building techniques), so as a result I haven't finished any of them.

It happens to me a lot.
I've seen your planes and they are very good.
But they give you a lot of work.
Why don't you try to make a paper model?

**MoonSylver** · 01-20-2014 16:16

Originally Posted by Blackronin

It happens to me a lot.
I've seen your planes and they are very good.
But they give you a lot of work.
Why don't you try to make a paper model?

Thank you.

I did start off w/ #110 card stock, & I'm tempted to go back sometimes, or even go lighter. Reason I went with such a heavy weight (& then went to polystyrene) is I didn't want to worry too much about handling, storage, wing droop, etc. (I think these may all be false concerns now, but that was the reasoning at the time).

I've been fiddling with mini clothes pins to hold fuselages while the cement fuses the seams, & I tried a hairdryer on one so far to see about getting the polystyrene more plyable/to hold a curved shape even better. Both experiments yielded not perfect, but very encouraging, results.

Fuselages give me fits sometimes. The rest is pretty smooth sailing (except joining top wing/spars to bottom wing/fuselage, but I have a idea to try on that too...)

I decided today I'm going to try superglue on one tonight instead of modeling cement. It has the advantage of setting up instantly (& the disadvantage of sticking your fingers to it!) BUT, with the clothespins to hold it, I think it will be "safe". Plus I'd already decided to not apply the "outer skin" sticker first anymore, but to cut/shape/glue the part first, THEN apply the sticker. (At least on the fuselages anyway...they take so much handling, bending, etc, that it's not a great idea.)

I did pure edge "gluing" on the batch I started. I think w/ the superglue trial on polystyrene I'm going back to a inside reinforcing "seam" ( or inside "tabs" at least). I think they will help join together better.

If my latest series of tests & techniques don't turn out too well I may go to pure paper. But I'm going to stick with it a little longer & see. I'm hoping to get things down pat where it only takes a few hours to produce one.

**skyking20** · 01-20-2014 16:21

Nice planes. It is amazing what some people do with paper. Check out my buddy Jeff's website at:

http://www.warartisan.com

Look at the models!

**Blackronin** · 01-20-2014 16:22

And I'll be happy just to watch you brave that new world, Rob.
Photos and how's to please.

**7eat51** · 01-20-2014 18:28

Beautiful work, Joaquim.

This is what I meant when I said (and see) your postings. You are an artist, my Friend.

**Blackronin** · 01-21-2014 03:22

Originally Posted by skyking20

Nice planes. It is amazing what some people do with paper. Check out my buddy Jeff's website at:

http://www.warartisan.com

Look at the models!

Lance, I've been seeing this website for quite some time.

Thanks.

**Blackronin** · 01-21-2014 03:24

Thanks, Eric. Truth is, the artist is Roman (Kampfflieger). I've just finished his creation.

**skyking20** · 01-21-2014 04:54

I bought all of Jeff's ships but have not assembled any yet. Well, I did build one of his first ships as a test builder but not a fleet. I actually got to play a couple of games using his collection at the Seven Years War Assoc. con last March. The ships are very solid and other than either stepping on one or squeezing it in your hand, they will hold up quite well. They look amazing.

Originally Posted by Blackronin

Lance, I've been seeing this website for quite some time.

Thanks.

**fast.git** · 01-21-2014 04:58

Originally Posted by Blackronin

Thanks, Eric. Truth is, the artist is Roman (Kampfflieger).

Really? Huh... talk about missing the boat. I had no idea.

**Blackronin** · 01-21-2014 05:03

Roman creates paper models and Shapeways models. He's a master.
Some years ago he made some paper fantasy ship models for a game I've start creating.
He's a very nice guy.

**somaliavet** · 01-21-2014 07:29

Very nice looking Bebe, very crisp looking build, too! Well done!

**Nightbomber** · 01-21-2014 07:44

You make watching another plane of yours with my jaw wide open

That's a masterpiece

**Lt. S.Kafloc** · 01-21-2014 14:47

Joaquim to tell you the truth I prefer the paper one. It looks great.

**Blackronin** · 01-21-2014 14:48

Thank you my friends.
The model created by Roman is very good indeed.

**Blackronin** · 01-21-2014 14:55

Originally Posted by Skafloc

Joaquim to tell you the truth I prefer the paper one. It looks great.

Thanks, Neil. I also prefer the paper one.
There a lot of models that look more real in paper than in plastic.
Why?!
I suspect that the fact that these birds were made of canvas is the reason.
But then again I see paper models of modern tanks and planes that also look better than the plastic ones so I guess that there must be other reasons.

**georgerutherfor** · 01-21-2014 19:18

Joaquin, excellent work on that Nieuport! Roman's planes or great, but I also know from experience that if the builder is not up to the task that the results do not look nearly as good as yours does, so congratulations and good work!

Doug